Photo of Basenji

Basenji

Breed Group: Hound Group

Size Group: Small Dog Breeds

OriginCentral Africa

Height17″ (male), 16″ (female)

Weight24 poinds (male), 22 pounds (female)

Color: Black & white, black tan & white, brindle & white, red & white

Lifespan13-14 years

Temperament: Smart, graceful, reserved, stubborn

 

Overview

Basenji is best known for being a “barkless” dog. This does not mean Basenji is silent, it yodels. Yodelahehoooo there is a stranger here! These pups are fastidiously clean, continually grooming themselves, which leads many to describe them as catlike. While they are kindly to their family, they can also be aloof and stubborn.  Owners of Basenji have an intense devotion to the breed.

Basenji is depicted in an ancient carving from an Egyptian tomb dating back to 3000AD. They are argued to be the oldest dog in the world.

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Celebrity Owners

Kelsey Grammer, Maureen Lippman, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, King Farouk of Egypt

Fun Facts

There is a debate on whether they should be categorized as sighthounds or scenthounds.

While many believe barking was bred out of Basenji to prevent the noise from luring predators into villages, there is an African myth that claims an angry god took away the dog’s ability to bark.

Health

Basenji are typically healthy dogs. Somewhat common ailments include:

  • Hip dysplasia: This condition is when the socket joint in the hip isn’t large enough, or more often too shallow, for the femoral head.
  • IPSID: This inflammatory bowel disease causes dogs to not be able to absorb nutrients correctly from food.
  • Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland, sitting at the top of the windpipe in the back of the neck, is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of the brand. Hypothyroidism would cause the metabolism to slow down.
  • Fanconi syndrome: This kidney disease is a tubule function that has excess vitamins and acids secreted through the urine.
  • Progressive retinal atrophy: Atrophy is a wearing or wasting away of a body part. In this case, it is the retina in the eye, which eventually leads to blindness.

While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.

Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.

Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.

Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:

  1. Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
  2. Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
  3. Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
  4. Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
  5. At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.

Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.

Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.

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Grooming

Basenji are known to obsessively groom themselves. As a result, they only need minimal grooming. The main focus for these pups is to keep their nails clipped short. Weekly brushing with a grooming mitt or a soft-bristle brush will evenly distribute skin oil.

These pups no not have a strong scent and only need bathing if they get into something dirty. Always check your pup’s ears to make sure they are clean and free of debris. Brush your pup’s teeth several times a week.

Cost

$800 – $2,500

Exercise

Basenji is a high energy dog that needs several hours of exercise each day. Having a safe secure fenced in area for your pup is ideal to let them burn off energy. Be sure your fence is high and lacks footholds as these pups are excellent climbers and jumpers.  Your pup will be an excellent companion on walks, hikes, runs and games of fetch.

Nutrition

On average, Basenji eats about 2.5 cups of food per day. As with all dogs, your pup’s needs will vary based on their age and activity level.

We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.

Are You Feeding Your Dog The Best Food?

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Training

As with all dogs, it is beneficial to socialize your Basenji early with people and other animals. Basenji can quickly lose interest if training becomes monotonous. Keep sessions short, varied and always with lots of positive reinforcement. Basenji will try to get away with mischievous behavior, it is best to nip this in the bud.

Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!

Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.

Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.

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Supplements

A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.

Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.

Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.

Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.

Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.

As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.

Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.

Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.

Have You Tried CBD For You Dog's Health?

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The Good

No barking
They groom themselves

The "Ruff"

They pick favorites among family members
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Annual Vet Bills: $1,500+

Be Prepared for the unexpected.