Basenji: description of the breed, the rules of maintenance and education

Basenji is a special dog. An elegant, graceful animal can become a cheerful companion and a loyal friend. The uniqueness of the breed lies in the inability to bark, which, combined with a spectacular appearance and friendly character, makes pets welcome for dog breeders.

The breed can be called rare, basenji puppies are quite expensive. Therefore, before deciding in favor of such a pet, it is worth considering all the pros and cons. You will learn about the character and nuances of keeping an unusual dog from the article.

The breed is very ancient. Surprisingly, for thousands of years it has not changed at all. Judging by the excavations, such dogs lived in ancient Egypt. This is evidenced by the found drawings and figurines depicting these animals. It is also known that in the tomb of Tutankhamun mummies were found very similar to modern dog pets.

but the birthplace of a unique dog is still considered Africa. It was from here that animals were transported to Egypt. Natives used animals for hunting. It is believed that the silence of the basenji is closely related to its use in the past.

The Egyptians were respectful of dogs. They believed that animals were able to protect humans from evil forces.

After the decline of ancient Egyptian civilization, silent pets remained in demand.

The rest of the world learned about miracle dogs in the 90s of the XIX century. First they were brought to England, then to America. The popularity of the breed increased rapidly.In the 40s of the XX century, animals already actively participated in prestigious exhibitions, starred in films. As pets, they were brought up by people occupying a high position in society. Among them were royal people (Princess of Monaco and others).

The breed came to Russia in 1997. All the animals brought were of high class. Their descendants today are not inferior in characteristics to individuals from prestigious foreign nurseries. However, despite this, the number of breed representatives in our country is still small.

Elegant appearance, quick wit, peculiar character - all this is the result of natural selection. Even devotion to man originated in basenji without the intervention of breeders. Therefore, owners are especially interested in observing a pet, finding a common language with it.

The names of the breed in everyday life are different. Congo Terrier, shrubby, African, Egyptian dog - these are far from all the options. To many, the ancient breed still seems mysterious.

Nevertheless, the popularity of unusual pets is gradually growing, an increasing number of dog breeders get acquainted with them and remain subdued by their charm.

Basenji are small graceful dogs. However, for all their grace, they have an athletic physique and strong legs.

The height of the boys at the withers reaches 43 cm. Girls grow up to 40 cm. The weight of an adult animal varies from 9.5 to 11 kg. Consider other breed characteristics by standard.

• Head. The skull is slightly flat, medium in size. The muzzle is elongated, tapering to the nose. Folds can be seen on the forehead (they are especially pronounced in puppyhood). The ears are small, V-shaped, upright. On the head they are quite high, slightly tilted forward. The nose is black. The eyes are beautiful, dark brown, almond-shaped. The look is smart, expressive.
• Body. The body is harmonious, well balanced. The neck is of medium length, provides a good overview and regal posture. The back is straight. Belly tightened. The tail is small, high set, twisted into a ring and lies on its back.
• Limbs. The legs are long, muscular, straight, provide quickness and ease of movement, excellent coordination. The paws are equipped with thick pads and long nails.

The coat of animals is very short, soft and shiny. She is tight to the body. The undercoat of these dogs is not, therefore, they freeze in the climate of the middle zone.

As for the color, there are several acceptable options. The most common ones are black, brown or red with white spots. Snow-white in these cases are usually paws, chest, neck, tail end. And also there is a tricolor. Tricolor individuals can combine black, red (brown) and white. Rare, but very beautiful are dogs of tiger color. In this case, the red tint is complemented by black stripes.

It is worth noting that specialists distinguish 2 subspecies of basenji, varying in size. The plain variety is represented by larger individuals with light tones. Forest - with low dogs (below 40 cm) of darker shades.

As already mentioned, these unique dogs do not know how to bark at all. However, their vocal cords work. Animals sometimes growl and make various interesting sounds, reminiscent of singing, sighing or snorting.

A beautiful legend is associated with barking dogs. According to her, in ancient times a flock of wild dogs accidentally heard the secret of one of the tribes of the natives.

To save her, the animals vowed to shut up forever.

Basenji is very active and temperamental. They are hunters by nature. Despite the fact that today representatives of this breed are kept as companions, it is impossible to ignore the need of animals to realize a huge amount of energy.

Silent pets have a good disposition. They are affectionate, loyal. Dogs may be indifferent to strangers, but they love their owners.

They will be fond of all people in the house. However, it is worth considering that the pet has a character, so he will not want to perform the function of a living toy. But he can become a true friend.

Non-barking individuals can also easily find a common language with other dogs. Under natural conditions, such animals live in packs, so they are very social. But the smaller animals (cats, hamsters, ferrets and so on) the pet will consider as "prey". To change this situation is extremely difficult. Basenji are smart, have a good memory.

Living in the wild, dogs have become very independent. Despite the love and respect for the owner, sometimes they may not obey if they do not like something. In addition, if you leave the dog unattended for a long time, he can begin to be naughty, entertaining himself on his own.

Curiosity and injustice can lead a pet into an unpleasant situation. He can run away if you let him go on a leash for a walk. For example, he may be fascinated by an interesting smell, a passing car or a running cat. In the latter case, the "hunter" will begin the pursuit, ignoring the call of the owner and any other circumstances.

Experts say that each non-barking dog can also have individual character traits. But with each of them you can establish a strong emotional connection.

The main thing is to treat the pet with love and respect, show patience and understanding.

The inability to basenji to bark is a definite plus for dog breeders living in multi-storey buildings. But on the other hand, this quality does not allow the dog to become a real guard. Of course, animals have a great flair. When strangers appear, they stand up and emit a disgruntled rumbling. But nobody can scare it away.

Waywardness is another shortcoming of silent pets.

And also this trait is sometimes manifested in disobedience and refusal to execute commands. Because of this, some dog breeders call Basenji "cat dogs."

The difficulty of walking is another problem.

• Without clothes, a dog can be taken outside only in the warm season.
• There is a need for ongoing monitoring. Keep your dog on a leash next to the roadway and in busy places. At the same time, walks should be long and active (at least 1-1.5 hours twice a day).

Such dogs need daily physical and mental stress. They need running, fun games.

Another important point is the bad natural habit of dogs to pick up something on the street and eat it. If you do not monitor the behavior of the animal, it can harm your health.

The dog breeder’s home is also facing upbringing difficulties. Intelligence does not prevent dogs from trying to take their place more comfortable and higher. If you are against the fact that the dog is lying on the couch, and even more so on the bed, you will have to be patient to instill certain rules of behavior in the four-legged friend.

Accordingly, getting a dog to take water procedures is not easy. However, the animals are very clean.They maintain hygiene by washing like cats. In addition, African dogs do not smell, which can also be included in the list of their advantages.

So, this breed is very peculiar, it will not suit everyone.

However, if you are an experienced dog breeder, an active person with a positive outlook on life and a strong character, such a pet can become your true friend and companion, capable of raising your spirits at any time.

On average, representatives of this breed live up to 12-15 years.

Therefore, the owner of the dog should carefully monitor his health and, if necessary, take measures and consult a doctor.

Consider the list of ailments that most often affect these dogs.

• Pathology of the kidneys. Signs at an early stage: severe thirst, frequent urination. If you start the disease, it can lead to large weight loss, muscle atrophy and complete dehydration. As a result, the animal faces death. Start treatment as soon as possible. The disease is genetic in nature. It usually manifests itself when a dog reaches 5-7 years.
• Hypothyroidism Signs of the disease: overweight, lowering body temperature, deterioration of the coat and skin, swelling.
• Inherited vision problems (usually manifested in adults).
• Digestive upset, poisoning. In order to minimize such cases, it is important to provide the dog with a good balanced diet, to ensure that he does not pick up anything on the street. It is advisable to purchase potassium permanganate, a solution of magnesia oxide, apomorphine, Glauber's salt for a first-aid kit. Of course, it is necessary to understand in advance in what cases and how to use these medicines.

It is also important to vaccinate your pet according to the established schedule. It is periodically recommended to carry out anthelmintic treatment.

It is better to buy a puppy of this rare and expensive breed in the kennel.

In the best case, the dog may not be purebred. In the worst case, a sick puppy may be sold to you. In the kennels they give a guarantee that you will get a healthy thoroughbred dog.

Puppies are ready to move to a new home after they reach 1.5 months of age. However, it is better to choose from 2-month-old babies.

Professional breeders do not.

When choosing a puppy, you should pay attention to its appearance. The bite must be correct. There should be no discharge in the ears and eyes. The oral cavity should be pink. The nose should be black, the look should be clear, with a healthy gleam in the eyes.

If the puppy is lethargic or clumsy, this indicates abnormalities in health. Observe the behavior of the kids. Pay attention to their relationship with each other. Try to identify the friendliest puppy.

Such a doggie will later become an affectionate and loyal friend. If possible, look at the parents of the puppies. They must be well-groomed, educated. If the dogs are aggressive and inadequate, it is possible that the same traits may appear in the future for their children.

This is a veterinary passport, puppy card. The passport should contain information about the examination of the pet for dysplasia.

Do not be afraid to ask additional questions. It is important how the birth took place and how the puppy of your choice was born.

Ask how his body reacted to the first vaccinations, whether anthelmintic treatment was carried out. Professional breeders provide all the information and give recommendations for further care of the dog.

If you are an experienced dog breeder, you can purchase a teenage puppy. However, it should be understood that in this case you will have to make a lot more effort to educate the pet and establish contact with him. Better to take a calm and accommodating dog. In adults, it is already possible to determine the temperament and prevailing character.

Basenji prices are quite high. Moreover, they vary depending on the class, the exterior of the puppy, the achievements of the parents, the prestige of the kennel.

• The pet class is the most inexpensive. Such a puppy can cost about 15,000 rubles and more. He will grow up healthy, but some deviations will not allow him to take part in exhibitions. And also you cannot use such a dog for breeding. But if you just need a four-legged friend, this option may well be considered.
• The brid class is more expensive. Such animals are estimated from 25,000 rubles. They are also not suitable for exhibition events, but the flaws of the exterior of these individuals are not visible at first glance. Only a professional will be able to determine exactly what the pet does not meet the standard. For the production of thoroughbred offspring, animals of this category are quite suitable.
• The show class is the most expensive. The minimum cost of such a puppy is 30,000 rubles. These are pets with an impeccable pedigree. Growing up, they become champions of prestigious exhibitions. Their offspring will also be priced very dearly.

Basenji can be kept in a city apartment or in a country house. Caring for animals is easy.

Only in puppyhood the pet's fur coat needs to be combed periodically to remove dead hairs.

Basenji wash almost like cats. Therefore, they always look neat and well-groomed. You do not have to worry about the cleanliness of carpets, upholstered furniture.

As already mentioned these dogs are afraid of water, so they should be bathed only when there is a great need. Perhaps this attitude to water procedures is closely related to the genetic memory of animals. Everyone knows the danger of swimming in the ponds of Africa, where crocodiles are found, and it was there that the breed was formed. African descent determines the thermophilicity of dogs.

As for walking, here you can’t do without a small dog’s wardrobe.

Regular eye and ear examinations are mandatory hygiene procedures. To eliminate secretions and dirt use cotton swabs (for the eyes) and cotton swabs (for the ears).

The claws of the representatives of this breed are not long, but periodically they should be cut or grinded using a special nail file. The procedure is carried out 1-2 times a month.

Regular use of anthelmintic drugs has already been said. And you should also check your pet's hair for ticks and other pests in the warm season. A good solution is to use a special collar that protects against ticks and fleas.

And, of course, active walks and outdoor games are a prerequisite for the harmonious development and maintenance of a good physical shape of a pet.

Basenji diet should be given special attention.

His dog is given raw. Bones can be given to a pet once a week, not more often. In small quantities, offal and fish should be included in the menu. Useful boiled cereals (rice, oatmeal, buckwheat) without salt. And you can also give the dog kefir and quail eggs. As for vegetables, grated carrots will be the best addition to the diet.

Of course, these should only be super-premium products. The pet should always have access to clean drinking water. Therefore, fill it with a bowl in a timely manner so that the animal can drink at any time.

Watch the weight of the dog.

In addition, it is forbidden to feed the animal sweets, smoked, spicy foods.

First of all, you need to teach the animal to behave with dignity at home. Basenji easily climb to any height. Therefore, immediately let the puppy understand that you can’t get on the bed if you are against it. Also, do not give your pet food from your table. No matter how cute the expression on the face of a dog trying to beg you a piece of something tasty, do not give in.

Otherwise, the pet will shamelessly drag food from the table.

Do not leave the dog unattended. Domestic hooliganism, which is often blamed on these cute creatures, usually occurs precisely because the animal is bored.

It’s not easy to train African dogs. The teams they perform reluctantly. But the point here is not stupidity. The breed is considered quite smart. Just such animals are very self-sufficient. They believe that they better know when to get up, when to sit down, where it is better to walk and, in general, how to behave. However, some success can still be achieved.

Shouting and punishment will not help. Patience and cunning should be shown here.

For example, when learning the “Come to me!” Command a roulette leash will help you. Do not unhook the animal from the leash, just loosen the tape measure. Wait for the pet to move a long distance, and secure the leash length. The dog will feel discomfort and stop moving. Having heard the command, he will turn and head towards you.

So you master the call by restricting the freedom of choice for the dog without physical impact. At the same time, you will show the pet which of you is the main one. At the same time, do not forget to encourage the fourth friend with affectionate words and refreshments. This will make him understand that for correctly performed actions he will receive some benefit for himself.

Entertain her with games, do not let her get bored.

In addition to fair encouragement, regular training is important. Skills must be constantly developed, changing conditions and circumstances.

If the dog still ran away, but then returned, in no case do not scold him. Moreover, physical punishment is unacceptable. The pet will not understand that you are unhappy with his escape. He may decide that you are screaming because he came back. In this case, the next time the dog may simply not return.

This is how authority is formed. Experienced dog breeders give one more valuable piece of advice. In order for basenji to allow you to take away from him what he constantly tries to eat on the street, you need to accustom him to this from childhood. From an early age, periodically open the puppy's mouth and take food from him. Indignation firmly suppress. It will make your life easier when the dog grows up.

It is better to walk a silent dog on a special spacious platform away from roads and busy places. Here the restless creature will be able to frolic in plenty until it spills out excess energy.

After buying an unusual dog, you should immediately go to the store for the necessary accessories for walking. First of all, it is a collar and leash.

In the throat, it expands, and on the back it narrows. This reduces pressure on the neck and minimizes the risk of injury. In such a collar, the pet will not suffocate, even if it pulls the leash tightly.

The optimal product length is at least 3 meters. This will give the pet freedom of movement.It should be noted that tape models are more durable than rope ones.

You can replace the collar with harness. The design allows you to transfer pressure to the body of the animal. Size-adjustable articles of dense material are preferred. Remember that ammunition should not hamper the movement of the dog and cause him inconvenience.

If you have no desire to take away garbage from an animal each time, you can get out of the situation differently.

For example, a plastic model would be a good choice. Some prefer metallic leather-lined options. In any case, the product should be larger than the face of the dog. Thanks to this, the African will not feel discomfort and will be able to slightly open his mouth if desired.

Narrow fabric muzzles hold the mouth of the animal tightly. Usually they are used for travel in public transport. This option is not suitable for walking, since the dog should not be in such a muzzle for more than 30 minutes.

To protect against wind and low temperatures in the offseason, the owner of the basenji can buy blankets. This is a wrap on the back with a soft inner side that warms the pet. On rainy days, it is advisable to wear a raincoat (clothing made of a moisture-resistant fabric). It can be made in the form of blankets, and in the form of overalls.

It covers the entire body of the dog, including the stomach, legs, neck. Typically, such clothing consists of two layers. External - from the membrane fabric which is not passing moisture. The inner layer is most often a warm and soft fleece.

And also it protects the pads from the reagents that often sprinkle the streets in winter. The inside of the shoes is trimmed with fur or fleece. External - is made of wear-resistant material.

If the winters are severe in your area, you can additionally warm the dog with a hat. Some models are complemented by a shirt-front or snood (such a product covers not only the head, but also the dog’s neck). The latter option will be useful if the warm jumpsuit does not have a collar.

Judging by the reviews of the owners, the basenji is not an easy breed. The wayward, too independent dogs give their owners a lot of trouble with training and education.

However, there are practically no negative reviews.

The fact is that positive qualities of a pet block both his restlessness and petty hooliganism. A charming face with a unique facial expression leaves no one indifferent. Dogs are affectionate, loyal, playful. It is interesting to watch them; it is pleasant to be with them. To those owners who love their African miracle with all its shortcomings, the dog reciprocates.

Basenji dogs can be seen in the video below.