Basenji

A clever dog breed, Basenjis are full of energy, carry an independent personality. This dog breed originated, feeding the need for both sites to hunt and sent for game hunting. Basenjis are medium in size, have a lean structure but a strong body. You will observe wrinkles on the forehead, which often give them the appearance of been thoughtful. Though compact, this breed is alert and superbly agile. Basenjis are usually found in four primary shades: black, red, brindle, and chestnut red and black. Irrespective of their color, Basenjis will have a white chest, feet, and a curled-up tail.

Born to hunt, this intelligent breed is brilliant and remains active all the time. They love their family and like spending time with them. It is an added advantage that the Basenjis are loveable toward kids and other pets and dogs in the home. Their compact size fit well in the apartment and are even easy to handle by new pet owners. A working couple can safely bring a basenji home as they are not prone to anxiety when left alone. You will not find your home mayhem when you come back from work. Even though their main forte is hunting, you will find a loving companion in them. Amazingly, a dog of such caliber is also friendly toward strangers. However, given all their features, Basenjis cannot tolerate cold weather.

Basenjis are poise and have untangled nature. You won’t find them messy, as if they are balanced beautifully when it comes to intensity. That said, you might find them hard to train. With so much energy and skill, Basenjis can act aloof and independent thinkers, which is why it can be quite challenging to train them. With positive reinforcement, reward, and some amount of patience, you can train a basenji well. If you are looking for a watchdog, Basenjis are not the perfect pick as they have very low barking and howling tendencies. But they can sometimes be very noisy, making sounds such as screaming, whining, and yodeling. It is always best to keep and train them in a fenced area to avoid their tendency to escape. Even while walking, make sure you have full control.

Originated in central Africa, the locals loved this primitive hunting for its lightning speed, excellent eyesight, tremendous smelling capability, and silent nature. People believe that these dogs were developed as a present for the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Later, this dog was used for hunting small prey by tribespeople or for driving away or alerting dangerous predators.

Technical even though hunting dogs, Basenjis have the oldest history as domesticated dogs. This gives an apparent reason why they don’t bark, and when they do, it’s only once. Basenjis were first brought to England in the late 1800s, but since the pair couldn’t bear the cool weather, they died soon after their arrival. Again, in the 1930s, a lone male Basenji named Bois was brought to America and was successfully bred with females imported from Congo.

With time more and more Basenjis were imported from Africa, and in 1944 this bred was register by the American Kennel Club. Basenjis are still used as hunting dogs in Congo, where they love this family dog in America. You will also see basenji participating in dog shows.

Health

Basenjis are usually healthy but may be prone to some disease like other dogs with a long life span. They may suffer from hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, coloboma, and umbilical hernia. They are also prone to progressive retinal atrophy, hemolytic anemia, and other kidney diseases. Basenjis are often diagnosed with eye infections, which is why the owner should be careful enough to take the dog regular eye checkup. The breed may also suffer from a specific intestinal disease that, when untreated, can cause severe issues late. Like other dogs’ Basenjis are also prone to dental problems such as tartar buildup, plaque, gum, and teeth infection. With regular vet visits, most of this disease can be cured.

Exercise

Basenjis have a lot of energy in them, but they do not need a lot of exercise due to their compact size. An hour of regular exercise every day is just sufficient.  Hunting dogs have excellent prey driving skills, meaning you may take them with you for running, long walks, or simply chasing around in the yard. You may also train them or teach them tricks, and they will easily learn. They also love playing with squeaky toys, or you may give a doggy toy. For Basenjis puppies, regular exercise of 15-20 minutes is enough. Remember that puppies have a fragile body, and you should not put them into strenuous activities. You can take them for brisk walks or play around in the park.

Feeding

Basenji are not built to carry excess weight, and you should feed them with only the required amount of food. It is good to split the food into two meals per day. The food’s quantity and feeding time also depend on the Basenji’s lifestyle, size, and metabolism. For Basenji puppies, three to four meals a day is sufficient. To understand what and how much food should be given contact us. No matter which food brand you choose for your dog, see that they have all the necessary protein, fats, vitamins, and amino acids.

Grooming

Basenjis are great groomers, just like cats. You will see them spending time grooming themselves. This makes them low maintenance breed since they are great groomers already; they need not bathe frequently but can shower when needed. However, brushing them regularly will keep their coat healthy and loose hair from hanging on the body. Make sure you trim their nail whenever you hear them tapping on the floor. See that their ears are clean and try brushing their teeth regularly to avoid dental issues and foul smells. Although this breed is low maintenance, and you can groom them on your own if you like to pamper your pooch, take them to the groomer.