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Hey Basenjis I need your help

This is a forum for bonding with your fellow Dogsters about the traits, quirks and idiosyncrasies of your favorite breed. Please remember that there are absolutely no animal sales or requests for studding or breeding allowed on our sites. All posts and interactions should be in the spirit of Dogster's Community Guidelines and should be fun, friendly and informational. Enjoy!

  
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Sissy

Merry Christmas		 
 
Barked: Mon Mar 26, '07 3:35pm PST 
I know I am not a Basenji but I need your help. Could you please list 10 pros and cons about owning a Basenji. Also can you tell me how you travel and fly with them? And do you HAVE to get more than one.

Edited by author Tue Mar 27, '07 3:19pm PST

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Keyah

Hey you - give me a belly- rub.
 
 
Barked: Mon Mar 26, '07 10:39pm PST 
Hi Sissy!

You're smart to ask a couple of Basenjis about the pros and cons about the breed. We did a lot of research before getting Basenji and still had some surprises.

Pros:
1. We don't shed much
2. We are small dogs but still athletic and love to get a lot of exercise
3. We don't typically bark, although we can still make a lot of noise
4. We're pretty good at snuggling
5. We're never boring

Cons:
1. We can be very difficult to train. It comes down to convincing us that we are doing something because it was our idea in the first place.
2. This is just Mom's guess, but she thinks, as an ancient breed, we may communicate a little differenlty than other dogs. This can lead to some misunderstandings.
3. The "snark" - it's a pretty unusual sound we make when establishing hierarchy, for instance. It's something you should hear, so you aren't freaked out the first time it happens.
4. He are VERY curious. We will get into everything. Patan and I have learned what we can and can not touch, but there are some things, like slippers, that we still find impossible to resist.
5. We are chewers. Many people we meet that have given up Basenjis do so because of destructive behavior. We need appropriate outlets for chewing and a lot of patience when we learn what is and is not a chew toy.
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Lexi

Some heros have- capes; I have- paws!		 
 
Barked: Tue Mar 27, '07 3:24am PST 
Pros:
1. We are oh so cute. Duh.
2. We look great as puppies and also as adults!
3. We can be good for those with allergies.
4. We're very, very smart.
5. We shed very little (except maybe when the seasons change, then it's a little more)
6. We're cuddle bums and sun seekers.
7. We're small and can be more manageable.
8. We don't carry doggie odor like most dogs.
9. We don't feel waxy.
10. We don't bark; therefore we are unique.
11. We are very loyal to our families because we are PART of the family. We do not just want to be left outside alone.

Cons
1. We are very, very smart. We want to know about EVERYTHING.
2. We obey when there's something in it for us.
3. Miles, my brother howls when in the crate and it sounds like a tornado siren. It's THAT loud.
4. Many of us do NOT like to be separated from our pack. Leave us in the car while you pump gas? Ha! Come back to a shredded car or watch your whole car shake while we go nuts trying to get out.
5. We can be door bolters.
6. We are TRUE ESCAPE ARTISTS. I once got out of my metal crate. I bent the wires and stuffed myself through the smallest bars. You would never believe it!
7. Can be alood with strangers. Oh, so you think we're cute? You can look but you can't touch!!
8. We poop while walking.
9. We can get 'butt juice' where our anal glands get impacted. And it STINKS.
10. We are very determined. We WILL get what we want!
11. We're surprisngly strong for such a little dog.
12. We're also very fast and often when outside on the run, do NOT respond to our names. Electronic fences are NOT a good idea for us.
13. We're climbers. Chain link fences are merely ladders.
14. We can jump like nobody's business. Straight onto the back of the couch in a single bound, no running start needed. DOIIIING!
15. We're more prone to some eye troubles and some renal disorders, but responsible breeders have done a good job of keeping that to a minimum.
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Savannah aka- Banners!

Banners on the- Run! NOT!
 
 
Barked: Tue Mar 27, '07 10:11am PST 
Little kids scare me and I can snap if they come too close, too quickly. Sometimes getting an older basenji with little children is not a good thing; especially if they were not raised with them. Talker likes kids, he's not scared. But I am. Bad kids that scare me.
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Dakini

Sky Dancer with- an attitude!		 
 
Barked: Tue Mar 27, '07 10:45am PST 
I think the worst con is the destructive chewing. Even though Daddy is a stay at home Dad, he watches alot of tv, and we, well, we find other outlets for our evergy. Some of these outlets have made Momma cry, but she still loves us and would never give us up. We have lots of energy, and when you combine the energy with the curiosity, bad things can happen. Since we are bolters, Momma and Daddy had a 4 ft high fence installed around the front porch. It won't stop us if we're DETERMINED, but it at least gives Momma and Daddy a fighting chance on slowing us down. We snark like crazy, which the first (or hundredth) time will scare you to death. We SCREAM when we're afraid, and it sounds about like a teenage girl at a horror movie. Most of us love to cuddle, and are happiest when we are with our family. We like to touch others, whether it's a lap, a foot, or one of the other pups. If you look at our pages, you'll see us piled together in a lot of the pictures, which ARE NOT posed. We're not big on sharing snacks or treats, but the babies can take toys right out of the boys mouths without a problem. We love to run and jump and do it all over again! We like attention, but can be aloof. I don't like it when people don't fawn over me at Petsmart. If I see them later, and they try to be nice, I will ignore them. We are all socialized, and are good with kids. Other dogs -depends. Paku still has his na-na's, so he acts different than Omari. I am usually a social butterfly with people and dogs. The babies haven't been around other pups because they haven't had all their shots yet. Momma has bad allergies, and isn't supposed to have dogs. We don't make her itch and cry like some of the other pups do because we keep ourselves groomed and our dander down. Plus, we don't shed much. The babies (being more African than us) have even shorter hair than we do.
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Talker

Talk of the- Town!
 
 
Barked: Tue Mar 27, '07 9:21pm PST 
I can't be trusted off a leash. I'll run. If I see something across the street or another dog, I'll run. I won't think about cars. I'll just run.

I like to get really active at around 9:00 p.m. It's called the Basenji 500 and it's a great burst of energy that fills the whole house. It usually lasts about 30 minutes and then I crash. Its fun to do...fun to watch..but mom can get pretty upset if she's trying to watch tv and I'm dashing and darting all over the house, couch, rug, bed and anything that stands in my way.

It's fun when 2 or more basenjis do it.
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Dakota Sun- (RIP MY- LOVE)

waiting at the- bridge
 
 
Barked: Wed Mar 28, '07 9:30am PST 
Mom had one basenji in the beginning....ME! She had me baby gated in the kitchen at first but I would always climb the thing and meet her at the front door. She then crated me. I was VERY destructive while in my crate and screamed like a banshee. Mom had to warn the neighbors and let them know there was no murder going on in the apartment. When she finally let me have the run of the apartment, which didn't take long with the way I was acting inside the crate, I took to laying across the back of the couch watching the world go by all day. She took me for a walk in the morning, came home at lunch for another short one and after work always took me to the park for at least an hour. That was before dog parks and she would go into the middle of an empty field with a flexi leash and tell me to run and I'd run in huge circles until I couldn't any more.
I traveled very well in the car and loved our drive from Chicago to California.
I wasn't good with strangers and was very very protective of my territory and humans. I was not friendly with other dogs but amazed mom by being very gentle and tolerant when they brought home puppies. I helped raise three and although Marlowe was a challenge he turned out ok...under my guidance.
I loved my mom above all others and even though I wasn't always the nicest dog she fell head over heels for me and loved me like there was no tomorrow. I brought her into the world of the basenji and now she's hooked. I have heard her say that the others are a piece of cake compared to me!
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Cheyenne- Moon

Live, love and- play
 
 
Barked: Wed Mar 28, '07 9:58am PST 
waveHi Sissy

Everyone covered alot of ground here...I don't have much more to say...did anyone say we don't like water...at least most of us. You will always find an exception to the rule. Mom has to drag us out in the rain and usually gets wetter then we do.

Each of us are alike but different because we are of course our own dogs. If you decide on a basenji and want a puppy, make sure you find a good breeder. If you chose to rescue go to BRAT, Basenji Rescue and Transport, as they will be able to place the appropriate dog with you.
We aren't a dog for everyone, you need patience and above all else a sense of humor. We are smart...you need to be smarter. We are hounds and will take off if given the chance. We need to be well socialized and even then some of us don't take to strangers and other dogs. We are independent and curious, will get into just about anything and will destroy things you cherish...It is very important to baby proof your house. We are also funny, loving, loyal and beautiful. We will keep you on your toes and keep your life exciting for there is always something new to learn about us.
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Omari

Born to rule!		 
 
Barked: Wed Mar 28, '07 10:08am PST 
And, those suppsoedly indestructible toys-well, not at our house!
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Keyah

Hey you - give me a belly- rub.
 
 
Barked: Wed Mar 28, '07 11:14am PST 
We second that Omari. We've yet to find a truly indestructible toy. I think we've tried just about everything. Those durable Nylabones will keep up busy for awhile. We have a pile of them.
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