Basenji Breed Profile
The Basenji is a unique dog, probably best known for the fact that it doesn’t bark. But that’s not all that these natives of Central Africa are famous for.
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.
However, the breed remained unknown in the western world until 1937, when several dogs were brought to England,. The first Basenji arrived in the US in 1941, and by 1944 had achieved AKC status. Originally called the Congo Dog, the indigenous name Basenji – said to mean, ‘bush thing’ – was later adopted.
At between 15 and 18 inches high, the Basenji is a medium-sized dog, with a distinctive pointed muzzle and a furrowed brow that gives it the impression of being deep in thought. The other stand out feature is the tail, which is tightly curled over the back. The coat is short of length with a sleek finish, and can be a number of colors including, black, red, chestnut, brindle and copper. All of these variants have white markings on the chest, paws and the tip of the 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 behave like cats in other ways too. They are very good climbers for instance, quite adept a scaling trees, and even chain link fences.
These dogs can be quite strong-willed, and even dominant if they are allowed to get away with it. Training, socialization and consistent pack leadership are therefore a must. Common problem behaviors with the Basenji 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.
Basenjis are generally healthy, but not immune to the conditions that typically afflict purebred dogs. Particular concerns with this breed are liver disorders, intestinal problems and eye diseases, like progressive retinal atrophy.
One big benefit of owning a Basenji is that you’ll have virtually no grooming to do, as they shed very little and also groom themselves.
If you’re looking for a name for your Basenji, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of female dog names.

