Breed of the Week: The Basenji

    The Basenji is a smaller dog that weighs about 20 to 26 pounds and stands about 15 to 17 inches off of the ground.  They are usually square in shape and have an elegant, athletic look to them.  They have ears that stick straight up in the air and a tail that tightly curls.  Some other characteristics of the basenji are their almond shaped eyes and their wrinkled foreheads.  This dog is often compared to a deer and has a sort of "gallop" for a run.  These dog have a short and silky fur that comes in a variety of different colors and patterns including: red black, brindle, white or a mixture of these colors.

    The Basenji is one of the oldest breeds of dogs and originated in central Africa. Dogs similar to the Basenji, sharing the characteristics of pointed ears and curly tails, have been seen as statues in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs and date back thousands of years.  These dogs were originally used to hunt for small game.  They would chase the animal into a net for their masters.  it wasn't until the 1930's that this breed was brought to first Europe and then to America due to disease preventing them from coming over at earlier times. The basenji was first recognized by the AKC in 1943.

    The Basenji is a wonderful breed of dog.  They are a proud and playful dog. They are also very intelligent and may try to outsmart you while playing.  This would be a good breed of dog if you have a good amount of time for them because they like to have their owners attention. They tend to be more independent than a lot of other breeds though.  These dogs can be stubborn but can also be trained with a little patience.  The Basenji is known to have a lot of energy so it is very important to exercise them daily by playing with them and taking them for walks.  These dogs are very athletic and would do well in a family with an active lifestyle.  Being that they are athletic they do well in things like agility courses and tracking.  They do need to be either on a leash or in a fenced in area when outside because they do have the instinct to chase.  The Basenji tends to be a quieter breed, but they can be loud when they want to be. They are also an affectionate breed and love their families and can be protective of them.  They can be wary of strangers though, so it is important to socialize them at a young age.  Most Basenji's do well with children as long as they are gentle with them.  They also do well with most other pets and would probably enjoy a companion. This breed sheds and average amount and an occasional brushing can help to cut down on loose hair.  Basenji's can be a little tricky to train, but overall they are great companions and would make a great friend!
   
Info from:
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/basenji.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basenji#History
http://www.trainpetdog.com/Basenji/about-basenji.html

Picture from:
http://dog.blog.abc101.com/dog-breeds/a-basenji/e