Basenji

Other names: Congo Terrier, Nyam-Nyam Terrier

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Hair type	Short
Origin	Congo
Template	Small
Head shape	Long

Weight and size
Sex	Weight	Cut
Female	From 9 kg to 10 kg	From 40 cm to 41 cm
Male	From 10 kg to 11 kg	From 42 cm to 43 cm

History of the breed

The Basenji   is considered to be an aristocratic dog in his appearance. He is originally from the Congo and happens to be a very old breed. Indeed, he descends from the greyhound of Egypt. We find its trace more than 5,000 years ago.

The first Basenji to be imported into Europe from the early ^20th century, in the mid 1930. It arrived in France in 1966 but is still very little known on the French territory. Conversely, it is very popular with families in England and the Nordic countries, in particular thanks to its great friendliness. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed on March 26, 1964.

Basenji Pictures

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Physical features

His hair: short, shiny, tight, of fine texture and covering a very supple skin.
Its color: two-tone in most cases (pure black and white, red and white, black and tan, fawn and white, white with dots and tan markings on the eyes, muzzle and cheeks), unicolour black or brindle (stripes black on a red background). The feet, the chest and the tip of the chest are white.
His head: finely and profusely wrinkled, especially on the forehead when the dog pricks up its ears. The skull is flat, well chiseled, moderately broad, tapering towards the nose.
His ears: small, not very thick, pointed, well erect, set high and forward.
His eyes: dark in color, almond shaped, displaying a somewhat mysterious expression.
His body: well proportioned, harmonious. The back is short and horizontal, the chest is well lowered in the sternal region, the belly rises and merges with the flank which is well marked.
Its tail: set high, coiled in a tight loop above the spine.

Behavior and character

Behavior with others

the   Basenji   is a balanced, lively and intelligent dog. He is quite independent and is suspicious of strangers , but he remains affectionate towards his master and his family. The Basenji does not bark, it is not for all that silent, since it emits a characteristic cry which evokes the chuckles or the vocalizations of the Tyrolean singers. It is not a dog particularly known to like children. It is better that the children grow up at the same time as him. This is to avoid misinterpretation of an inappropriate gesture by a child unfamiliar with dogs.

The Basenji
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Education

The first order to teach him is to recall . Otherwise, he will be inclined to favor his flair rather than listen to his master. The Basenji is a remarkable dog who is not very difficult to train. He needs a strict education , firm , but also filled with gentleness , otherwise he could focus and withdraw into himself. As with all dogs, it is enough to start very early.

Living conditions

The advantage of the Basenji is its absence of barking, to which it prefers a small chuckle. He is therefore not silent, but will not disturb the neighborhood if he lives in an apartment and therefore in the city. He is also not against city life, provided he benefits from several daily outings. Indeed, it is not made to remain exclusively inside a habitat. Thus, it will be more comfortable in the countryside or in a house with a garden . A garden that he will have to avoid in winter and when the temperatures cooler.

Health

The Basenji has a solid health , to which some diseases can nevertheless cling. So, during his lifetime, he is predisposed to develop Fanconi syndrome , which is a fatal genetic kidney disease. It will be necessary that his master, before any adoption, has had a test done by the breeder. In addition, because of his size, he is also more fragile at the hip, where he can be prone to dysplasia . An inguinal hernia is also not excluded. Finally, if he likes hot weather, he only moderately appreciates the winter cold. It will therefore need to be covered in the colder months.

To protect yourself from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends a Basenji dog insurance .

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Life expectancy

Maintenance and hygiene

the   Basenji   is a dog which requires very little maintenance and which sheds very little hair . It is known and appreciated for its remarkable cleanliness. He has this manner of ensuring his own toilet which is somewhat reminiscent of that of cats, of which he sometimes imitates the sitting posture. This does not mean that it should not be maintained at all, which would put it at risk of infection and disease.

Despite its extreme cleanliness , it is recommended to brush the dog on a weekly basis to help it maintain the cleanliness of its coat. As the Basenji are very clean dogs, they rarely need a bath.

His eyes and ears should be checked regularly to make sure there is no trace of dirt or any infection. His teeth need to be brushed to eliminate the build-up of tartar and the proliferation of bacteria. Finally, if they do not wear out naturally, his nails need to be cut. If you are new to this, it is recommended that you seek advice from a veterinarian.

Price and budget

Name ideas for a Basenji

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Food

Basenji are prone to overweight . In fact, a balanced diet in relation to its daily energy expenditure is essential. His diet should be adapted to his physical activity, age, weight and height. It is made from high quality croquettes , to be divided into 2 meals per day. Do not hesitate to approach a veterinarian to rationalize it.

Physical activity

the   Basenji is a dog who needs a lot of exercise to burn off his energy . They are inherently free and active dogs that require daily activities and walks. He also enjoys playing sessions and is quite comfortable t on agility courses.

Competitions

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FCI Information