The Quiet Elegance of the Basenji Dog Breed
The history of the Basenji dog breed is very old, it is even spoken of in ancient Egypt, thousands of years before the birth of Christ, when these specimens were brought as gifts to the Pharaohs and traces of them can be found, so much so that in many tombs of the 4th Dynasty, dating back to 3600 B.C., we find them depicted crouched near the master's chair.
This breed then disappeared for millennia, so much so that it was thought to be completely extinct, but instead the British colonising Africa found specimens in the regions between Congo and South Sudan in the mid-19th century. It was used by local tribes to hunt small prey, as a guide in the forest and as a beacon of ferocious animals. The tribes exploited its excellent eyesight, speed and quietness for hunting.
In fact, one of the characteristics of this breed is that it does not bark. It does not bark but it is not dumb, if it must, when it is excited or happy or when it has to express its dissent for something, it emits a sound that resembles a howl mixed with a growl, in different gradations to express different moods. According to some studies, this vocal peculiarity depends on the conformation of the larynx, which differs from that of other dogs.
In its areas of origin it is a well-known dog, in Europe and the rest of the world it is almost completely unknown. In fact, it only arrived in Europe in 1937, brought by the English breeder Veronica Tudor Williams. The breed today is among the purest in existence, having always been in very isolated regions.
In the local Lingala language, its name, basenji, means ‘dog of the savages’ or ‘dogs of the villagers’.
Character of the basenji dog breed
The basenji dog breed is a peculiar breed; although it is a pet, it is not a great cuddler and is driven by a great curiosity and a lively, exploratory spirit, which also leads it to play differently from other dogs. It has a possessive temperament and is very attached to its owner from whom it does not tolerate being ignored. This dog would defend his master even at the cost of his own life.
He is very fond of company and can therefore live well at home even with children, although he is not particularly fond of playing with them. It does not tolerate loneliness and could become destructive if left alone for too long.
He is described as the most cat-like of all dogs, because he cleans himself as felines do; he loves cleanliness and detests bad smells, and he also likes to perch on a chair or at least high up to keep everything under control. And like most felines he hates water and humidity.
It is not suitable for those who have no experience with dogs; it needs a very firm upbringing because it has a very stubborn, very determined personality and can get the upper hand over an overly permissive owner. Subordination and submission are not for him. He is difficult to catch, he is strong psychologically and physically. He needs constant stimulation and reacts badly to boredom. He needs both physical and mental exertion.
It loves running, being outdoors, and even if it can live in a flat it needs time outside to discharge all its energy, so it is not suitable for elderly or sedentary people; its ideal owner is a sportsman who does a lot of exercise.
With strangers it does not show aggression, but it should be accustomed from an early age, at least to being indifferent, and it is not very sociable with other dogs either unless it has been accustomed at an early age.
Appearance of the Basenji dog breed
It is a small to medium-sized dog, the height at withers of a male being 41 to 43 centimetres and weighing about 10 to 12 kilograms, the female usually a little smaller. Its appearance is proud and its bearing elegant. It is a lightly built breed, with a fine bone structure, and is tall on the limbs considering its length. The body is well-proportioned, with a straight, short back, the limbs are long, muscular and fine-boned, the tail is attached high and spirals over the spine resting on the back.
The head has a flat, well-chiselled skull of medium length, thinner towards the truffle, the eyes are almond-shaped and set obliquely, the colour is usually dark. The ears are small, pointed and carried erect. On the forehead we can distinguish very pronounced wrinkles.
The coat is short and silky, very fine, the colours are reddish, blond or black with extensive white spots. Since the year 2000, they can also be found with a tiger coat, which, however, is rough to the touch.
Care and health of the Basenji dog breed
It is a breed that enjoys good health, but may suffer from some breed-typical diseases for which genetic tests are available to rule out affected individuals. It has a life expectancy of 10 -12 years.
It requires no special care and attention; it washes itself and cleans its coat independently, just like cats. It is a very clean dog and not only does not dirty in the house, it cleans itself and is free of any bad smells.
While he tolerates heat well, he is not used to low temperatures, so it is necessary to avoid letting him catch cold.
He does not have a tendency to put on weight, as long as he gets adequate exercise and eats everything, usually in smaller quantities than another dog of the same size.
