Basenji Puppies

Basenjis are very curious, and will endlessly investigate if left to their own devices. They are very affectionate and will often get very attached to their owners. They are eager to please, but if you don't establish leadership in the household they serve their own needs.

Basenjis are relatively healthy dogs, but should be checked for disorders like hypothyroidism, IPSID, and Hip Dysplasia. Their genes can also be tested for things like Fanconi Syndrome and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which allows breeders to plan breedings that don't result in these disorders.

They are very energetic and require lots of exercise to keep them from becoming bored, which can lead to destructive behavior. A secure fenced in area is required, because their instinct to hunt can cause them to roam far from home if not contained. Their beauty truly comes out when they are running, when they exhibit the long strides of a racehorse.

Basenjis are very low maintenance, and their short coats only require a quick brushing every week. Brushing helps distribute their skin oils to their coat to keep it healthy. They are very clean, and spend time daily grooming themselves like a cat. Because of this, they don't have a disctinct doggy smell, and only need bathed when they get especially dirty.

Basenjis are very light shedders, and their coat is so short and fine that what does fall out is less noticeable.

They have a glistening short coat, a tightly curled tail, and pointy ears. They have many catlike features, and even groom themselves. Because of this, they don't need to be regularly bathed unless they get into something particularly messy.

Basenjis are regarded as one of the oldest known dog breeds, and were brought from Africa as gifts for the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt. They can also be seen in Ancient Egyptian art, and and even art from ancient Babylon and Mesopotamia. After these empires collapsed, they were isolated to Africa where they were treasured for their keen hunting senses. They were first seen in the west in the 1800s, and made their way to the United States in the mid 1900s.