What's a basenji?
A basenji is a small, barkless hunting dog from Africa with short hair and a curly tail. For thousands of years, the basenji has accompanied humans in hunting for all sorts of game, including leopard, antelope, and swamp rats. Today, basenjis are agile, functional, all-around hounds who use both scent and sight--although most contemporary basenjis are more likely to nail a few birds or chase the neighborhood cats than take on a leopard.
(For more information about basenjis, visit "Other Basenji Links" at the bottom of this page.)
We have had dogs for the last twenty years. My husband's first dog was a Sheltie named Shelly; mine was a German shepherd named Lady.
The first dog we chose together was Brenna, an Irish wolfhound-Australian shepherd mix with the sweetest temperament imaginable. Her grace as she ran was astonishing. Her beauty, coupled with her personality, made Brenna a truly extraordinary companion.
After her death, my youngest son Robert was heartbroken. We let him research different breeds of dogs. When he presented his choices, we all decided that a short-haired sighthound group was the best choice. I wanted an Irish wolfhound, but couldn't face going through another loss in "only" eight to ten years. I wanted a dog that would live forever--or as close to it as we could manage. And my husband wanted a smaller dog.
We thought about salukis, pharaoh hounds, whippets, and basenjis. Then we saw an ad in the paper for basenji puppies.
On paper, the basenji sounded very intriguing. A barkless, yodeling, chortling dog who cleaned itself like a cat? We just had to see it.
We got out to the breeder's, and saw whippets, Jack Russell terriers, and basenjis. The whippets were adorable, and friendly. When I sat down and called the basenji pups, the basenjis took off for a run across five acres of field and I got six whippets in my lap. Maybe the dog books were right about basenjis being aloof. They were certainly right about the basenjis being active.
After I extricated myself from the whippet pile, I talked to Ed some more and watched the basenjis run. They were gorgeous. Clichés like "poetry in motion" kept coming to mind. And when I saw the adult dog, Buster, standing regally on a stump, his red and white coat gleaming in the sun, I was sold. I had to have a basenji.
Ed warned us about what we were getting into. He told me that basenjis are NOT yard dogs, that you can't leave them in the back yard all the time and ignore them, that they'll just get into trouble and tear things up. And he asked about our fence--what kind? How high? "It's a five-foot block wall," I said, watching the basenjis. "Don't EVER show that dog what's on the other side of the wall," he told me. "Ever."
Ed had two four-month-old tri-color puppies for sale. One had a umbilical hernia, and had been returned to him after eating a sofa and re-landscaping a yard. He recommended the other puppy as the better choice.
By this time, Robert (who was about twelve) had caught one of the puppies and was carrying her all over the place. Naturally, it had to be the one that ate furniture for a hobby and could destroy whole yards in a single day. However, this was Robert's puppy, and Robert was adamant--he wanted this puppy, not the other one.
Ed warned us that he only raised basenjis for lure coursing, not the show ring. He even told us that the mother's nickname was She-Devil, and showed us how she could open a screen door. And he was very clear that we could always bring the puppy back if we didn't want her--which I couldn't imagine. This was obviously the most perfect dog in the world.
Well, I was right, but that didn't mean she would be easy to raise and train.
Living with a Basenji: Culture Shock
We took the puppy home. She threw up in Robert's lap after about a mile and a half. Robert was appalled. The puppy, who was already feeling better, could not understand why Robert wasn't happy, too.
Robert named her Lucky Lindy. Our precious darling soon earned the nickname "Lindy the Destroyer" after she chewed up the lawn furniture, dug up a tree stump all by herself. When we had to replace all the garden hoses and the pool pump hoses, we were not amused. Her endless energy was hard on the other animals too. Lindy drove our geriatric corgi and geriatric cats nuts with her antics.
This was the first dog I had ever owned which, as a puppy, required constant supervision. Lindy could be into and onto anything quicker than you could think. She was always chewing, or digging, or chasing something. And she didn't come when you called her, either. At first, until she learned to stay with me, I walked her through the house on a leash. And we put up gates to slow the basenji down and protect the cats. The cats appreciated the dog-free zones (although Lindy can easily jump a child-proof gate, she knows she's not allowed to, and she simply doesn't. She's so wonderful).
The dog book which said basenjis are ideal for a "moderately active family" was 100% correct. One moderately active family, if they all pitch in, can keep a basenji tired enough to stay out of trouble. Our girl requires a long daily walk or run, lots of love, and lots of supervision.
Despite the surprises, we persevered. We crate-trained Lindy without any real difficulty, and alternated between crating her and letting her sleep in our bed at night. My husband whined about having the dog in the bed, but our breeder had told us that she would be a good dog if she slept with us, and so I insisted that Lindy be allowed in the bed. And our breeder was right. Like most dogs, a basenji loves physical contact, and sleeping together created a close emotional bond between human and dog.
To cope with an adolescent bitch who wanted very much to be in charge, we read lots of books on dog behavior, and learned how to be benevolent Alphas. I got a new nickname: Babs. (Yeah, you're right - it's short for Benevolent Alpha Bitch. I think it's a compliment, but I'm not entirely sure.)
We got used to the idea that the pet food budget simply had to include $10 or $20 in dog toys every month.
First, we bought trash-cans with lids. Next, we invested in no-chew spray, Vicks Vapor-Rub, and a security screen door.
Before Lindy joined the family, there were dog rules and cat rules. Cats got to sit on the furniture; dogs stayed on the floor. But basenjis think three-dimensionally. They love sitting on window sills and leaping from chair to chair. And the waterbed is perfect for a good roll and morning snuggle. How could anyone deny a basenji the pleasure of curling up in your lap, or sunning on a window sill?
Lindy decided to live by cat rules instead of dog rules, much to our corgi's dismay (at twelve, he was not in any shape to leap on and off the waterbed, but he still wanted to try). Lindy appropriated the waterbed (now known as the "b nest"), the love seat, and the windowsill next to the bird feeder.
We did more than change the rules for pets. Our new human regime included putting things away and getting more exercise. We learned not to leave food out on counters or tables - ever. We picked up everything we cared about (like shoes) that used to be thrown casually on the floor. We've changed our schedule to accommodate long daily walks, and I'm probably in the best physical shape I've ever been in.
We quickly realized that basenjis, who very much want to be dominant dogs in the family "pack," may not excel at obedience, but they very much need it. We went to a Petsmart puppy class to socialize Lindy and to get started. She was NOT nice to the other dogs, and required a lot of socialization. However, the hard work paid off, and we can now take her anywhere with only minimal "snarking" when she's introduced to other female dogs. She loves to be around other dogs (especially boy dogs!), and to play with them.
On our daily walks, we practice basic obedience: heeling across every street, sit-stays and down-stays and coming. "Come" is the single most important command you can teach a headstrong, curious basenji.
Our breeder, Ed, had mentioned lure coursing as a possible sport. We went to a lure coursing event just to watch. Lindy saw the lure--a garbage sack being pulled along a roughly circular course--and raced to the end of the leash, where she turned a spectacular somersault. She wanted that lure worse than she ever wanted anything.
Well, her first weekend, she took Best of Field, an extraordinary accomplishment for a basenji. Since then, she's taken Best of Breed and accumulated almost enough points for her Field Championship. Lindy loves to run, and we love to take her.
Lure coursing has introduced us to some wonderful dogs and some wonderful people. It gives our teenage son a way to be involved and excel at something healthy and fun. This is one of the best things we've ever done for our family. It's been great for us, and for our "Energizer bunny with teeth."
Yes, if you are a person with a sense of humor who's not too attached to your possessions, and if you want a dog that will make you laugh. I have never loved a dog the way I love Lindy. She has a wicked intelligence, indescribable grace and beauty, a loving personality, and a magnificent enthusiasm for life. We have fun together, we snuggle together, and we love each other very deeply.
My husband, who is a self-acknowledged "cat person," now says, "I don't want any more cats." He could be content with basenjis for the rest of his life. And, as a matter of fact, many basenji owners call their predilection for basenjis "an addiction." One man, after owning a basenji, called every other dog "completely useless." Once you own a basenji, you're never quite the same.
But--beware! A basenji demands attention, careful training, and patience. Basenjis are clever, strong-minded escape artists who are quick to get into trouble. Without lots of exercise, affection and stimulation, they WILL be problem dogs. If you aren't willing to take the time, and if you aren't willing to be Alpha, you should not be a basenji owner.
If you still can't be dissuaded after reading all this, you are probably a good candidate for basenji ownership (and possibly for other forms of psychotherapy as well, but let's talk about that another time ;-)
Read about
how Connor came to be part of the Durham Pack.
See more pictures of Lindy (and Connor)
Find out more about Tina's pets.
This will take you to other links about basenjis, including other b-owners' home pages.
Want to see some artwork featuring basenjis? Visit artfuldogger.com, featuring hand-crafted decorative objects for art and animal lovers. |
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Above images and text ©2000 Tina Quinn Durham. |
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