Basenji

The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that was bred from stock originating in central Africa. Most of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world place the breed in the Hound Group; more specifically, it may be classified as belonging to the sighthound type. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale places the breed in Group 5, Spitz and Primitive types, and the United Kennel Club (US) places the breed in the Sighthound & Pariah Group.

The Basenji produces an unusual yodel-like sound commonly called a "barroo", due to its unusually shaped larynx.^[1] This trait also gives the Basenji the nickname "Barkless Dog".^[2]

Basenjis share many unique traits with Pariah dog types. Basenjis, like dingoes and some other breeds of dog, come into estrus only once annually, as compared to other dog breeds which may have two or more breeding seasons every year. Both dingoes and basenji lack a distinctive odor,^[3][4] and are prone to howls, yodels, and other undulated vocalizations over the characteristic bark of modern dog breeds. One theory holds that the latter trait is the result of the selective killing of 'barkier' dogs in the traditional Central African context because barking could lead enemies to humans' forest encampments. While dogs that resemble the basenji in some respects are commonplace over much of Africa, the breed's original foundation stock came from the old growth forest regions of the Congo Basin, where its structure and type were fixed by adaptation to its habitat, as well as use (primarily net hunting in extremely dense old-growth forest vegetation).

Appearance

A red Basenji

Basenjis are small, elegant-looking, short-haired dogs with erect ears, a tightly curled tail and a graceful neck. A basenji's forehead is wrinkled, even more so when they are young or extremely young. A basenji's eyes are typically almond-shaped, which often gives the dogs the appearance of squinting. Basenjis typically weigh about 24 pounds and stand 16 inches at the shoulder. They are a square breed, which means they are as long as they are tall. Basenjis are athletic dogs, and are actually deceptively powerful for their size. They have a graceful, confident gait like a trotting horse, and skim the ground in a double suspension gallop, with their characteristic curled tail straightened out for greater balance when running flat out at their top speed. Basenjis come in a few different colorations: red, black, tricolor, and brindle, and they all have white chests and stomachs. They can also come in trindle, which is a tricolor with brindle points, a rare combination.

Temperament

A basenji standing on its hind legs to look over a wall

The Basenji is alert, affectionate, energetic, curious and reserved with strangers. It can be described as speedy, frisky, tireless at play, and teasing the owner into play. The Basenji is somewhat aloof, but can also form strong bonds with people and can become emotionally attached to a single human. Basenjis may not get along with non-canine pets. It is commonly patient, but does best with older considerate handlers. Basenjis dislike wet weather, like to climb, can easily get over chain wire fences, and are very clever at getting their own way. Most Basenji problems involve a mismatch between owner and pet.

The Basenji has the unique properties of not barking (it makes a low, liquid ululation instead) and cleaning itself like a cat. Often, the Basenji is commonly referred to as the shrieking dog, or screaming child dog.

Basenjis often stand on their hind legs, somewhat like a meerkat, by themselves or leaning on something; this behavior is often observed when the dog is curious about something. Basenjis reveal their animal-of-prey nature by chasing after fast moving objects that cross their paths. According to the book The Intelligence of Dogs, they are the second least trainable dog. However, Basenjis are extremely intelligent and respond to training that is consistent and positive with plenty of treats. Basenjis do not respond well to punishment, such as yelling and hitting, which can cause them to utter a warning growl.

The history of the Basenji

It is nearly impossible for a Basenji owner to take a walk with his dog without being irritated by the attention lavished upon his four-legged companion by passers-by. In this context a handbook made mention of the fact that a Basenji is not suitable for people who do not wish to attract attention. No wonder then, that the fascinating sleek and elegant dog with its red-white, black-white, brindle or tri-coloured pelt, its dainty body, high runners and its conspicuous tail, curled halfway up its upper thigh, attracts so much attention. An owner can often be seen being dragged in a preposterous slanted posture through the streets by his 40 cm high panting companion.Although theses dogs have existed for thousands of years, they are still rather unknown in Europe. The Basenji exists as an official breed for approximately 60 years. The Basenji - a gift from Afrika The Basenjis are amongst the oldest dogs of the World. The name Basenji means "small wild thing from the bush", which sounds in the language of the Pygmies like "Basenji". This indicates already the origin in Central Africa, that stretched from the heart of the Congo Basin to South Sudan. The Basenjis lived there for thousands of years in a close relationship with the natives e.g. the Pygmy tribes. Normally the dogs lived as an independent pack near to the villages and supported themselves as a rule (dependant on the tribe culture).Also reproduction took place for thousands of years without any special control from humans. The breed has therefore remained very original. Basenjis are regarded as belonging to the group known as "Schensi-Dogs". This describes dogs that have not been domesticated, that remain wild. Other well known members of the Schensi family are the well known Australian dingo or the Canaan dog from Israel. The origin of the Basenji becomes clear through one thing, that it, like the wolf, comes on heat only once a year and then for a period of 30 days. Also Basenjis cannot bark-caused by their flat larynx. The bark is for humans an appropriate dog characteristic. Also the wolf, as forerunner of the dogs, as well as the original dog breeds does not have this ability. Although the Basenji lives completely independent from the affiliated native tribe, it is inestimably useful. In an area where animal egg white is in short supply, the Basenji is still used as a hunting dog. In the course of this, it tracks down marsupials and drives them into a net spread out by the hunters. During the hunt, so that the hunters know at any time the whereabouts of the dogs, they wear a kind of bell around the neck made from hollowed out shells with small bones inside. One could talk of an intervention in the breeding by humans in the nature of this breed, that in the last five thousand years of its existence so much importance has been attached to its optimal suitability as a hunt driver. A good hunting dog was and is highly compensated, a bad one in many tribes goes perfectly as a delicacy into the cooking pot! As a result of this "breeding intervention", the Basenjis have a very strong distinctive hunting urge, an excellent sense of smell and are overall agile and suitable for cross country work. They can compete with greyhounds in speed and direction changing The “small wild thing” - from the palace of the Pharaoh to Europe The origin of the breed lies in darkness. The first drawings of the type were found in the tombs of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), built approx. 2700 BC in the IV Dynasty. They show small dogs sitting near the feet of their owners or under the chairs. Amongst other tomb furnishings of rich Egyptians and Pharaohs were statues and illustrations of these dogs, which because of its extremely cat like nature ( it moves silently, is free from dog smells and washes itself like a cat) was highly prized by this civilised nation. Presumably the first Basenjis reached Egypt as gifts from the Pygmies to the Pharaohs. With the decline of the Egyptian culture, the knowledge about the Basenji also disappeared. Another presumption is that the Basenjis reached Central Africa as war trophies; Egypt had lost a war against the Sudan and the victors required for their people the at-that-time most valuable things, namely, precious metals, woman and dogs. Once again around 1870, African explorers discovered a breed of dog that was small, had long legs, a ringed tail and a short silky fur, in short the Basenji. One of the first Africa explorers, who also described the dwarf Pygmies with strange dogs, was Dr. Schweinfurth. Fascinated, he decided at the end of one of his studies to take a bitch, that appeared to him to be particularly intelligent, back to Europe. The Basenjis urge for freedom came however on the return trip to Europe in Alexandria where she jumped to her death from the second floor of a hotel. In 1894 appeared finally the first report about Basenjis, still not introduced as breed, in Europe. Since about 60 years the BASENJI is recognised as a breed. The first big breeder of Basenjis was Mrs Olivia Burn, who repeatedly acquired dogs from the Pygmies in the Congo basin. After several failures (the dogs died from distemper) she established the breed. In 1937 she created a sensation at Crufts with the exhibition of her first puppies. Judge and breeder were positively besieged by the crowd and bombarded with questions. In the fifties, another famous breeder, Veronica Tudor-Williams, successfully acquired further Basenjis from Africa to freshen up the European stock. She discovered the dog "Fula of the Congo" herself on an expedition in the South Sudan on the border with Zaire, and later wrote a book about it.   Why has this ancient breed remained so unknown to us? A Basenji is not suitable for all dog lovers. It is indeed highly intelligent and social, very devoted and extremely clean. It does not bark but this does not mean that it is dumb. They express their pleasure in meeting again with a joyful howl that is similar to a jodel. They register their displeasure with an impressive growl and possess a diverse form of articulation in their dealings with the other pack members. The natives describe it often as a "talking dog". On the other hand, and this puts off many enthusiasts of dogs as companions, the Basenji is very independent. When given an order, that it properly understands, if it is really sensible, and at that moment reasonable, to carry it out, and as a rule it is not. In addition, led by its extremely strong urge to hunt, one cannot let it off the leash everywhere. Basenjis that runaway are often a short while later run over by a car. As the dog, although having an outward appearance of elegance, is very strong and has the tendency on a walk to pull on the lead, it cannot be led by small children. When however the “bad” habits of the breed as described are not disturbing, one can find with a Basenji a loving, devoted, intelligent companion, prepared at any time for a joke. Literature about Basenji

Basenji

A red basenji with white markings
Other names	African Bush Dog African Barkless Dog Ango Angari Congo Dog Zande Dog
Country of origin	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Patronage	Great Britain
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