The Basenji
By Kathleen Newton

Although not as old as mankind, the Basenji (pronounced buh-sen-jee), known as the "barkless dog of Africa," is an ancient breed.

Archaeologists have traced the Basenji's origins to the Zaire and Congo regions of Africa, where the Basenji first appeared in ancient engravings about 5,000 years ago. However, the Louvre museum in France contains a statue of a Basenji dated at 5000 B.C., which would indicate the breed has been around for closer to 7,000 years.

Tribes in Africa used the Basenji as a hunting dog.They passed on the breed's excellent hunting skills through not-so-natural culling: Basenjis with poor hunting skills often ended up in the soup pot.

Besides being hunters, the Africans worshipped and revered the Basenjis. Explorers have discovered statues and engravings of the Basenji throughout the Nile Valley, particularly within the tombs of Pharaohs. For example, Anubis http://osiris.colorado.edu/LAB/GODS/anubis.html, the Egyptian deity who was one of three "weighers of hearts", contained the head of a Basenji.

Physical Characteristics:

The most unique physical trait of the Basenji is their inability to bark. This is due to a breed-specific anomaly of the vocal cords. While the Basenji cannot actually "bark", he can make every other sound in the canine vocabulary.

• Height: 16-17 inches.
• Weight: 22-24 lbs.
• Coat: Short, fine, and lustrous.
• Body: Sleek, designed for the speed and agility necessary to be a good hunter.
• Life Span: 10-12 years.

Health Issues:

The Basenji suffers from a number of health problems, including progressive retinal atrophy http://www.peteducation.com/cats_dogs/prd.htm, an eye disorder leading to blindness, and Fanconi syndrome http://mesavet.com/library/fanconi.htm, a kidney disease. Other health issues include hemolytic anemia (a blood disorder), hypothyroidism (an underproductive thyroid gland), and malabsorption syndrome (a digestive problem).

Behavior Traits:

Temperament is a possible problem with some Basenjis. Obedience training is absolutely necessary. The Basenji is one breed that is very reward-oriented when it comes to training. Basenjis are intelligent, independent, and clever, which can lead to destruction of your home's contents unless the Basenji is well-trained. The Basenji's activity level is high so regular exercise and activity is necessary.

Social Skills:

The Basenji is initially aloof toward strangers, but loyal to his owner. The breed does not accept children naturally, but can adapt to kids if properly socialized from a very early age. The Basenji will also get along with most other pets if properly socialized. However, it's important to note that Basenji males tend to be aggressive towards males of any breed.

The ideal home for a Basenji has:

• A fenced yard.
• Lots of human contact.
• An owner willing to devote the time and energy to training and exercising his Basenji.
• An owner who appreciates the unique qualities of the Basenji.
• LOTS OF LOVE!!

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
(From the Basenji Gourmet)

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• ¼ cup non-fat dry milk
• 1-¼ cups water
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• ½ tsp. garlic powder

Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the whole wheat flour, oatmeal, wheat germ and powdered milk in a large bowl to blend thoroughly. Blend the water, peanut butter and egg in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add to dry ingredients and knead by hand until well blended. The dough will be quite stiff, a little moist and just slightly sticky. Roll or pat dough to a 1/2-inch thick layer. Cut out biscuit shapes with a cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet and bake for about 1-1/2 hours. For crisper, drier biscuits bake an additional hour to an hour and half. Store in an airtight metal container. Makes 3 dozen.

Tidbits:

• Even though the Basenji doesn't bark, he does have a sound that most other dogs don't: he yodels!
• The Basenji is cat-like in his grooming habits. He will spend hours grooming his shiny coat.
• Some experts feel the Basenji is more closely related to the jackal than to the wolf, even though wolves share a Basenji trait: wolves don't bark either!
• Visit the Basenji Rescue and Transport site for information on Basenji rescues.
• The Basenji is ranked 70th in popularity by the AKC, and belongs to the "hound" group.
• The Basenji Club of America was founded in 1943 and contains everything you ever wanted to know about the Basenji.
• A Basenji just took first place at the Crufts dog show in Britain! (See related story.