Category: basenji dogs

7 Frequently Asked Questions about the Basenji Breed Dog?

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

The Basenji is, an Ancient Pure Breed, is one of the oldest purely bred dogs in modern existence. Their sisters and brothers are still used today as hunting dogs in Central Africa.

7 Commonly Asked Questions about the Basenji Breed Dog:

1. Basenjis cannot bark. Is this true? Yes, Basenjis are barkless dogs. They can growl and whine normal dog sounds, and also do a variety of “talking” sounds. The yodel sound that the Basenji makes is a happy, joyful sound. Some Basenjis are quieter, while others are very vocal.

2. Can Basenjis be tolerant with children? They are not always very tolerant of younger children and won’t tolerate rough and unfair treatment. Teach the children to respect the dog and to never tease or hurt the dog. Dogs and children should never be left unsupervised. In general, Basenjis enjoy being with children, but should never be roughhoused played by adults or children.

3. Can a Basenji dog co-exist with a cat or other smaller pet? If the cat and Basenji puppy are raised together, they might get along or maybe just tolerate each other. Trying to get older Basenjis to socialize with cats or other small pets may present problems.

4. Should you ever take the leash of a Basenji when at the park or on the beach? That would not be recommended. They get distracted very easily and can engage in a chase at any time. They cannot be relied on to come back when you call them. Their instinct is to follow and chase and they would be vulnerable running loose in traffic.

5. Do Basenjis shed hair? Yes, however, because of the shortness of their hair and the fine texture, you will hardly notice their shedding. They shed hair throughout the year as any other dog would.

6. Do Basenjis give off a doggy odor? Even when wet, the Basenji breed does not give off that doggy odor. They keep themselves clean and neat with grooming methods like a cat. Basenjis do not like to get dirty and will clean themselves whenever they do.

7. Do Basenjis like to destroy things? Basenjis like chewing and will chew on anything that they can reach. Keep doors closed where you do not want them to do mischief. Provide them with enough chew toys and also give them lots of exercise, taking them on long walks.

Basenji dogs still have the characteristics that their historic ancestors needed to survive in their place of origin in Central Africa. Therefore they still are essentially a hunting dog, needing a pack to live with and ready for action at any time.

7 Tips on Grooming your Basenji Breed Dog

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

The Basenji breed has a coat of short, fine hair. They come in black, rich chestnut red, tricolor (black and chestnut) and brindle (black stripes on Chestnut) They all have white legs, white up the center of the face and between the eyes or a white collar and also white on the tail tip.

The Basenjis are very clean dogs, grooming themselves, vigilantly, much like a cat might do. They don’t omit the usual “dog odor” and do not shed hair excessively, though they do shed hair throughout the year like any other dog. We spoke to an expert pet groomer, Cesar Rodriguez about some tips for grooming Basenji dogs.  He’s the owner of Mobiledoggrooomingconejovalley.com in Moorpark, California and him and his wife Rita have over  12 years experience in pet grooming, and they’ve had a lot of experience with grooming Basenji’s.

7 Tips to help you groom your Basenji:

1. Eyes: Their eyes should look bright and alert. Use a gentle eye wash during bath time to flush out any possible foreign matter.

2. Ears: To make sure that no ear problems arise, clean their ears monthly with an ear care solution. Clean only where you can see, never further. You may cause damage to the inner ear.

3. Brush their teeth at least twice to three times a week: This will remove the build-up of tartar and bacteria that lurk in between teeth. Daily brushing can also prevent the possibility of gum disease and a bad breath.

4. Trim their nails regularly: Usually, a dog wears their nails down naturally. This will depend on how much activity and walking and running is done daily. When you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they are too long. When the dog’s nails are kept neatly trimmed, it will prevent scratching on your legs when your enthusiastic Basenji jumps up in greeting.

5. Bathing: Basenjis will require 2 baths. The first bath should be a normal, general bath, to clean the coat and skin of dirt. The second bath is more for luxury and could be done with a fragrant shampoo and followed with a conditioner that will moisturize and keep their coat in great shape. If your dog has allergies or a sensitive skin, use a Hypo-Allergenic shampoo and follow this with a medicated shampoo that is right for your dog’s needs.

6. Paws: It is important to keep the pads soft and pliable to keep it from cracking and becoming dry.

7. In between baths use a hound glove or mitt to wipe down its coat and keep it in good order. Because they keep themselves clean, much in the way a cat does, they do not need to be bathed too frequently.

Accustom your Basenji dog to being brushed from a young age. Handle their paws frequently, all dogs are touchy about their feet and also look inside their ears and mouth. As you groom your dog, check for rashes, sores, signs of infection, tenderness, and inflammation of the skin. Also check the ears, nose, eyes, mouth, and feet.

Courtesy of http://www.sheknows.com/pets-and-animals/articles/1078878/dog-grooming-tips

Doing this from an early age will make your Basenji more used to handling and regular careful examination will help towards spotting potential problems early. They will also be more comfortable when visiting the veterinary when it’s needed.

Follow the Lineage, Origin, and History of the Basenjis Dog Breed

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

The Basenji dog is an ancient breed. It has also been identified as a basal breed, predating the emerging of the modern breeds of dog, which ultimately means that it has a direct lineage with the common ancestor of the group. In this case the “Late Pleistocene Wolves”.

Pre-Historic Cave Paintings, dated 6000BC, and later 100AD, depict drawings of Basenji type dogs in hunting scenes.

Egyptian tombs from as early as 3000BC yielded many things that show Basenji type dogs; for instance, a game (Hemaka Game Stone), and various Pyramids where dogs are shown with their masters, hunting, sitting and with other dogs.

In 1843 a painting showed three dogs that belonged to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, where one of the dogs is a Basenji dog. This date is almost a 100 years before Basenji dogs were imported from the Belgian Congo into Europe.

In earlier writings about dogs in Africa, around 1868, dogs that have a resemblance to the Basenji, is mentioned. They were mostly used for hunting in packs.

From 1880, the Congo Terrier is mentioned in the earliest European travelers, adventurers, missionaries, scientists, and explorers, when they write about their experiences while traveling through Africa.

Having their origin on the continent of Africa, Basenji-like dogs have been living with humans from prehistoric times.

However, several attempts to bring these dogs to England for breeding were unsuccessful. There is mention of singular Basenjis in England, but it was only in 1930 that they have been successfully established England.

From the 1940’s onward, Basenjis were established in the Americas, etc. They even made appearances in a few movies during the 1950’s.

In 1964, a story was published in “The New York Times”, in which the praises of the Basenji breed are sung. It stated that is a quiet, clean breed that is easy to have around.

Having a Basenji dog as a pet; what is good about their temperament? What is bad about their character?

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

Basenjis are graceful, elegant dogs with a poised demeanor and an inquiring alertness. They become bored easily and are endlessly curious about everything.

If you are looking for a dog that:

Is a convenient size? Basenjis are small dogs, which are as tall as which they are long. Male dogs are usually larger than the female dogs.

Combined litheness and elegance with sturdiness? Basenjis are deceptively powerful when you look at their size. They are graceful and confident when running at top speed.

Has an easy-care, soft coat in striking colors? They come in black, red a three-color and brindle. They also come in Trindle; this is a tricolor with brindle points. All colors have white chests, feet and tail tips.

Does not shed much? Their hairs are so fine and short that you won’t notice it as you would other dogs’ shedding fur.

Makes a keen watchdog? Basenjis are alert and energetic dogs. They are very curious and also reserved with strangers.

All of the above is the positives in having a Basenji dog as a pet.

When you do not want to deal with:

A very high activity level; they are very busy and needs to be taken on long walks daily. When they get bored they will get into all kinds of mischief that can turn disastrous. They should also not be left alone for long.

Suspicious towards new persons; it can be difficult when people come to visit you that are not familiar. They do not trust outsiders, people not of their known family, very easily.

Aggression towards your other pets; they might be fine with other dogs, but cats, pet mice, etc. can be seen as prey and will be hunted.

Masters at escaping; you need to keep a close watch on doors and gates to keep them from taking the gap and going for a walk. They will take the road when they get out. They are very curious and like to chase anything.

They have a mind of their own; they are very intelligent but almost impossible to train. You need to take charge or they will just ignore you.

Basenjis need to be trained and need to get a lot of exercise. They also need to be in a secured area. They will go under, over and through fences, looking for adventure.

5 Tips towards Caring for your Basenji Dog Breed

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

It is important that you know what type of care you should provide to your Basenji dog, to ensure that they stay healthy and in perfect condition.

1. The Basenji Dog needs plenty of walks; although this dog will fit into city-life and smaller spaces, you need to take them on long, brisk walks. These dogs love freedom and open, quiet spaces. When taking them out choose the times of day that does not have too much hustle and bustle. Also avoid places with a lot of people around. Be careful with leaving doors and gates open, and make sure that the barriers keeping this breed inside are efficient. They will walk off if the opportunity presents itself.

2. Training is fundamental; start from an early age, spend the time to control the dogs’ character and making it more compliant. When they are small they can be very naughty and will bite absolutely anything they can. They are playful, passionate pups but they can receive orders and comply. Simple commands like sit, lie down, give paw will be learned through repetition and rewards.

3. Feeding; the Basenji dog breed is not very particular or demanding in its tastes in food. You should give a well-balanced food that will keep them strong, vital and full of lots of energy. You can also give treats, for example, to help with training. Keep the treats with low fat and empty calories.

4. By nature the Basenji is a very healthy dog; there are no weaknesses known but that it does not do too well in cold weather. In winter make sure that its bed is near heat and raised above the cold ground. This dog race is known for its strength and you will only have to take it for specific medical check-ups. Always remember to get vaccinations and deworming on the set dates

5. Basic Hygiene requirements are few; this breed shed few hairs and does not give off odors, therefore, the frequency of washing should be like that of a cat. You can brush their hair to keep a pristine mantle. Also, try to keep their eyes clean by using saline soaked wipes. Accustom the dog, from puppy time to regular brushing of their teeth to prevent the build up of debris and residue on the teeth.

A Basenji has a unique personality. It is playful, nervous and somewhat independent like a cat. It is an intelligent pet and feels great affection for its human family.