Basenji A Breed Apart
The Basenji is an interesting dog breed, probably best known as the ‘bark-less’ dog of Central Africa. But there are a lot of other things that make this one of the most unique dog breeds.
This is an ancient breed, that has been used by the tribes of Central Africa as a tracker and retriever for thousands of years. There is a recorded history going back to at least, 3000 BC, and you’ll even find hieroglyphics in Egyptian tombs that feature the Basenji.
However, in the West, these dogs remained unknown until some were brought to England in 1937. The Congo Dog, as it was then called, was first introduced to America in 1944, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1944. Later the name was changed to Basenji, which apparently means ‘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.
What really sets a Basenji apart from other dogs is its temperament. They are fastidious dogs, renowned for their grooming habits, which have been described as “cat-like”.
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.
Another character trait is their stubbornness, which means that obedience training, socialization and strong pack leadership is a must with this breed. You need to show your Basenji who is in charge or he will take it upon himself to be the pack leader. This should however be done in a positive, non-aggressive way.
These behaviors are of course common to many dogs and are not specific to the Basenji, so don’t let them put you off. In the main, this is an affectionate, intelligent and enthusiastic dog, that forms close bonds with its family, and is generally good with 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.
The breed can live comfortably in an apartment, provided its daily exercise needs are met.
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.
A big plus of Basenji ownership is that they shed very little, and as they groom themselves, the owner is left with very little work to do.
Picking a name for your Basenji can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many dog names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of male dog names.
Tags: dog, dog-breeds, puppy names dog names
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