All excellent advice, not much I can add. I have a 9 week old Samoyed here and I'm pretty much kangaroo momming him. Right now he's even sleeping with me. Fortunately I have my daughter and her father helping out so I get some breaks, and my daughter does most of it when she's home 2 days a week. Samoyed are extremely people needy, but honestly I am the one who can't bear him being on his own too much this early. Even with doctor appointments, he has a crate in the living room so Larry can take him out to play/potty and snuggle (since I'm usually gone 5 to 6 hrs some days). Easy adjustment.. put in crate, happy voice "i'll be back" and leave. Go out the door and leave alone at least 15 mins. Keep extending it over several days until you are up to a couple of hours. By that point, they do get you will come back. Just no drama, no soothing poor baby stuff... nonchalant. Happy leaving, happy return. Make sure safe toys, chews in crate. If you can arrange it so her work and your's don't quite overlap so he's no alone more than 4 hrs, that would be idea. If not... swap out coming home for lunch break? Good luck.. and please post pictures :) Also, where did you get him? A lot of the basenjis here are related. (My basenji now is a rescue so not related.) It's nice to see the connections though!

@Lindsey that is great news, if leaving the crate door open is working, don't change it for a bit... are you covering the crate? Make it more like a dark den? and you can try to start, just closing the door part way. Are you feeding him in his crate? Another way to get them to adjust to having the door closed....

Hm... if you click that last icon with up arrow, they should load. If not, if you don't know how to resize, let me know and you can send to me and I'll resize and send back to you

You could training dog your self, It's not as hard as you think.

Below is some info for adjustment training, trying to socialize a dog that has fear issues in a group of other dogs is really scarey for your pup. Look up the information below and especially Grisha Stewart’s DVDs on BAT training have made her a popular seminar presenter all over the world. I took her seminar and learned so much. for each dog it is a different reason, but the conditioning makes it work for most cases. No time frame, just patience and time and effort! Find a trainer or behaviorist in your area that can accommodate the work. https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0LEVyCJOMpVYpQAntlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw–?p=Behavior+Adjustment+Training+Dogs&fr=mcafee http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB1224EBK

I agree with Lisa… while your list can be helpful, puppymillers have learned to look very reputable making it much harder to look at the website to determine. The bottom line is, no matter if they sell one breed or more, they can be a puppymill. And there are certainly some very legit responsible breeders with 2 or even 4 breeds! My entry into dog breeding/showing was a woman who had English bulldogs, her daughter had aghans and setters. If they don't have pedigrees and health testing info on the web page, I'd run. If they have it and you check OFA and find they falsified, or only maybe the current or some of their dogs have testing.. run. The rest they can fake or pretend but generations of health clearances generally aren't part of a puppymill.

You will figure it out, the personality will tell you. It may just be me, but I like two syllable names, just input here for thought….:)

Thanks for the responses, glad I wasn't the only one feeling 'paranoid' about it.

Good luck, but you should ask yourself why do you want a basenji in your life…

You can figure on puppies doubling their weight in the first 7 days

I appreciate each of your posts and wanted to write and let you know how much I appreciate each of them. Best, Tad

Yes… I guess I should clarify... When I say later, it's usually no longer than 5-10 min... At first he was a bit apprehensive about it, but now he responds pretty good to the eat command... I still get the impression that he is eating just to appease me, and doesn't seem as thrilled about eating as some other dogs, but that may just be his general disposition... In any case he is eating his daily meals and getting water and is a seemingly healthy boy that makes for some good photo ops...

Have you checked breeders on the BCOA-Basenji Club of America website? Jennifer

Im not sure what DEFRA is but I read somewhere that the quarantine and all that had been lifted in great Britain… Not sure.. Anyway, I'm not sure if they do.. But dogs are imported into Brittain all the time, especially show dogs, I don't think it would be tool difficult. cheers happy New Year!

I would say it is better to consult and get the proper guidance from a Vetenary doctor about the diet of the puppy with regular intervals, otherwise the diseases may evolve during certain intervals and that may lead to the death of your puppy. lewis diet book"

Ask and post the registered name any how it might give us some ideas.

@Buddys: I agree, well said Robyn. A very well rounded reply, and I appreciate your time in explaining the options that are out there. I am not one who advocates adopting ONLY from a shelter or rescue. I love to hear that it happens, but totally respect the choice of wanting a pedigree. I just hope that anyone who breeds for what ever reason does follow responsible guidelines for the prospective new owners, health and welfare of the puppies, dams and sires, and of the wholesomeness(?) of the breed of choice. I do have a waiting list for the future puppies (besides the ones that myself and the co breeder are keeping.) I also have a contract that states for any reason the puppies are welcome back at any time for any reason and i highly urge this to my potential owners (i say required but we all know that people fall through loops when you say required) anyways All of my dogs are health tested and the sire is health tested too. Fanconi, eyes, thyroid, and the hips I am waiting for results but she isnt in heat yet so i hope i will get it before they are bred. Trust me, I also know how rescues are. I have rescued (www.foreverfriendsrescue.webs.com) since 2008 when i rescued my first dog scheduled to be put down that day i went into the pound, and i never really stopped) so i know the effects that bad breeders can have on the dog population. Which is why we need to have more responsible breeders out there. Ones who do the health testing, ones who care where there puppies go, ones who want to help the breed, ones who give a $h!t. I love this breed. They are my world and i just cant live without them. They chose me. I chose them. Its the only breed that is right for ME. and I know this. I love showing (only been to a few so far, as i am fairly new) but i love it and i enjoy meeting new people that share the love of basenjis too and I enjoy the fun and sport of it. I really want to do what is right with breeding, which is why i have waited to find a good breeder to help me along and to help guide me as my mentor. Miah is a wonderful dog, so close to standard. and so pretty. nice pedigree and the most supurb temperament also. With my mating (dorsey x miah) I expect great things! Me and my co owner are really excited as is the sire owner. We cant wait for this litter. I know breeding is a huge controversy because of all the unwanted pets in the world, but i have been there with rescueing and if i truely didnt feel like my dog was worthy of it, and i truely didnt feel like I could do it CORRECTLY, i honestly wouldnt. but thank you for your input. I know you care, as do we. but i really am trying to do it right. Spent lots of money getting tests done, and finding a really nice bitch to start with, and getting the knowledge. (I got my first basenji 11 years ago! and i have researched and experienced the whole time!) After 11 years, i feel i am finally ready to take the step and breed my bitch to start my kennel where i want to continue to show and create loving, family pets. as well as fun things like coursing and agility, etc..