Care and nutrition
The extremely clean dogs hardly require grooming. Basenjis clean and groom themselves and each other very intensively. For this they also use their paws. In this characteristic they resemble cats. However, when the coat changes, once a year before the beginning of summertime, it should be brushed regularly. For feeding, a high-quality wet or dry food with a high meat content, without cereals, should be used. As the breed is an efficient food-converter and tends to be overweight, the portions should be rationed while keeping an eye on their weight. Dried chewing treats such as dried cow skin are well suited since they don't support weight gain and also clean their teeth. Sufficient drinking water should always be within reach for them.
Typical diseases of Basenjis
Because of the small gene pool when official breeding started, the Basenji also has some dispositions for certain hereditary diseases:
- Fanconi syndrome: kidney dysfunction.
- Hemolytic dysplasia: progressive decay of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
- Hip dysplasia (HD: maldevelopment of the hip joint).
- Persistent pupilar membrane: thread-like remains of the fetal pupil remain in the dog's inner eye and can cause visual disturbances.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Slowly progressing deterioration of the retina.
In any case, regular eye examinations, x-rays for HD and a genetic test for Fanconi syndrome should be performed.
Things to know about Basenjis
The breed has some peculiarities that should be known to the owner. For example, Basenjis have an innate fear of the dark. In their original home Africa darkness meant danger. Their lack of body odour is also for their self-protection. Those who cannot be smelled will also not get noticed. In our latitudes, however, this characteristic, which is quite useful in Africa, sometimes leads to the Basenji being attacked by foreign dogs, as they cannot smell the Basenji. The dogs do not bark either, they make themselves noticeable with a yodel-like sound. In the USA and Europe these unusual dogs are becoming increasingly popular. To buy a Basenji, you should contact the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH). There you can find addresses of reputable breeders.