Breeds / Small
Basenji puppies
The Basenji is a small, short coated hound that does not bark but yodels, and they groom themselves like a cat. They are independent, reserved with strangers and have a strong prey drive, so recall training is difficult.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Central Africa
- Adult weight 10 to 10.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 22 to 24 lb
- Adult height 41 to 43 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 13 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Basenji
The Basenji is an African hunting dog, used in the Congo basin to drive game into nets, and they are one of the oldest types recognised anywhere. They are small and elegant, 41 to 43 centimetres tall, with a tightly curled tail, a wrinkled forehead and prick ears. Their larynx is shaped so that they yodel instead of barking. They groom themselves like a cat, carry almost no odour, and treat strangers with polite indifference rather than suspicion.
Grooming is a weekly once over with a hound glove and little else. Exercise needs are real: long play sessions in a well fenced garden or on lead, plus outlets such as lure coursing, tracking or agility. A Basenji should never run loose, because the prey drive overrides recall and trainability rates two out of five. They rate three out of five with children, so supervise and socialise. Just remember that "does not bark" is a long way from "quiet": a bored Basenji is loud and inventive.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Basenji puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Fanconi syndrome, a kidney tubule disorder that leaks glucose and protein into the urine, detectable by DNA test
- Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test and monitored by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Hypothyroidism, screened by a thyroid evaluation
- Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, confirmed by intestinal biopsy
Your Basenji puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Basenji.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 10 to 10.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 10.9 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Basenji
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Basenji breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/basenji/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Niko Herlin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.