What
is a Basenji and what do I need to know about this breed?
The name is pronounced Buh-SEN-jee.
By:
Teresa Hestekin
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The Basenji usually does not bark, but can make other dog noises
like when they are happy they chortle or yodel softly (A Yodel is
very similar to a howel), they growl, and whine, and they have a
wail or a scream they do when they're unhappy, upset, or sad (yes
really, this sound is very similar to a loud shrieke or scream).
Usually, however, they're quiet.
In 1943 the AKC accepted the Basenji as a member of the Hound Group
for registration in the Stud Book, and approved the standard. This
breed is one of the very oldest though and has been dated back to
3600 B.C. where they have been recorded in Egyptian engravings.
Thought to have been extinct with the fall of the Egyptian empire,
the Basenji was re-discovered in 1861 deep in the Congo of Africa
where they were a loyal hunting dog. The puppies and stud services
were used to trade for property and wives.
In 1937 the Basenji was successfully brought over to Europe.
In 1988 there was an excursion to Africa where a few additional
Basenjis were brought back to the USA, they were AKC registered and
added to the very small and limited gene pool of this breed. At this
time the color "Brindle" was added.
Link to the AKC website for additional information:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/basenji/
The Basenji is 20-25 pounds. They can top speeds of 35 miles an hour. Basenjis
are born to hunt by sight and scent, meaning by what they see and smell,
therefore they cannot be turned loose. They have a very keen nose and will
follow a rabbits scent for miles. For this same reason we chose to
microchip all of our Basenjis with a Homeagain
Microchip. You will need to register
your puppies microchip into your name, the fee is currently $17.50 and is paid
directly to Companion Animal Recovery.
Coats: They have a short sleek clean coat, shed very little, and are
odorless. They are meticulous in keeping themselves and their owners clean. The
Basenji is an all natural dog and requires little coat care or grooming.
Dewclaws:
Dewclaws are like toes/thumbs. They are the first toe/thumb on a dog, and
unlike toe/thumbs 2,3,4 and 5, they are not used for walking. They are located a
short distance up the leg on the inside surface. Dewclaws are really a matter of
preference, but yet breeders will argue the point of leaving the dewclaw on or
having it surgically removed. Basenjis use their dewclaws in strange ways when
it comes to playing with their toys, climbing, and hanging onto the animal that
they just hunted. By our own choice we leave our puppies all natural, just
the way god intended them to be.
Some breeders feel that if you remove the dewclaw, you get rid of the problem of
snagging them on something and possibly causing injury. I don't think this
happens as often as people think though. I personally feel that the
Basenji should be an all natural breed, with all of his/her toes and/or thumbs
intact.
As Pets: The Basenji is loyal to their owners and are most times
stand-offish with strangers. The Basenji loves children, especially if they are
raised with them.
Intelligence:
The Basenji is very very
intelligent, sometimes too smart for their own good. Training can be a challenge
at times with your Basenji playing games on you :) We have found that reverse
physiology works well, in that I mean that we praise the good, really praise the
good and we ignore the bad. For praise I use baby talk and lots of pets,
make a big deal about what they do right by getting them excited and into a
playful mood. Basenjis crave praise and play :) Basenjis are hunters, they can
problem solve and come up with what they want to do about the situation, this is
very different from most other breeds who just do and then think, Basenjis will
think and then do. I
have heard some people refer to a Basenji as being untrainable but they learn
quickly when the trainer is using positive reinforcement techniques. Avoid
trainers who use harsh techniques (many trainers punish the bad behavior in one
way or another) I feel that there is never a reason to hit or harm a dog during
training.
Basenji are most times easily trained as they learn very quickly if the two of
you can understand each others desired motivations. I am constantly amazed with
their intelligence.
Health concerns:
The Basenji is generally a very healthy dog. It is very
uncommon for a Basenji to have skin ailments, allergies or things like
arthritis.
Three
Eye Conditions:
1.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) : Mode of inheritance is
unknown. PRA is an eye condition where the retina begins to
deteriorate, causing visual loss and generally leading to blindness. A
CERF exam indicates only the present state of the eye meaning that a
CERF exam cannot tell a breeder whether or not the dog will produce
PRA and a CERF exam does not predict whether or not a dog will develop PRA in
the future. A CERF exam indicates only the present state of a dog's eyes
therefore the Ophthalmologist and BCOA both recommend surfing your Basenjis eyes
yearly. Surfing is not preventing the condition but only searching and
watching for it. I have not personally
experienced this condition to date. To assure that we are breeding healthy dogs
we have our adults and our puppies checked by our Veterinarian for eye
abnormalities. We do not have a canine Ophthalmologist in Eau Claire, WI
and we would have to take our puppies to Minnesota or Madison, WI to have their
eyes surfed.
2. Coloboma: Mode
of inheritance is unknown. Coloboma is the absence,
complete or partial, of a portion of the eye. The mode of inheritance of
coloboma is not yet understood. Coloboma is present from puppyhood and is easily
detected by a licensed Veterinarian or an Ophthalmologist. To assure that we are breeding healthy dogs
we have our adults and our puppies checked by our Veterinarian for eye
abnormalities.
3. Persistent
Pupillary Membrane (PPM):
Mode
of inheritance is unknown but it is extremely common in Basenjis.
From what I understand of it, it is better explained as when a puppy is
born their eyes are closed, at about the age of 10 days or so the
puppies eyes begin to open and sometimes that extra eye lid which is
suppose to absorb does not entirely absorb and they call this PPM.
This disorder does not progress, and some puppies with
mild PPM become normal as they get older. A CERF exam indicates only the
present state of the eye meaning that a CERF exam cannot tell
a breeder whether or not the dog will produce PPM and a CERF exam
does not predict whether or not a dog will develop PPM in the future. A
CERF exam indicates only the present state of a dog's eyes therefore the
Ophthalmologist and BCOA both recommend surfing your Basenjis eyes
yearly. Surfing is not preventing the condition but only searching
and watching for it. I have not personally
experienced this condition to date. To assure that we are breeding healthy dogs
we have our adults and our puppies checked by our Veterinarian for eye
abnormalities. We do not have a canine Ophthalmologist in Eau
Claire, WI and we would have to take our puppies to Minnesota or
Madison, WI to have their eyes surfed.
Umbilical
hernias: which are present at birth, are most times seen in this breed, and
are rarely a cause of concern. If your puppy has a hernia, you should let your
veterinarian know that this is common in this breed. If your puppy has a
noticable hernia you may choose to repair it at the time your puppy is
spay/neutered. Due to the Basenji being a fairly hard to find breed, most
veterinarians do not have much experience with this unique breed of dog.
Showing a puppy with a hernia is allowed.
Inherited diseases:
Fanconi: I have had my Basenjis since
1995 and
I have not had a personal experience with Fanconi Syndrome. There is however a
one time life time test to determine if a
Basenji is clear of Fanconi, a carrier, or affected by Fanconi Syndrome.
Breeders can now carefully plan their breedings to assure this condition will
not be seen in the future of the Basenji breed. To help assure our puppies are as healthy as possible we
are currently in the process of having our adult dogs tested. Our puppies
are additionally guaranteed for their life to never be affected with Fanconi
syndrome. Read our Condition Of Sale Agreement for more information.
Link
here to get more information on DNA testing for Fanconi
What
is Fanconi Syndrome: Fanconi is a known kidney disease to which the kidney stops filtering, around 5 yrs of age or
older. This condition can be fatal if not treated.
From:
Basenji Health Endowment <basenjihealth@gmail.com>
To: tar9091@aim.com <tar9091@aim.com>
Sent: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 7:41 am
Subject: Re: Fanconi
a
clear to clear breeding could only produce clear offspring.
a clear to carrier breeding could produce clear and carrier offspring.
a clear to affected breeding would produce all carrier offspring.
a carrier to carrier breeding could produce clear, carrier and affected
offspring,
a carrier to affected breeding would produce carrier and affected
offspring.
an affected to affected breeding would produce all affected offspring.
Fun
thing to do with your Basenji:
Check into
lure
coursing, tracking, conformation, and agility. The
Basenji will make an excellent agility dog. I do not however recommend obedience
as most cannot rationalize the repetition of Sits, Comes, and Stays well enough
to compete. Don't get me wrong with this comment, they can learn all of
these commands but just do not do them well enough to compete in the strong
competition of the dog show world. I
recommend The Canadian Kennel Club as my first
choice of clubs to participate in. The
Canadian Kennel Club has a wonderful, and fun group of people who are
excepting of new comers and will welcome you with open arms. In the USA
they have The Basenji Club of America (BCOA), I have found in my own experience,
this is a tightly knit group with about 500 members. Unless your puppy is
purchased directly from one of them, you may have a tough time being accepted
into their club.
Fun
Clubs to Join and/or participate in with your Basenji:
1. The Basenji Club Of
Canada:
check into lure
coursing, tracking, conformation & agility.
2. Basenji
Companions: Founded in April 1997, a club
devoted to pet Basenjis & Basenji-mixes
3. Basenji
Rescue and Transport (B.R.A.T):
Adoption,
Placement, Health, Foster Care, Education & Support
Showing:
There are many clubs to choose from when you are considering the idea of dog
showing.
For
the beginner I recommend:
a. The
Universal Kennel Club International (UKCI),
b. Americas
Canine Association (ACA)
c. America's
Pet Registry (APR)
and
if you are ready for the serious show career:
d. The Canadian Kennel Club: I
recommend CKC as my first choice of clubs to
participate in. CKC has a wonderful and fun group of people who are
excepting of new comers and will welcome you with open arms.
e. The American Kennel Club: (AKC)
all
of these clubs have dog show events
available, see their sites for more information. (You can link on the club name
above to bring you to their sites) I am, and always have been, in good
standings with each of the above clubs.
I
have chose to not be a member of the BCOA:
The
Basenji Club of America (BCOA) in my opinion is a "tightly knit group" with about
500 members. Whether you plan to show or just plan to have a pet these members can discourage and belittle new comers.
I
personally would like to see more people showing and enjoying their basenji, but
with a club such as this I do not foresee any new comers to the show ring in our
near future. Don't get me wrong with this comment as I do know a few people who
are an exception to this comment and hopefully you will be lucky enough to find
one of these few.
Why
show your dog: In my opinion dog shows were originally set up so that
breeders could compare and evaluate their breeding stock in a fun family
friendly yet competitive like atmosphere. Families use to attend and enjoyed showing off their
prize canine, possibly make plans to exchange stud services, or exchange a puppy
all with hopes
of accomplishing the perfect genetic cross for that breed. Breeders would
work together and breeders were each others friends. Dog shows were not
only meant for the best of quality, and top examples of the breed to be
evaluated but also for breeders to keep in touch with each other.
Dog showing allowed observers, breeders and competitors to see quantity,
quality, and variation in type all in one location. AKC breed clubs
have since attempted to claim ownership of many breeds and tend to be unhelpful
and cold to new comers. You rarely see families showing dogs, usually
there are hired professional handler competing against each other. The new comer most of the time finds themselves
over whelmed and even unwelcome among the show fanciers. The breed clubs in my opinion have
turned dog showing into a cut throat business, where only rankings and
recognition exist. Fun, family, quality and acceptance seem to be
forgotten in our rings today.
The
average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney
Dog showing can be an entertaining sport,
it should be fun for
the experienced and also the beginner. I personally feel that it is highly unethical to
openly attack, embarrass or belittle anyone whether they are experienced in
the ring or a new comer to the ring. Why can't we all be good sports about
showing and competing? Yes showing is a sport, it can be very competitive,
but sometimes I can't help wondering where the "SPORT" in sportsmanship ever went?
Link
here to read: AKC
Code of Sportsmanship
I do
not make the practice of bad mouthing other breeders, and I will not answer
personal questions about other breeders. I will however offer my aid
with any
problems concerning health, behavior, house training or any other puppy issue you
may encounter, whether the puppy was from me or another breeder is not
the issue. It
is important that you get the best possible dog you can as a dog of any
breed is a lifetime commitment. A well bred puppy will hopefully save
you expensive vet bills and the heartache of health problems in your time
together.
The
reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous
CHOOSING
A BREEDER: Choosing a breeder is totally up to the purchaser.
It is highly unethical
to
openly attack another breeder to anyone, and if you find one of these sorts of
breeders I recommend staying clear of them. Please do not email me
asking me about another breeder or what I think of their dogs, it honestly is
up to you to make that determination of which breeder you want to deal with.
It is not my
place to judge the creditability or honesty of any breeder.
What
does Pet Quality Mean on my website:
Pet Quality Puppies versus Show
Quality Puppies: Don't let a breeder fool you when they tell you that
their puppies are show quality puppies. Being show quality is something that no
breeder, no matter how experienced he/she may be, cannot guarantee to you
until the puppy has reached at least 6 months of age. If I refer to a puppy as
pet quality that does not mean that the puppy is not the best example of
his/her breed, that fact is just unknown at that time. I use the difference in
terms, of Pet or Show quality, only to describe the puppies destination, meaning
the show ring, or a wonderful and loving pet home. A show potential puppy is one
that goes beyond the definition of pet quality. These dogs are free of all
disqualifying faults. They are not guaranteed to win in the show ring, but AT
THE TIME OF SALE, display no structural, cosmetic or temperament faults that
would prevent them from attaining a breed championship if handled correctly of
course. The fact that a dog may finish a championship does not necessarily mean
that it is of breeding quality. Correct phenotype, or what is seen from the
outside, does not guarantee correct genotype which would be the genes that are
crossed and passed on to the next generation. My puppies may mature to be show
quality, and under special circumstances, the limited
registration can be lifted, which would allow for showing in all
events. The
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), The American
Kennel Club (AKC), The
Universal Kennel Club International (UKCI), Americas
Canine Association (ACA) and America's
Pet Registry (APR) all hold dog show events, see their sites for more
information.
Basenjis can
be a challenging breed. I try to warn everyone that you never really
own a Basenji, "The Basenji Owns You". Their temperament may not
be what some people expect, they snuggle when they want, and they play
when they want to play, they have a very different personality. A Basenji
is different from any other breed of dog, add in a little cat and then stir in a little
monster and boom you have your very own Basenji dog. Having a Basenji dog
is like having a 2 year old child who never grows up.
A
dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings
I am hoping by
now you are getting a good understanding of what this breed is all about.
I purchased my first Basenji in 1995 and I truly have found the breed that fits
my life style, my personality and my heart. Please be a responsible owner
and study the breed you are considering to add to your family. Make sure
you know what the breed is all about, be prepared for the good and the bad,
after all your new puppy/or new adult dog will be a member of your family for a
long time.
To live with a
Basenji successfully you will need to commit your time, your effort and your
understanding of their unique ways for their life time. Basenjis are truly
unique in everyway. Your children will mature, grow independent and move
on with age, but your Basenji will keep you busy cleaning, doing laundry and
playing for many years to come.
Dogs
are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras
Thank you for your interest in my puppies!
