Petpedia: Basenji
Ranked #89 on the AKC registration list, released on Wednesday: Jan. 16, 2008.
Basenji’s are indigenous to Africa, known through history to have lived besides Pharaohs of Egypt, and were brought to America in the 1930′s as the “Barkless Hound”. The nickname “Barkless Hound” stems from the fact that Basenji’s are relatively quiet and yoddle instead of barking.
In Swahili Basenji means wild and violent, which describes their highly active, athletic nature. The Basenji is intelligent, alert, energetic, proud, curious, and extremely playful. They are also chewers, climbers, wanderers, and quite demanding. It is said that Basenji owners quickly learn to put dirty clothes in the hamper, garbage behind a closed door, and that a tired dog is a good dog. But they also swear that a Basenji raised with love and patience is an unmatched joy.
The Basenji have also been known to be compared to cats, as they are small, frisky, speedy, and play tirelessly. They also clean themselves like cats and therefore need no special care for their coats. Although unlike cats, training is recommended to help control their activeness and to help accustom them to people. The absence of training can lead to a difficult adult dog.
Typical size range from 20 to 26 lbs and 15 to 17 inches. They have a life expectancy of up to 12 years.
