Info on Basenji's please...

[nozydog]

Hi everyone, are there any Basenji owners on the board? i'd just like to know a little more about the breed and from owners who have had first hand experience with them.

Thanks http://www.dogweb.co.uk/talkdogs/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[Bailey+Ralph]

I don't own a Basenji, but i remember when i 1st got Bailey and i was looking for good sites i came across a really good site devoted to that Breed.
Just can't remember the name of the site.
I am sure that if you put in a search on Basenji forums then you would find it :)
Welcome to the board.

[Zoom]

They are not a dog for a first time owner. They're independent and stubborn and need very good reasons for doing what you say instead of what they want to do. My mentor has one, I deal with a handful of others on a regular basis and they're tough little dogs. They don't bark, but they have the most God-awful yodel/scream that raises the hair on the back of your neck.

[jess2416]

They are not a dog for a first time owner. They're independent and stubborn and need very good reasons for doing what you say instead of what they want to do. My mentor has one, I deal with a handful of others on a regular basis and they're tough little dogs. They don't bark, but they have the most God-awful yodel/scream that raises the hair on the back of your neck.

Ditto ^ and they can be very destructive if not given enough to do...
here is a website I found when I was researching them a while back
http://www.basenji.org/

[nozydog]

Thanks for the advice so far guys, much appricated :) What would you recommend as a first-time dog? or should i start this as a new thread?

[Zoom]

It's your thread, you can do what you want on it. :)

I would go to this website: www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl They have an uncannily accurate breed quiz to at least give you a place to start from, and then we can answer whatever questions you have.

[tempura tantrum]

Hey there-

I have Shibas, which in many respects (temperament especially), are very similar to Basenjis (in fact, when I was deciding on a breed it was between Shibas and Basenjis).

Basenjis aren't *usually* a breed I would reccommend for first time owners (and neither, for that matter, are Shibas). That being said- I got my Shibas as a first time owner, and I've done just fine. With the appropriate amount of research (to make sure the breed is right for you), and a realization that training this breed will be very different than training any other sort of dog, I think you could do just fine as well.

Take that breed quiz Zoom suggested first off- it is quite accurate!

Basenjis are sighthounds, which means they are bred to think for themselves at almost all times. This often drives the typical dog-lover nuts, because it means that they will expect you to give them a *very* good reason as to why they should do anything you say. Traditional, repetitive obedience training will *not* work for them. Training sessions have to be fast-paced, short, and most importantly fun! They get easily bored, so you have to get creative with them.

Too, this is a breed that loves, loves, loves it's exercise. A really great way to meet some die-hard Basenji owners is to go to a lure-coursing event and watch them in action. You can look one up by visiting www.americankennelclub.org and searching in the "events and awards" section. Lure-coursing is breathtaking to behold, and if you do decide on a Basenji, it's a fabulous sport to get involved in. Go ahead and see if you can find an event near you. You'll get to meet dedicated breeders and owners, and they'll be able to tell you whether or not a Basenji is a good match for your lifestyle.

You can also head to a dog show and meet breeders there. With few exceptions, breeders and owners LOVE to jaw your ear off about their breed, so you won't have a problem finding someone to talk Basenjis with you (just make sure not to catch them while they're going into the ring).

Finally- the one big thing you have to watch out for in this breed is Fanconi anemia. It's a devestating disease that unfortunately, only really begins to affect dogs at around 2-3 years of age, and it is fatal. Thus, it absolutely pays to be very careful when researching breeders. There are some unscrupulous people out there that continue breeding dogs that they KNOW to be affected.

If you've got anymore questions, I have a good friend who shows Basenjis, and I could easily relay any more in depth questions to her. (It would probably be a fair bit more helpful than anything I could say!) I could see if she would be willing to speak with you via email if you would like. Let me know!

[bubbatd]

I agree with Zoom ... came up with Goldens and Labs !!!

[LabBreeder]

I took the "test" and came up 100% Lab. Very cool!

[nozydog]

Thanks for the advice everyone so far, there is alot to consider when looking for a dog and i understand this as it has to be able to work around your lifestyle and everything else and you must be committed to the responsibilities of dog ownership.

I took the test that Zoom suggested and the results that came back are:

Shiloh Shepherd (Herding Group)
Harrier (Hound Group)
Retrievers (Sporting Group)
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers (Terrier Group)
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Working Group)

There all good dogs and im going to look into them each and just contuine with my research but im also taking a shine to the Rough Collies for some reason lol, i find them to be really attractive dogs :)

Anyone know anyone on here that ownes them?

[PWCorgi]

SalemWitchChild has one I know, you could try talking to her. Some other people I thought had them on here too, but I'm not sure.

As far as your results, I would say go with the retrivevers, like a golden, lab, or flat coated retriever. Probably not a Curly coated retriever or a Chesapeake Bay retriever for a first dog.