The Basenji Breed: An Overview

As I write this piece, the "brown thing" (as the dog of the house is affectionately known) is laying at my feet, cramped in a position no other living creature would think of as comfortable, and snoring. Her actual name is Zero, named after the little ghost dog in The Nightmare Before Christmas, and she is relaxing after a long day of napping with my fiance, long walks through the woods, and pounding at the window to get the attention of everything that passes. Sounds like a typical dog, right? Well, she has calmed down being 4 years old. But she is still a basenji, and that brings something new and interesting everyday. Owning my little Zero has been an interesting learning experience filled with antics that could only make one laugh and creating an irreplaceable bond with girl's best friend.

The basenji is one of the oldest dog breeds, once revered by the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Pictures of a basenji like dog have been found in hieroglyphics, and it is believed that the breed was worshiped as much as a cat was back then. Basenjis (which means "bush thing") can still be found in their home of Africa, as hunters and scavengers that wander from village to village looking for food. It wasn't until the recent century that the basenji was brought over to America to be domesticated and shown in dog shows all over the world. They have been gaining more popularity lately, but it still seems that vets, those of the dog show circuit, and hardcore basenji lovers are the one's that know the breed well enough to give me an astonished look when I say I own one.

You can pick a basenji out of the crowd easily. They are a smaller dog, but don't be fooled. The 22-26 pounds they weigh are 22-26 pounds of solid muscle. They have a smaller head with almond shaped eyes, prick ears, a sleek body, long legs, and a curly tail. The most popular color combination of the basenji are the red and white, which are Zero's colors. You can get them in black and white, a tri-pallet of black, tan, and white, or a brindle if you would like, but I like to think that the red and white combination brings their wrinkles out more. The wrinkles of a basenji are very expressive and quite charming. The ones around the eyes and forehead give the breed a constant inquisitive look that sometimes turns to a worried look. When they are puppies they have wrinkles all over that they seem to "grow into" over time, but that are visible when they sit or lay down. Zero sometimes looks like she is wearing an old pair of saggy pantyhose when she stands on her hind legs and the wrinkles come out.

The basenji is known as the "bark-less" dog. Which is true, in some ways. Zero has been known to let out the occasional "fox bark"- just one quick "woof!" and that would be it for months. She has no reason behind it, but it still shocks me every time. Some basenjis will yodel, howl, or what basenji owners like to call "baroo". I've only had Zero "baroo" once when she was left outside, and it's not a quiet sound. Neither is the howl, as I have found out. She'll "sing" while I try to practice flute. Most basenjis aren't fans of "live" music. They may be bark less, but they're not silent. Zero has her own set of sounds. She'll grumble when I tell her to move of the couch, yelp and snarl if I put my bare feet anywhere near her, whine if there's a dog she would like to meet outside, or chortle when she's following me around the house. There's a variety of sounds and every basenji is different. Some will howl when your cell phone rings, and some are content at being quiet. Zero had her own ways of barking when we lived with my parents and their terrier mix. If there was something outside that needed her attention and she couldn't muster up a bark, she'd run over and slap the other dog hard enough to make her bark and then run back to the window. I've found that Zero likes to mimic snores though. It doesn't matter who she is sleeping on the couch with, she will mimic their snore and turn it into a snoring contest to see if she can snore the loudest. Bark less? Yes. Quiet? You'll get your share of entertaining noises.

Basenjis like to be clean. They have an OCD cat-like habit where they will lick themselves clean, and in some cases chew the dirt out of their nails. Even in heat they will clean themselves, which is a little gross, but it saves on buying those goofy little diapers and having them chew it off of their little butts and into pieces that will be found all over the house for months. If you're lucky enough to become one of their pack and trusted by a basenji, you'll find yourself being licked clean also. I've had my ears, eyes, arms, hands, legs all "cleaned" by Zero. At first I tried to push her away, but like most stubborn basenjis, she's persistent until she's pleased. I find it a strange honor to be accepted into her little pack though, since she can be aloof at times.

You may hear that basenjis do not shed and are virtually odorless. I loved that idea when I first heard it too. Again, it's mostly true. Zero does not shed most of the year, but when spring comes and it's time for the winter fur to go, it's as if she explodes hair into little piles until the coat is gone. I'm usually surprised every shedding season that she has any hair left since I'm finding most of it on my clothes and on the couch, but that last only a few weeks out of the year. As for odor, you're not going to find that dog smell with this breed, but you may find something else. After Zero curls up for a long nap and decides to stretch out, her belly has a faint scent of, well, an armpit. Their belly's are virtually hairless and when their belly gets warm there is a slight stench. But you won't find any other odor on this dog.

It's always important to check certain health problems with this breed. They are susceptible to Fanconi Syndrome and Hip Dysplasia- both are very treatable if found early. Hip Dysplasia is usually a problem in larger dogs that carry more weight, but it is found in basenjis due to their "double suspension" muscles. If you've seen a basenji run full force and not be able to stop before it hits the wall, it's due to those muscles which aid it in hunting and chasing. The muscles can cause problems later in life, but most basenjis through reputable breeders will be cleared of hip dysplasia- but if you want to be safe it never hurts to have it checked out, especially if you notice a change in activity level. Fanconi Syndrome is another condition that should be checked and ruled out by a breeder because it can be caused by genetics. If you're not sure if your basenji has it, you can have the DNA tested and cleared. But some owners still check for Fanconi Syndrome, especially after the dog has turned 3 because it still has a small chance of occurring. Fanconi Syndrome is where electrolytes and nutrients and not properly absorbed in the body and can spill over in the urine. This is easily tested by using glucose test strips from a pharmacy and testing the basenjis urine. Sometimes it can be mistaken for diabetes, so you may need a few opinions if you're not to sure. If you're concerned, take your results to your vet. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Zero's personality traits are like any other basenji. If you're a cat person that really prefers a dog, a basenji will do. They are independent thinkers, aloof, and a little shy, but they can warm up to people quickly. They hate the rain and the snow. Don't be surprised if you can't get one outside if there is anything wet falling from the sky. I think Zero has grown out of hating snow, since we now live in Alaska, but she will not tolerate the rain. Get a basenji in the sun though and they are in their own private heaven. Zero, like most of this breed, like to sunbathe whether it is outside in the grass or next to the window. Grooming is easy. The tail may be trimmed from time to time along with their nails. Zero doesn't like her feet touched and usually chews her nails to the desired length, but you may have no trouble having one let you trim it's nails. Bathing isn't that hard either, which is strange with their aversion to water, but I've had no trouble getting her in a tub and washing her. But, again, you may have a different story.

They are highly intelligent dogs, which is one of the reasons that they are so hard to train. Basenjis like things their way, but if you're persistent, gentle, and rewarding with you're training they'll be more than happy to go by your rules. You'll have to stay one step ahead of them- they can be little tricksters, getting food without you looking (or tripping you when you have a plate) or making you play with them by causing a ruckus that forces you to get up and chase them around the house. They don't handle the word "No" easily, and since they are stubborn they will cause trouble to either get what they want or they'll lay down somewhere and pout. They seem to have very selective hearing and can't hear you when you tell them to put your towel down, but can hear a bag of treats open up from across the house. Sometimes they're like toddlers, and sometimes they're like teenagers.

Despite how hard it can be to train them and some of their quirky breed features, they're a joy to have around. They make a perfect nap buddy, a sunbathing buddy... they're just a perfect buddy all the way around. All it takes is a little patience and an understanding that this is not a typical dog. You'll need to be creative with the training and reinforce it without the dog getting bored with you. And multiple walks during the day are a must, they love the outdoors- but you can't just leave them in a yard since they are climbers and will chase anything that moves. For a person that's new to dogs, this can be a hard breed and even for people that have owned dogs they are a challenge. I wouldn't trade Zero in for the world, but there have been days where I've wanted to pull my hair out. In the long run though, the companionship is the most important part, and she's been wonderful at that.

Still, these dogs are not for everybody, so do a lot of research before buying one. A good site to start is BCOA- Basenji Club of America. There's tons and tons of information there that can be helpful to those new to basenjis. They even list breeders if you do decide to own one. Even if you're not sure about a basenji and you would like to foster one (and eventually give it a forever home), or are looking for an older dog, I also suggest BRAT. They are the Basenji Rescue and Transport. They have dogs that are older, that have been displaced, and currently go through a foster program until they find what they call a "forever home". This is also a good place to start if you're not comfortable getting your dog from a breeder, but would still like a basenji as part of your family.

Enjoy finding the perfect dog for you and your family, whether you decide a basenji is perfect for you or not. The bond you find with a furry friend of any breed is an irreplaceable gift.

Sources:
The Basenji Club of America, www.basenji.org
BRAT- Basenji Rescue and Transport, www.basenjirescue.org