The African barkless dog, the Basenji, is a small, energetic dog that developed long ago in Africa. It is considered one of the world’s oldest dog breeds. Europeans and later other parts of the world learned about this unique dog in 1895 when Dr. Schweinfurth traveled to Congo and made notes on domestic animals from that region.

Basenjis are independent dogs, bred to find and flush small game to hunters’ nets. They are famous for not barking but making howling-like sounds, called baroo, that resemble yodeling. 

1. Size

Basenjis are small dogs. Both males and females are around 16 to 17 inches tall and can weigh up to 24 pounds. Males are usually heavier than females. The precise AKC standards are:

• Male height: up to 17 inches (43 cm)
• Male weight: 24 pounds (10 kg)
• Female height: up to 16 inches (40 cm)
• Female weight: 22 pounds (9 to 10 kg)

These are small dogs, but they don’t appear fragile. On the contrary, they are muscular with distinctive features such as:

• Wrinkled head
• Curled tail set high
• Long legs
• Long erect ears 

Basenjis are versatile hunting dogs that use both their sense of smell and their sight to locate small game. The AKC breeds official standards say, “…swift, effortless gait (resembling a racehorse trotting full out).”

2. Color 

The most common coat color we see is a red and white Basenji. However, they can have 9 different coat colors. The AKC recognizes 4 as the breed standard:

• Black and white
• Brindle and white
• Red and white
• Black tan and white

Some other coat colors are cream and white, blue cream and white, sable and white, and others. The AKC standard markings are brindle, but there are others:

• Black mask
• Black saddle
• With cap

3. Social traits

Basenjis are not overly social dogs, but they can go well with other dogs if they are properly socialized from an early age. Every dog is unique, but there are some general breed standards that usually apply to all dogs from the breed.

Most owners say they are quirky dogs with very strong personalities. They need someone with an equally strong personality who can be consistent and give them enough attention and exercise. If left unsupervised, they can quickly become very naughty.

They can go well with children as well, but affection is not their strongest side. Basenji is often described as a dog with a “cat-like” personality, which means they won’t tolerate anything they find truly boring or annoying. This is why socialization is a must.

Good with dogs: yes with socialization

Good with children: yes with socialization

Good with other animals: yes with socialization

When we say “with socialization” it means they have to be properly introduced to children while they are still puppies for them to develop a proper relationship with the youngest parts of the family. However, it is not recommended to leave a toddler unsupervised with dogs, no matter their nature. Accidents can happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The same goes with other dogs or other animals. And, remember, Basenjis are hunting dogs, which means they’ll always have a higher prey drive which we have to work with and refocus to keep everyone safe.

4. Trainability

As we already mentioned, Basenjis were bred to hunt. They were particularly bred to have high independence in the hunt, which means they had to work alone far away from the owner and the man-issued commands.

This is a problem for today’s owners because it means they are not the easiest dogs to train and they are not for inexperienced dog owners. Potty training them is easy, as well as teaching them to sit. However, off-leash walking, as well as teaching them to “leave it” when they smell a potential small prey such as a squirrel is difficult. 

The solution is to tire them enough so that they don’t have such a strong desire to chase everything and anything they come across. Owners like to joke that a tired Basenji is a well-behaved one. This is a joke of course, but there is some truth in it.

Any dog breed with high energy is going to become destructive or will generally misbehave if not given enough daily exercise.

5. Activity

If you were thinking of getting a Basenji because they look cute and are rather small dogs, perfect for an apartment but you can’t give them enough exercise every day and you plan on leaving them alone for most of the day – don’t get a Basenji.

As we already mentioned, an adult Basenji needs at least 2 hours of exercise each day. This can be divided into smaller playtimes during the day or smaller walks, but they need it every day. A quick walk in the morning or the evening won’t do the job. They will get bored, anxious, destructive, etc.

You can combine the walk to the park or playing outside with playtime at home. There are numerous games you can play with your dog inside your home. This will keep your dog stimulated both mentally and physically. And, that is very important to keep a high-energy dog healthy.

6. Feeding

Every dog is unique and the amount of food we need to give them every day depends on many factors, such as health, age, and activity levels. Generally speaking, an adult Basenji needs around 1.5 cups of high-quality kibble food a day divided into two meals. 

One meal in the morning and the other one in the evening. A healthy snack, such as fruit good for dogs can be given in between the meals. But, once again, feeding a dog is unique and differs from dog to dog.

You can use some simple and quick ways to determine if your dog is normal weight. If he is underweight, give him more food and if he is overweight, give him less. And, after all, there is always an option to consult the vet.

7. Grooming

You will come across some websites claiming Basenjis don’t shed, which is not true. They do shed. They are not the biggest shedders in the dog world, but you will find dog hair here and there, especially during the shedding seasons.

They have short and smooth coats, which means you won’t have to use all kinds of dog brushes, but a hound glove or a rubber brush will be enough. To keep the coat clean and healthy, brush your dog once a week. When they are puppies, you can brush them more often to get them used to the process and to bond even more with them.

Brushing is also a great way to check the dog’s overall physical health. Through brushing we can see if there are some scratches, if there is a certain part of the body that hurts them, or if there are any other changes, such as lumps.

Grooming Basenjis also includes trimming their nails regularly, usually once a month. The AKC states that Basenjis are “odorless”, but that’s not entirely true. They don’t have the strongest “dog smell” and they don’t require frequent baths unless they get dirty playing outside. 

8. Possible problems

Basenjis have a longer lifespan than most dog breeds – around 16 years. Of course, it depends on the generics, how we treat the dog, and some things we can’t control – life. They are generally healthy dogs but can suffer from various health issues just like any other dog breed.

The most common health problems are:

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Hip Dysplasia
• Fanconi Syndrome 
• IPSID (abnormality with nutrient absorption)
• Hypothyroidism 

Responsible breeding is the key to keeping a dog breed healthy for many generations. Inbreeding should be discouraged. Testing breeding dogs for various hereditary diseases is encouraged and should be done. If a dog comes up positive, they should not be used in breeding programs. That is responsible breeding.

Summary

Basenji is a unique-looking dog breed developed a long time ago to help people hunt small game. They were bred to be independent. This trait remains even today. They are not overly affectionate, but are loyal and usually connect with one or two people in the family.

They can be great family dogs, but they need proper socialization from an early age. Basenjis also need lots of exercise every day! If you cannot give them at least 1 hour of running and playing outside combined with playtime at home, Basenji might not be a dog for you.

They will misbehave and become destructive if you leave them alone with nothing to do for hours and hours every day. 

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