Basenji is a highly popular breed of canines that hail from Central Africa and are widely renowned because of their distinct howl. They are a fine option for an Indian dog admirer who is looking to be a pet parent. These dogs adjust well in apartments and small houses (as long as they remain sufficiently exercised), their tolerance to hot and humid weather conditions is pretty awesome as well and their grooming needs are also quite low. Therefore, Basenjis are considered to make pretty decent house pets and will be a great choice for any potential dog owner residing in India.
Basenjis are medium-sized, lightly built canines who structurally are quite well-balanced and are known to carry themselves with enough grace and elegance. Their longs legs allow them to attain great speeds and move swiftly from one place to another. The official standards for the Basenjis are given as follows:
The average height of Basenjis is around 15-17 inches (at the shoulders). The male and female Basenjis are quite similar to each other in terms of overall size and stature. The average weight of these dogs lies somewhere between the range of 9-12 Kilograms.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
10-12 kg |
16-17 inch |
|
FEMALE |
09-11 kg |
15-16 inch |
Basenjis have a short and fine coat which is evenly spread all over their body. Their short coat is known to shed only on an occasional basis and that too in a very limited manner. Their grooming needs are also fairly low, which is understandable considering their short coat.
Basenjis have a well-balanced, adequately muscular and overall an athletic body. Their neck is of fair length, well crested and is nicely set into the shoulders. The Chest is of medium width and the Back region is short, straight and strong. Their tail bends acutely in the forward direction and lies well curled over to either side. The forelegs and hind legs are decently long, strong, muscular and are in balance with each other.
They have a medium-sized head which they carry with immense pride and it is known to become wrinkly when their ears are erect. Their eyes are shaped like an almond, obliquely set and are dark hazel to dark brown in color. The ears are small, finely textured and are set well forward on top of the head.
They have a well-made jaw region with strong and evenly aligned teeth. Their mouth closes in a scissors bite. The overall muzzle is neither coarse not snipy and is a bit shorter than the skull.
Basenjis are highly affectionate pooches who are very friendly and kind to their family members and owners. They are fond of playing numerous games with their loved ones and are known to be immensely athletic in nature. They require a good amount of exercise on a daily basis to remain healthy and contented and if they are not receiving proper training and physical work regularly, they can become a little frustrated and destructive. Novice dog owners may find these canines a bit stubborn and hard to train as they tend to get easily distracted during the training exercises. They are known to have a lot of terrier-like qualities, like a feisty personality, an inquisitive nature and tendency to remain alert and aware of their surroundings. The general temperamental traits of Basenjis are listed below:
As these canines are also known as African Barkless dogs, there is a huge misconception about Basenjis that they are mute and are completely devoid of barking. But, that’s not the case at all, as these pooches instead of traditional barking, they are known to yodel or howl in a pretty distinct manner and it is very amusing to listen to a Basenji when he’s in the mood for some light yodeling.
Basenjis are highly intelligent and clever dogs which theoretically should make their training sessions a lot more smooth and easy for their trainers/owners. But instead, these dogs are quite stubborn and can get easily distracted during the training sessions. They do considerably better under the guidance of a well-experienced and knowledgeable dog owner who knows how to handle and maintain these dogs.
Basenjis are known to make pretty decent house pets as they are highly friendly and affectionate with their housemates, are immensely kind and careful with small kids, are considered to be great watchdogs and they can efficiently alert their owners in case of any intruders or external harm. These pooches are a great option for those people who are looking to raise a spirited, energetic and lovable canine and who are ready to train and handle a naughty but endearing doggy.
The Basenjis are divided into different types on the basis of the several colors which their coat can be found in. These different colors are:
|
Adaptability |
*** |
Sensitivity Level |
*** |
|
Affection Level |
**** |
Potential for mouthiness |
***** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
*** |
Drooling Potential |
*** |
|
Barking Tendencies |
** |
Energy Level |
**** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
** |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
**** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
**** |
Shedding Level |
** |
|
Grooming Needs |
* |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
** |
Stranger Friendly |
*** |
|
Trainability |
** |
Watchdog Ability |
***** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
**** |
Tolerates Cold |
** |
Basenjis do petty well when given a high-quality nutrition rich diet that is appropriate to their age. The feeding material can either be cooked at home or it can be purchased from a pet store, whatever the case, it should contain all the essential elements and nutrients which are crucial for the proper growth and development of a Basenji.
Basenjis are very active canines and they require a pretty decent amount of physical work and exercise on a daily basis to remain fit, fine and happy. Long walk in a park or an open area, brief running sessions and regular playing sessions are highly important for the Basenjis’ physical and mental health.
Their training should start at an early age as they can be a bit challenging to train when they get older. They may seem a bit stubborn during the training sessions but using innovative methods and non-repetitive techniques, these dogs can become more sincere while learning new things from their owners/trainers. Reward-based training methods are also considered to be quite effective while training a Basenji.
These dogs don’t shed their fur that often and if they do, they only shed in a limited fashion. Their grooming needs are also not that high. Their coat needs occasional brushing, cleaning et cetera to remain neat and tidy. Their nails should be trimmed regularly as overly long nails can be painful for the canines.
Health-related problems which are commonly seen in Basenjis are listed below:
Frequent visits to a vet’s clinic are not required for the Basenjis because they generally tend to remain fit and fine throughout their life-span (if they are getting a sufficient amount of nutrition, exercise, and care).
The Basenji is considered to be an ancient breed but its true origin is not very clear. There are numerous depictions of a Basenji-like dog on the stone tablets which were found in several Egyptian Tombs, but the actual time or year in which these dogs came into existence is still shrouded in mystery.
These dogs were discovered by the westerners in the 19th century in Congo, Africa. They were used as pack hunters to chase small animals into nets, to carry goods and material and also as watchdogs. They were highly appreciated for their hunting skills and their determined character by the tribal people of Africa.
Basenjis started to move to other parts of the world like England and America in the 1930s. Their popularity gradually started to increase as people loved their feisty and unique personality. They were recognized by the AKC as a distinct breed in the year 1943.
