The Basenji was brought to Europe from Africa in 1934. Basenjis are
small, with a smooth shiny coat in a variety of shades. The breed has a distinctive,
horse-like running gait and does not bark, but does have a lot of other unusual
vocalizations.
Basenjis love to play and make good pets, but should be handled
regularly from an early age. Basenji dogs are very intelligent and respond well to training.
Basenjis are good with children, but should not be left alone with cats or other
non-canine animals.
The Basenji washes itself like a cat and has no doggie smell, so very
little grooming is needed. This breed sheds very little - a great choice for
allergy-sufferers! When considering the purchase of a Basenji for your
family, it is extremely important to carefully research the breed to ensure
that it is the right choice for you. Basenjis are very special dogs with
special requirements for care.
It is also very important to choose a
responsible, knowledgeable
Basenji breeder, as Basenjis are prone to hereditary
disorders including Fanconi disease, Retinal Atrophy and Hip Dysplasia.
Careful screening for these disorders is very important in the choice of a
Basenji puppy.
