Basenji Breed description: Character & Co

Breed description and nature of the Congo Terrier

Sabenjis are self-confident, independent and intelligent dogs. They are extremely clean, almost odourless, hardly shed any hair and are therefore also very suitable for allergy sufferers. The dogs learn quickly, adapt well to their family environment, but need constant attention. Additionally they need plenty of space to move, exercise and they need to be mentally stimulated. Some also tend to stray. The dogs should therefore not be left running around freely without supervision. Their innate, strongly developed hunting instinct can lead to them running after anything that moves. Unfortunately this is no different with cars or trams. Therefore, it is better to keep them on a leash, especially next to the street. It is advisable to use an extendable leash.

Attitude and training

Basenjis are not suitable dogs for first-time owners. It is difficult to train these naturally reserved, independent dogs. These stubborn dogs can drive inexperienced dog owners to despair since they are they love to fo their own way and always do what they want. Only with a lot of experience and patience you will sucessfully manage to teach them basis commands. These dogs cannot be trained. But with good leadership, without treating them too harshly and a lot of empathy for your dog's needs, they will usually show obedience. Inappropriate strictness and harshness leads to disobedience and retreat. However, if you meet them with sufficient empathy, the dogs evolve into affectionate and playful family members. They are pack animals by nature and don't like to be left alone for too long. It is therefore advisable to keep them together with other dogs. 

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.