Content
- Origin of Basenji
- Physical Characteristics of Basenji
- Basenji Character
- Basenji Education
- Basenji care
- Basenji Health
Originally from Central Africa, the Basenji is one of the oldest dogs in existence today. This intelligent and balanced dog has two peculiar characteristics: it never barks and the females only go into heat once a year. The absence of barking does not mean that Basenji is a dumb dog, it emits sounds that could be defined as a mixture of singing and laughter. But overall it's a silent dog.
The presence of the annual heat, rather than twice a year as in other dog breeds, denotes the phylogenetic antiquity of the Basenji, as this characteristic is shared with the wolves and singing dogs of New Guinea (which also do not bark ). If you are thinking about adopting a Basenji or if you already have a companion of this breed, in this Animal Expert sheet you can find out everything you need to know about it, the Basenji's physical characteristics, character, education and health.
Source
- Africa
- Europe
- UK
- Group V
- muscular
- provided
- short paws
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- Active
- floors
- Houses
- Hunting
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Short
- Thin
Origin of Basenji
The Basenji, also known as Congo dog, is a breed of dog whose origin dates back to Central Africa. On the other hand, it was also shown that the ancient Egyptians used the Basenjis for hunting and were appreciated for their courage and devotion to work, so they are also part of their history.
In the late 1800s, attempts were made to import Basenji into Europe, but distemper ended up with all imported specimens. Thus, it was only in the 30s that this breed was imported to England and. in 1941 he was taken to the United States.
Although in the rest of the world the Basenji is treated as a companion dog, in Africa it is still used to hunt small animals.
Physical Characteristics of Basenji
Basenji is a dog elegant, athletic, small and unusual. The Basenji's head gives it an aristocratic look, and the forehead has fine, well-marked wrinkles when the dog lifts its ears. The skull, of moderate width, gradually diminishes towards the nose, the calvaria is flat and the stop, although existing, is not very marked. Basenji's eyes are dark and almond shaped, are set obliquely on the skull, and his gaze is piercing. The small ears end in a point and are erect and slightly sloping forward.
The Basenji has a tail, set high, well curled over the back. This characteristic tail of the breed can form one or two loops on the side of the thigh. Check out our article to find out why puppies wag their tails and learn to interpret their position.
The back is short and level, and the chest is deep. The topline rises to form a clearly defined waist. Basenji's fur is short and very dense, fine and shiny. The accepted colors for this breed are:
- black
- White
- Red and white
- black and tan
- White with fire spots on muzzle and cheeks
- black, fire and white
- brindle (red background)
- Feet, chest and tip of tail must be white.
The ideal height for Basenji males is around 43 centimeters at the withers, while the ideal height for females is around 40 centimeters at the withers. In turn, the weight of males is around 11 kilos, and the weight of females is nine and a half kilos.
Basenji Character
Basenji is a dog alert, independent, curious and loving. It can be reserved with strangers and can respond aggressively to teasing, so it's not the best option for families with young children.
Due to its predisposition to hunting, this dog is not usually recommended to live with pets of other species. However, Basenji usually get along well with other puppies. Therefore, socialization as a puppy is a necessity for both this breed and any other breed of dog.
This dog breed is very active and can be destructive if you are not given the necessary exercise. Its hunting impulses make the Basenji an independent dog, but that's not why it should be left alone for long. In fact, the Basenji, like any other race, also need their human companions to pay attention to them, play with them and offer them affection. Although he doesn't like constant hugs, he also doesn't tolerate indifference.
On the other hand, Basenji is a dog that barks very little and is extremely clean. In addition, Basenji's character also stands out. playful and very stubborn personality. This breed of dog needs a patient and constant companion in its education.
Basenji Education
As we mentioned in the previous point, Basenji is a dog that needs a companion with a lot of patience and constancy, since although it is not a complicated dog to train, it needs to practice obedience orders several times to internalize them. There are dog breeds with a faster learning process, such as the German Shepherd, and others with a slower response, such as the Basenji.
For best results during Basenji education, the most recommended is train him with positive reinforcement. In this way, the puppy will gradually associate the orders with positive stimuli and will internalize them much more quickly. Traditional training based on punishment ends up generating stress, anxiety and fear in the dog, which is why it is never a good option. Start your education with basic orders and advance little by little, until you haven't internalized one you shouldn't move on to the next. Check out our article on basic dog orders and discover the steps you should take to teach them each one.
In general, for Basenji to learn an order it usually needs to between 30 and 40 repetitions, so don't be surprised if you observe that after having practiced with him more than 10 times you still don't understand.In addition, it is not recommended to carry out training sessions of more than 15 minutes, as this could generate anxiety and stress in the dog. Therefore, opt for short but constant education sessions.
Basenji care
Basenji is a dog that can live peacefully in an apartment if given frequent walks and the necessary exercise to burn off accumulated energy. You don't need excessive physical exercise, but you can get bored easily if you don't give enough mental exercise. This often leads to behavioral problems such as the destruction of furniture or other items. Also, Basenji needs two to three daily tours where you can walk, run, play and socialize with other dogs.
For those addicted to cleaning or suffering from dog allergies, Basenji has a big advantage over other dog breeds. This dog loses very little hair, so it is considered a hypoallergenic dog. While it's not one of the most recommended breeds for people with a high degree of allergy, it can be good when it comes to mild allergies. On the other hand, has the habit of cleaning himself often, like cats, and likes to be always clean. Thus, and to finish with Basenji's care, brushing and bathing need much less time and dedication with this breed. Basenji will need a bath when they are really dirty and will need one to two brushings weekly, especially during changing times.
Basenji Health
There are a number of most common diseases in Basenji than in other dog breeds. To be aware and prevent them from developing, below we will show you what they are:
- Kidney problems such as Fanconi syndrome
- progressive retinal atrophy
- Intestinal problems
- Obesity if you don't get the exercise you need
When resorting to periodic reviews defined by the veterinarian, it will be essential to bear in mind the above conditions to pay special attention, as some of them are hereditary (kidney problems). On the other hand, although we have mentioned that Basenji is an active dog, if he is not given the exercise his body needs he will eventually suffer from obesity. Overweight in puppies is a condition that can cause serious consequences, such as deterioration of heart function. Therefore, we recommend that you consult our article on how to prevent obesity in puppies and don't forget about your walks. In addition, it will be essential to keep your vaccination and deworming calendar up to date to avoid contracting viral diseases.