Pet Topics

The Basenji is a rare dog indeed. These natives of Africa are famous for the fact that they don’t bark. But that’s not all that is unique about these dogs.

Originally employed as a hunter and retriever by Central African tribes, the Basenji is an ancient breed with a recorded history going back over 5, 000 years. We know for example that these dogs were present in ancient Egypt, as they are recorded in Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Despite this, the breed was unknown in the West until 1937, when they were introduced to England. The Basenji, or Congo Dog as it was called, was first brought to America in 1941, and gained AKC recognition in 1944. The name Basenji is said to mean ‘bush thing’.

Standing 15 to 18 inches at the withers, the Basenji is medium sized, with a pointed muzzle, erect ears, and a trademark furrowed brow. The other distinguishing feature is the tail, tightly curled and carried over the back. The coat is short in length and can be a number of colors. These include red, chestnut, copper, black or brindle. All color variants feature white markings on the chest, feet and tail.

But what really makes the Basenji different is its unique temperament. In many ways, these dogs behave more like cats than dogs. For example, they are extremely fastidious, and spend a lot of time grooming themselves.

And they have other cat-like behaviors too, like their amazing ability to climb trees. Basenjis have even been known to scale chain link fences.

They are also strong-willed, so early training and socialization, plus strong and consistent leadership, are a must or your Basenji will assume he is in charge and act accordingly. Common problem behaviors are chewing, and aggression towards small animals.

If any of this has put you off owning a Basenji, it shouldn’t. They are wonderfully energetic and intelligent dogs with a great desire to please. They are affectionate towards their immediate family and can do well with kids, although are not really suited to very small children.

You do need to remember however that these were originally hunting dogs, so they need quite a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Your Basenji will need a long walk every day and will also enjoy games to keep him mentally active. When to dog is home alone you may want to get him some chew toys, to keep him away from chewing your stuff.

These dogs can live quite comfortably in an apartment, but will need to get outdoors daily for exercise.

The Basenji is a robust breed with few major health concerns. They are however prone to kidney problems, and are also vulnerable to certain intestinal disorders and eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy.

Grooming a Basenji is very easy. These dogs hardly shed at all, and given the fact that they groom themselves, the owner needs to do very little.

Finding good dog names, for a Basenji can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of cute dog names.