About Basenji's

The Basenjis are a little more chewier then your normal puppy for about the first year and a half. Leaving a young Basenji puppy alone in the house free roaming is not a wise idea. Anything in their reach is fair game and may get chewed or demolished. Oh, socks and underwear are a Basenji's dream!! They make a person learn what a clothes hamper is real quick. It worked for my husband!

They also love to hide your belongings. In a Basenji household, if you can't find it, look for it in your Basenjis favorite hiding place!! When my husband can't find the tool he just laid down, we start looking for dogs to see which one of them have it. Hide and seek your belongings is a great game for them.

They are naturally mischievous and tend to get bored very easily if you are not entertaining them. They are very active and need lots of exercise, and many toys to play with, if you don't have the time to invest in walking and exercising them daily, whether it be on a leash or fenced in yard, you may need to reconsider a Basenji.

Speaking of a fenced yard, Basenjis are great escape artists, and diggers. You must have a good fence. We have chain link, plus have buried wire down 2 foot in the ground. So far that has kept them in. Most Basenjis will keep on going when they get out of the yard, this is one of the times when that "mind of their own" kicks in, unfortunately this is also the time when the Basenjis are "not car smart" and meet their doom. Please do yourself and your puppy a favor and make sure of your fencing before purchasing a Basenji, then watch your Basenji to make sure it will hold him for a while anyway.

I want you to be aware of what you are in for before you get a Basenji puppy. They are like having a 2 year old in your family and need lots of love attention and boundaries set.

There are many good qualities within this breed too. They love people, they want to please, they are clean, good dogs for people with allergies, and just so sweet and lovable. They are great companions and feet warmers, love to snuggle and know everything you are up to. I love the breed. I know you will to!!

The Basenji is by nature, an obedient dog, tractable and anxious to please. He is sprite and alert, and his beautiful gait elicits much favorable comment. The Basenjis distinctive sound of happiness thrills one, yet is a sound hard to describe. He is usually very happy when he makes it and one can't help but share this happiness with him. Remember the Basenji has a life span of 12 to 14 years, they will be a part of your family for a long, long time!