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Getting to know your dog starts by
getting to know its breed. At Kingdom of
Pets, we keep a large database of
detailed information on the appearance,
personality, and health requirements of
individual dog breeds. Here's what you
need to know about the Basenji:
The Basenji is classified as a member of
the “sight hound” family, otherwise
known as a “hound.” However, this breed
is also referred to as a “Congo Dog”
because it is one of the oldest breed
dogs, coming out of the continent of
Africa. In fact, if you were to visit
Africa, going to some of the Egyptian
Pharaoh’s tombs, you would see carvings
or other depictions of the Basenji on
the Steles. Just as they did thousands
of years ago, the Basenji is a regal
breed with a proud stance, erect ears,
and a curled tail.
For many years, this breed almost
completely disappeared but then in 1895
when the Europeans crossed over into the
Congo, it was again discovered, becoming
a favorite pet due to its high level of
intelligence, speed, silence, and even
courage. All of these special qualities
made the Basenji a great help during
wild game hunts. After being imported to
the United States sometime in the 1930s,
the Basenji became popular, which lead
to the breed becoming a member of the
American Kennel Club in 1943.
Physical Appearance
As mentioned, the Basenji has a strong,
proud look that is hard to miss. This
breed is small, typically between 20 to
24 pounds and about 17 inches tall. The
hair is short, the eyes almond shaped,
and especially when puppies the forehead
is wrinkled. Watching a Basenji move is
fascinating in that the breed trots
similar to a horse with a
double-suspension gallop at full speed
running.
While you will see a number of hair
colors, only some are recognized by the
American Kennel Club. These colors
include:
* Brindle White (black stripes on a red
background)
* Red and White
* Black and White
* Tricolor (red, black, and white)
* Trindle (tricolor and brindle
combination)
Temperament and Personality
The most fascinating aspect of the
Basenji is that this breed does not bark
although a simple woof sound is
possible. Other sounds made by the
Basenji include a squeal, chortle,
white, or yodel. Basenjis are also
insistent on being clean, often wiping
the face just like that of a cat. While
this breed loves to hunt and explore, it
does not favor water.
Being an extremely smart dog, the
Basenji is easy to train, learning
commands quickly. Other temperaments
include being independent, funny, aloof
to strangers, devoted to the master, and
even mischievous. Keep in mind if you
buy a Basenji that they love to run and
they are exceptional climbers.
Therefore, a chain link fence is not
necessarily a good barrier.
Most Basenjis are high energy and
independent. While they get along well
with children and other pets, it is
usually recommended they be heavily
socialized and supervised. In most
cases, if this breed is raised around
other animals, walked in the park, and
exposed to a number of environments, it
will do well. However, the Basenji is a
breed of its own, sometimes being
unpredictable and a little standoffish.
Health
Typically, the Basenji is a healthy
breed although some might develop
Fanconi Syndrome, which is an
inheritable kidney disorder. When a
Basenji develops this problem, he or she
would likely not have any symptoms until
around four. In addition, this breed can
be a carrier of a recessive gene known
as the Hemolytic Anemia, which can be
tested for with a non-invasive
procedure.
Other possible health risks include
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which is a
form of degeneration in the retina,
causing blindness, Coloboma, a hole in
the eye’s structure, Persistent
Pupillary Membrane, which are small
threads going across the dog’s pupil,
Malabsorption, an autoimmune intestinal
disease, and Hip Dysplasia, which is a
bone disease that causes symptoms
similar to arthritis.
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