I must agree that naive, first-time wanne-be owners need to do deep, extensive research. Basenjis are supremely unique and definitely not a good choice for a "beginner."
I adopted an 18-month old 3/4 Basenji (other 1/4 is Min Pin, yet another quirky little breed, with some "bad" similarities to B's). I was somewhat familiar with B's, but not even a little bit of "enough!!" Gosh, Izzy-Bella was a piperoo!! A little 18 pound bundle of energy, destruction, and escapism. BUT, I have always loved bad boys (9 years working in a high school), so a little bad girl was a sort of delight. But, again, it takes many years before these dogs mellow out and mature and maximize their amazing intelligence. Izzy is SO SO smart: her early unbridled destructiveness has pretty much ended, and now, at ten years old, she amazes us every day with her intelligence, innate understanding, observational skills, language acumen, and comedic skills. And at ten years old, she acts like a three year old! I hope this means she will live forever.
Once you have bonded with a Basenji, you are probably done and gone. But
first-timers REALLY need to do their research and homework.
Someone referred to entrusting their dog
to a family member. I would entrust my B to nobody except a bona fide Vet hospital/kennel, with big-time fences and enclosures, B's are exceptional diggers-under-fences and escape artists. And a Number One cause of
death for them is traffic. Their prey instinct sends them careening into
traffic. Dumber than deer.
But, bottom line: do your due diligence Basenji research, and understand early on that these dogs are singularly unique: indescribably destructive; escape artists; independent thinkers and behaviorists; smarter than you can even begin to imagine (I swear my Izzy understands everything I say and reads my mind!); and prepare to have lots of tissues on hand as auxiliary food, because apparently, Basenjis require wood pulp
projects to prosper!! I don't get it.
Basenji Club of Northern California - Puppy Match, Fun Day, lure practice, Rally, etc
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June 16, 2012 at Robertson Park in Livermore, Ca. Fun day for Basenjis and their owners …. Flyer on the event can be found at www.norcalbasenjis.org and go to Events.
There will be demonstrations on Rally and Agility… plus practice for those interested... There will be Fun Classes to enter!!! Not just a dog show, but a fun day for Basenjis and their owners....
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I hope to make it this year!
My folks are in town for the first time in a long while, so some of my plans are up in the air. They're not "dog people" … but I may just send them off to do their own thing while I do mine on this day.
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It should be a really fun day. I will not be there unless the major breaks at the shows in OR before I leave…
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We were planning coming along unaccompanied (leaving the dogs at home, I mean) but we've since decided that since basenji people know about basenjis, by definition, they'll understand that our girls aren't horrible vicious things if they growl at the other girls.
So we'll be there!
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Looking forward to seeing you there. It should be a fun filled day with the basenjis. Bring shade if you have it.
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Drove out about an hour and a half and arrived in the afternoon to find –
(1) HOLY HELL it was hot, 105 degrees according to my car's thermometer! I had no idea.
(2) there was a rodeo going on with a whole bunch of very large, red and white... horses. Not Basenjis.
(3) at least two other confused Basenji owners who couldn't find the rest of the party, either. But at least we got to meet a couple new B's for about two seconds.Did everyone pack up and leave before the rodeo and the brain-melting heat took over? Or did we get our wires crossed? What a bummer!
At any rate, I won't take our perpetually balmy East Bay weather for granted ever again.
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Everyone left around 1:30pm because the heat was just too much.
Photos from the event can be viewed here: http://madduxsmith.smugmug.com/Basenji/2012-June-Livermore/23603594_RvZbDp#!i=1909561247&k=pTxzkqb
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Whoevers little red boy is in those pics with the guy in the orange shirt, that dog has the cutest face!! Love all the wrinkles. The pictures are awesome the weather looks so nice and it looks like everyone had a fantastic time. I am envious I am not closer.
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Me too…there always seems to be more events in the west!! Oak and I feel all alone in new England- no meetups,events
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Me too…there always seems to be more events in the west!! Oak and I feel all alone in new England- no meetups,events
LMAO try living in northern Alberta!!!!
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For anyone near New York this coming weekend is the Rip Van Wrinkle Fun Match, http://www.rvwbasenjiclub.org/June.24th.Match.html
