Basenji

Dog Breed Group

Hound Dogs 

Origin of Breed

Egypt, hunting dog. 

Life Expectancy

10 - 12 Years 

Color

Colours include: chestnut red; pure black; tricolor (pure black, chestnut red and white); and brindle (black stripes on a backgr 

Coat

The coat is short and fine. The skin is very pliant. 

Exercise Needs

Daily exercise will prevent obesity. Curiosity may cause him to wander if left off leash or in an unfenced area. 

Temperament

The Basenji is a hound, equipped with sharp eyesight and a remarkable scenting ability, which hunts by using both sight and scen 

Good with Children

Good with children, if properly socialized and supervised. Good with other pets, if properly socialized and supervised; same sex 

Grooming Needs

Comb or brush his smooth coat and bathe when necessary. 

Average Size - Male (in)

17 

Average Size - Female (in)

16 

Average Weight - Male (lbs)

24 

Average Weight - Female (lbs)

22 

Health Issues

Kidney problems, PRA and intestinal problems.v

Living Conditions

Indoor or outdoor dog that does best with a fenced yard and lots of exercise. 

Breed Description

The Basenji is an ancient breed of hound dog native to central Africa, where it is used to point and retrieve and to drive quarry into a net. It is also known as the barkless dog, but it does produce a variety of sounds other than barks. The breed stems from the very earliest pariah-type dogs, being used as hunting dogs as long ago as 3600 B.C. The breed has maintained its original form for centuries, and was "rediscovered" in the Congo around 1936, when a few specimens of the breed were imported to England. A graceful animal, it is characterized by an alert expression typified by the finely wrinkled forehead, erect ears, and tightly curled tail. The short, silky coat is reddish brown, black, or black-and-tan; feet, chest, and tail tip are white. It is characterized as a clean and gentle dog. The dog conveys an elegant and graceful appearance; its whole demeanor is one of poise and inquiring alertness. Its balanced structure and smooth musculature enables it to move with ease and agility.

Breed Infobits

Also called the Congo Dog, the Belgian Congo Dog, or the barkless dog of Africa, the Basenji was brought to Europe in 1934.
A Basenji is especially good with families and makes an excellent companion animal.
The first traces of a dog similar to the Basenji are found in Egyptian tombs and wall drawings of five thousand years ago.
Basenjis cope well with hot conditions.