Basenji

The Basenji is said to be as old as the Pyramids and indeed it appears in art from ancient Egypt from 4500 years ago. The same type of dog appears throughout hundreds of years - mostly in funeral art which indicates they were favourite dogs of the Pharaohs.

While the civilisation of ancient Egypt vanished, the Basenji survived, and soon became prized possessions of local tribesmen and hunters. The Basenji has been an all-purpose hunting dog across Africa for thousands of years and unlike most hounds, it is both a sighthound and a scenthound - and can be trained to point and retrieve.

The breed is virtually unchanged since the days of the Pharaohs making it one of the oldest ‘true to type’ breeds.

Active, energetic and with some prior dog owning experience (beyond having lived with a family dog as a child!). The Basenji needs sensitive handling by someone with some dog behaviour and training experience, or a strong interest in this. An interest in dog sports would also be beneficial as the Basenji really needs something to do! 

Bred to hunt in rough terrain and with high energy levels, the Basenji needs at the very least an hour's exercise daily, and has the stamina for more if you can offer it. Most of this exercise will need to be on lead as they have a very strong drive to chase and explore - and have a totally dismissive attitude to recall! As such, owners need to be able to be just as active as their dog.

Basenjis have exceptional problem-solving skills and so interactive feeding toys, enrichment games, and scent-work can all help keep their busy minds and bodies occupied.

Basenji are small dogs who do not need much houseroom and as long as they have a warm home with a window to look out of, they will be happy. But they do need access to plenty of exercise space. Gardens need to be exceptionally well fenced but even then, they are expert escapologists able to climb fences and trees. Basenji need supervision when outside.

Small dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate. Their small stomachs also mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.

The Basenji does most of his own grooming and upkeep. The coat is short, sleek and fine, and can be wiped down with a glove once a week to remove loose hairs. Ears and nails can be checked periodically. Otherwise, little else needs to be done.

Basenjis are clever, intelligent dogs, dog training is mostly something that is looked on as being beneath them! With skill, patience and an ability to motivate a Basenji, they can be trained to do virtually anything. They can even make great agility dogs. But their obedience and, certainly their recall, can never be relied upon. Keep in mind that they can be extreme chewers and so need appropriate chewing opportunities.

The Basenji is a specialist dog that has such specific needs that they do better in households without children or where children are older and sensible.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.