BASENJI

APPEARANCE
The Basenji is a small, short haired and athletic dog with a smooth shiny coat and the size of a fox terrier. The head is finely wrinkled, especially when the ears are erect. The eyes are almond in shape and range in color from hazel to dark brown. They have a shiny coat of a number of different colors usually having white feet as well as white on the chest and tip of the tail. The coloring can vary and includes brindle, copper or red, black and brindle, or black and tan, all with white markings. The height of the Basenji is around 16-17 inches, and the weight is around 20-25 pounds.

PERSONALITY
They are very alert, energetic and affectionate, yet they are also demanding. The Basenji need to be handled and have human contact from a very young age to truly make a good pet. The Basenji can have a dominant streak too, and can be manipulative sometimes, and is therefore best suited to more experienced dog owners. This dog does like to chew, and this should be taken into consideration if you are planning to leave this dog alone for any period of time.

TRAINING
Obedience training is a must for this energetic and very alert breed. This breed should have a variety of training methods to keep his attention, as he tends to bore quickly. Dogs need affection, enthusiasm and exercise. If they get all these, the training will be must easier. Due to their great prey drive, which is what they were bred for, most Basenji excel in lure coursing.

EXERCISE
They are highly energetic dogs that need more than just an occasional walk around the block. It’s great if you have a large fenced in back yard where they can run all they want, however, this will not replace exercise with you. the fence should be planted deeply into the ground and rather high to prevent escape as this breed can be an escape artist if proper precautions are not taken.

SOCIALIZATION
Socialization from the puppy age is crucial for a well-adjusted Basenji. The breed is not always suited to younger children that may tease it, and should only be housed with other pets if he has been properly socialized. The Basenji can be somewhat aloof around strangers making him a very suspicious breed. They are very intelligent dogs and bond very strongly with their family members.

LIVING CONDITIONS
With its short coat, this breed does best in warmer climates, as it tends to be unhappy in wet weather. This breed being a hunter has the stamina of such and does best with a fenced in yard. They love to run and climb so you will need a very high fence (at least 6 feet) if you have hopes of keeping in.

GROOMING
The Basenji requires less grooming than most other dogs. He will love being brushed, however, as they are always craving attention from their owner. They wash and clean themselves like cats, always licking themselves clean. Occasional rub down with a damp cloth will help to keep the coat glossy and in good condition. Basenji dogs do have sensitive skin, so be cautious about using strong flea shampoos. Always, do a sensitivity test on their belly before fully shampooing their body.

HEALTH ISSUES
The life expectancy of the Basenji is around thirteen years. Health concerns of note include Fanconi syndrome, progressive retinal atrophy and Basenji enteropathy. Other problems sometimes seen in this breed include pyruvate kinase deficiency, persistent pupillary membrane, hypothyroidism and umbilical hernia.

HISTORY
The Basenji was originally developed in central Africa for hunting purposes in what are now Zaire and the Sudan, but the first traces of a dog similar to the Basenji have been found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs of five thousand years ago. The Basenji was introduced to Europe in the mid 1930s, and was registered with the AKC in 1944.

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