Hello Marian, Welcome. What a happy home it must be. We are Kees-Jan and Anne-Marie from Marken, north of Amsterdam. Where do you live? Maybe we can walk together some time? Also check http://www.basenji-club.nl/ for basenji walks. We have two daughters from Abotere Khamau, Lela and Binti (2,5 and 3,5 years old) - our first dogs, and we recognize a lot that you wrote. People warned us about getting a basenji, but we have not been happier since they took over our house and hearts. Lela came with us as a pup (enought to keep you busy) and Binti joined half a year later - it took her around 1,5 years to really settle. Here's a picture with their big mama friend Kiko the Akita https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dNOYjJPSlhUGbZK3LZxvbwxZLf3J_PvRjNp46MdVlt4?feat=directlink We hope to meet all of you soon.

what a cute little sh–--head! yep, your getting used to him! you'll be glad you got 'stuck'. REALLY!!!!!

He's beautiful… and sounds like he has a lovely temperament Congrats on getting a mellow one!

@bewonderaar: Congratulations on your dog's accomplishments! I would love to share notes about your experience when I'm ready. Any time. And it does seem like new dogsports are cropping up all the time. So there's something for everyone.

Anne! I am so glad to hear your girl will be 16 this month! Where did you get her? Yours is a Tri too! I love them all and it is just dumb luck that my puppy was the only Tri in the litter. Is yours as bossy as mine? If mine is ready for sleep she just bugs me until I cannot ignore it any longer. She will nap on the couch but she does not sleep unless she is in the bed under the covers near my feet. She knows when it is time to take her meds (so do I but she reminds me anyway) and she knows if my Mom is at the door because my Mom too adores her. Mother always feeds her when we go to her house and Tiggy has this terrible habit of 'body slamming' you when you put her food in her dish. She is so strong she can knock you over! My 75 year old Mom can be cooking dinner for the family and there is Antigone 'supervising' by standing on her hind legs to see what is going on. As food is ready to be put on serving plates or bowls, she starts the body slamming!!! At home when she does this to me I just lift my hand as a distraction, she cannot see well but she sees the raised hand and backs away to get a look from a different perspective! These are the toughest dogs I have ever met. Once you have one, you will have them for the rest of your life! :) Ellen and my Nightmare

Beautiful pups - they will teach you many, many things and delight you as the training goes! When we had our girl in puppy training we (and the trainer) learned that "drop it" works better than "leave it" because usually they already have whatever they shouldn't have before you can issue the command. "Drop it" still works so glad we found it. Best of luck with your adorable pair. They should not have trouble with the heat; mine lays on the porch in the sun when the temperature is hovering around the high 90's, while her companion, a basenji/sheltie/collie mix, races for the A/C when the temperatures start rising.

What a joy! Greetings from sisters Lela and Binti

Basenjis are considered hounds

She sounds very basenji to me - all her antics are things my Shaye does. Also, the look in her eye where she is laying on her side, and the position, are very familiar. I believe that look is "what?… Get out of my face, I'm trying to sleep here!"

It's hard to wait but take it from me; enjoy not living your life by the clock while you can..once the puppy comes you will find yourself looking at that clock and setting timers to go out to potty, eating…enjoy peaceful sleep and freedom..because once the puppy comes its a prison sentence for a little while (not to sound like a downer..lol) I was so excited to pick up Oakley that I picked him up a few days short of ten weeks; I wish I prepared a bit more mentally for such a huge event..Oakley was a tough cookie...so glad puppyhood is over! I miss the tiny body and cute little wrinkles but that's what pictures are for!! Lol Congratulations and don't rush it, be excited for it but enjoy the time Between then and now

I have a Basenji with IBD, I have her on Hills Z-D prescription hypoallergenic, but I am considering trying raw diet. I am doing my homework now, and joined a raw diet support group on facebook.

It must of been nice growing up with them, I,m wondering if you as a child ever used them as a scapegoat to anything you may have done, as they are always getting into something they would be handy to have around as a kid. Were you thinking of getting one yourself or does your experience with them put you off owning your own? I would say you would have enough experience as a child to be able to get the best out of one. You and your husband were both right it was a Shiba and it was a Basenji, wonder what it actually looked like as a mix, interesting. Looking forward to your stories as my boy is only 1 we have yet to write an interesting one(am I asking for trouble or what!). Jolanda and Kaiser

She's still not too sure about water & I think it's because I've been using the water bottle to discourage inappropriate behavior :)

@shelly: @agilebasenji – thanks for the tip! I joined the group and they do have tons of stuff -- almost too much for me to handle at times LOL yes, loads of info, but glad it's helping

What a sweet boy! Greetings from Marken, Nederland