Basenji

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
20 min/day
Training
Weekly
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
Low maintenance
Barking preference
Very quiet
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mrs Jennifer Power (ZANZIPOW)

jenniferpower@iprimus.com.au
See Details
Breeder - Ms Rosalie Mayo-Ramsay (Eurabbie)

mayoramsay@bigpond.com
See Details

History

The Basenji is one of the oldest of breeds. They are depicted on Ancient Egyptian tombs, imported as a novelty from their ancestral home in the Congo area predating the Ancient Egyptians, but they are still found little changed in remote African villages today. DNA sequencing has shown that this primitive breed is the earliest of domestic dogs. They were first successfully taken to England in the 1930s by the early Western pioneers in the breed, and were known initially as the Congo Terrier.

Expeditions to the South Sudan in 1959, and to Zaire in 1987 and 1988, increased the number of native dogs in the gene pool. Since then, there have been numbers of dogs imported into the USA from Benin and Haut Zaire, and introduced into breeding programs. The breed was introduced to Australia in 1948 and was ﬁrmly established during the 1960s.

Characteristics

The Basenji is an unusually intelligent breed, so much so it can devise an inﬁnite variety of mischief. This intelligence, however, doesn’t necessarily make the breed easy to train although a Basenji will quickly learn the usual range of commands expected from a socially accepted dog, such as ‘come’, ‘sit’, and ‘stay’.

The curiosity of the Basenji is insatiable. They love running oﬀ with some forbidden object to hide it, or simply for the fun of being chased. More often than not, the breed will make you laugh. While the Basenji does not bark, they do make a full range of other dog noises, as well as their unique baroos and yodels, and their alert nature serves them well as watchdogs.

Appearance

The Basenji has a wrinkled forehead, pricked ears, white chest, white tipped curly tail and white feet. It is small and gazelle-like, stands at about 40 to 43cm at the shoulder, weighs 9.5 to 11kg, and gives the impression of trim elegance.

The four colours of the breed are red and white, black and white, tricolour, and brindle and white.

Temperament

The Basenji is alert, smart, proud, loving, and independent – all at the same time. It can also be aloof with strangers. The breed does not like water and bath time can be an exercise in patience.

Its favourite place to sleep is in bed with its owners, however, since the Basenji has no body odour and cleans itself like a cat, it can be classed as a good ‘hot-water bottle’ in winter.

Health

The average Australian Basenji is a very healthy dog. Of course, as with any breed of dog, you will have to provide regular parasite control and vaccinations. Breeders test for Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and also Fanconi Syndrome, though the incidence of these hereditary conditions is uncommon and DNA testing for PRA and Fanconi has been a recent asset in disease prevention. You can expect 12 to 15 years from the Basenji.

Maintenance

Since the Basenji cleans itself like a cat and has no ‘doggy’ odour, it is exceptional in the world of dogs. Regular brushing, nail trimming and an occasional bath is all that is required, and they are considered a low shedding breed. The Basenji is an active dog and, given a garden, will exercise itself. However, regular walks are beneﬁcial to both the breed and the owner.

Suitability

As a Hound that hunts by scent, sight and hearing, and is deaf to all entreaties to return once on the chase, the Basenji requires a fenced yard and a secure lead and collar on outings. A fence that is strong and unclimbable and well positioned at ground level is recommended.

Given appropriate toys and stimulating company, the Basenji is suitable for active families, but also adaptable to apartment living if given suﬃcient exercise to burn oﬀ excess energy.

Basenjis are actively involved in a range of dog sports including conformation showing, lure coursing, canine nose work and tracking, and a few even train for tricks and agility.

As a primitive breed, Basenjis tend to cycle just once per year, all around the same time with puppies in Australia arriving between May-July. Since there are limited numbers of Basenji puppies available from the small group of registered breeders during “puppy season” each year, please contact them well in advance and be prepared that it might mean being on a waiting list for the right puppy for you.

Words: Kay Eldred on behalf of the Basenji Club of NSW Inc

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Basenji you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Basenji and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 23 Jan 2015)

Download PDF

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Lightly built, finely boned aristocratic-looking animal, high on leg compared with its length, always poised, alert and intelligent. Wrinkled head, with pricked ears, proudly carried on a well-arched neck. Deep brisket runs up into a definite waist, tail tightly curled presenting a picture of a well balanced dog of gazelle-like grace.

Characteristics

Barkless but not mute, its own special noise of mixture of a chortle and a yodel. Remarkable for its cleanliness in every way.

Temperament

An intelligent, independent, but affectionate and alert breed. Can be aloof with strangers.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Flat, well-chiselled and medium width, tapering towards nose, with slight stop. Distance from top of head to stop slightly more than from stop to tip of nose. Side lines of skull taper gradually towards mouth, giving a clean-cheeked appearance. Fine and profuse wrinkles appearing on forehead when ears pricked, side wrinkles desirable but not exaggerated into dewlap. Wrinkles more noticeable in puppies, but because of lack of shadowing, not as noticeable in tri-colours; black nose desirable.
Eyes	Dark, almond-shaped, obliquely set, far-seeing and rather inscrutable in expression.
Ears	Small, pointed, erect and slightly hooded, of fine texture, set well forward on top of head, tip of ear nearer centre of skull than outside base.
Mouth	Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck	Strong and of good length, without thickness, well crested and slightly full at base of throat with a graceful curve accentuating crest. Well-set into shoulders giving head a 'lofty' carriage.
Forequarters	Shoulders well laid back, muscular, not loaded. Elbows tucked in against brisket. When viewed from front, elbows in line with ribs and legs should continue in a straight line to ground giving a medium front. Forelegs straight with fine bone and very long fore-arms. Pasterns good length, straight and flexible.
Body	Balanced with short, level back. Ribs well sprung, deep and oval. Loin short coupled, deep brisket running up into definite waist.
Hindquarters	Strong and muscular, hocks well let down, turned neither in nor out, with long second thighs and moderately bent stifles.
Feet	Small, narrow and compact, with deep pads, well arched toes and short nails.
Tail	High set, with posterior curve of buttock extending beyond root of tail giving a reachy appearance to hindquarters. Curls tightly over spine and lies closely to thigh with a single or double curl.
Gait/Movement	Legs carried straight forward with a swift long tireless swinging stride.
Coat	Short, sleek and close, very fine. Skin very pliant.
Colour	Pure black and white, red and white, black tan and white with tan melon pips and mask, black, tan and white. Brindle, red background with black stripes, the more clearly defined the stripes the better. The white should be on feet, chest and tail tip. White legs, blaze and white collar optional.
Size	Ideal height:Dogs 43 cms (17 ins) at withersBitches 40 cm (16 ins) at withersIdeal weight:Dogs 11 kg (24 lbs)Bitches 9.5 kg ( 21 lbs)

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.