Skip to content

What reactions do you get?

Basenji Talk
  • Buana is a Jack Hussel (that's how we Dutch people call a non-pure bred Jack Russel)
    Even a mix Jack Russel x Shar pei, is asked a lot..

    Chafuko, is a pitbull mix… or a (american or English) Stafford puppy
    We hear that way too often.. It's because of his colour (many staffs are Brindle) with the combination of his mascular cheek..

    Look for yourselfe: We set them up for a photo shoot :D


    Woof!


    Is this really happening?!?! I'm not a Jack Hussel!!!!


    Staff puppy?


    You're crazy… really...


    Sigh:(

  • Once the window cleaner told me that they thought i had a fox in the house when they saw Benji.
    I have to confess that i like to stick my finger through the middle of their curled tails, but only once we're friends, lol.

  • Shelley,
    Tell me you don't mean the window cleaner????

    Alan

  • I don't get a lot of people thinking they know what breed Tosca is, but if people do attempt a guess it's usually some kind of terrier. They are definitely conversation starters, however, I've been asked about her many times! It's funny, though, cause even though she is 4 yrs old, everyone think she is a puppy, and don't believe it when I tell them otherwise. They are like, "Are you sure she is full grown?" I've had her for over two years, I think I am pretty certain :P
    I live in a small town of only about 4000 people, though, so I am impressed that two people have actually stopped me and known she was a basenji. That was funny, too, cause they didn't even really stop me…they kinda ran out of their houses freaking out asking "IS THAT A BASENJI!!?!?" They were so excited to see one :P One person had one whe he was younger, the other one had a late sister/friend/someone (I forgot) that used to breed them around here years ago. Either way, it's fun to watch people's reactions!

  • Well Alan, we do have very friendly window cleaners around here :D

  • The only time Shaye's tail is uncurled is when she's asleep and when she's scared. I don't play with it, and don't encourage others to do it - I know they won't "break" it, but I just feel like it shouldn't be messed with. No reason, just a feeling.

  • Like anything if your dog is not used to having their tail uncurled then they will think it is something "odd" when it is done. If the first time it is done by a stranger and the dog overreacts it can end up being a bad situation. I don't encourage people to do it but people seem compelled to do it. I don't mean just people we meet on the street, I mean vets, vet techs, and even AKC judges have all uncurled my dogs tails. So I uncurl tails as part of their socialization so when it happens they think "whatever, people are weird." So it is no big deal.

  • My bs tail will go straight when she runs the faster she goes the straighter her tail is. it funny to watch.:)

  • I work at a dog bakery so I am surrounded by "dog people" as customers and very rarely will any of them know that Shango is a basenji.

    I've heard every guess in the book. The other day a man even tried to convince me that Shango was a Fox Terrier by comparing him to a dog one of his friend's had! I told him to hang out with Shango and then hang out with that Fox Terrier and he'd certainly know the difference!

  • It always takes me at least 3 times as long to do anything when I'm out with the pack! People on the street just have to stop, talk and ask questions. Most people haven't got a clue what they are. The most frequently asked question (apart from 'What is it??') from the people who have a little knowledge of them is if it's true that they don't bark. I tell them that they make up for it in other ways!
    I sometimes find people as a child have had an aunt or neighbour etc with one.

    Sometimes I laugh and tell people that they are Jack Russell's with novelty tails. :D
    And if I'm in a hurry, I DON'T take the dogs!

  • People around here have a lot of hunting dogs (labs, retrievers, spaniels, etc.) so generally I get the "what kind of dog is that" question rather than guesses. Occasionally I'll come across someone who knows; not too often though.

  • @wizard:

    People around here have a lot of hunting dogs (labs, retrievers, spaniels, etc.) so generally I get the "what kind of dog is that" question rather than guesses. Occasionally I'll come across someone who knows; not too often though.

    That or when you do tell them the breed, they have the most puzzled look on their face.

  • With my two I play tail games, we have "Give that curly" where I grab the tail and then let it slide out my hand as they dash away.

    Then there's "Get your Tail" where we uncurl the tail and I hand them the tip and they hold on to it for a few seconds or if they are standing up might do a few circles or chase for a sec

  • I still get alot of people who ask what breed zoe is. At least at 8 months no one asks if she is a chi anymore. Some start out asking what kind of mix she is. Every once in awhile someone recognizes that she is a basenji. Just yesterday we were waiting outside a sheetz gas station when a woman looked up and saw zoe at the window with me and had to come over to ask if she was a B.

    I get people who uncurl her tail all the time luckily she doesnt mind in the least you can touch her all over no problem. And most of the time she loves the attention. I swear if someone passes by her without petting and adoring her she will look at them like they are idiots.

Suggested Topics

  • should I get a basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    8k Views
    elbrantE
    @lovedogs @eeeefarm said in should I get a basenji?: wait until the time is right, even if you really, really want a dog now I agree... with everyone. Sometimes you just need to accept that (no matter how much you want a dog/car/kid/house) you aren't quite ready for it. I waited 5 years before I brought my Basenji home and it was probably the most adult thing I've ever done. I was still in recovery from a spinal injury and knew that I wouldn't be able to provide (her) the exercise she would want and require. Waiting made all the difference in the world. Whan I was finally ready, the most perfect little girl was ready for me. Don't fret about it. You can read, research, consider all of your options, and really prepare yourself. (Don't look at puppy pictures online! You'll fall in love without even meeting the pup(s) and it will pull at your heartstrings.) Remind yourself that "one day you will have a Basenji", just not today.
  • When to get another Basenji

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    13k Views
    ?
    Wow! Somehow, I never got emails letting me know I had responses to this thread and just assumed there weren't any. But now that I'm back in the loop, I did want to thank everyone for their feedback and provide some thoughts of my own. That makes me laugh about the rescue person who wouldn't let young families or lawyers adopt her dogs. :-D I can understand her rationale from both perspectives. It's a compelling argument on her part about lawyers, but not all lawyers are the same, of course. I know a lot of extremely busy lawyers in large firms who struggle to hit their billable hour requirement each month. They're machines instead of people, and I wouldn't even let them dogsit my babies for fear of neglect. That's not my situation, fortunately. The young family part will be, but I've been thinking really carefully on how I'll balance this when the time comes. My dogs are my first children, and I would hire as many trainers as needed and try as many alternatives as I could before I would give them up. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people have that mindset about their dogs. :( I would absolutely be open to the idea of having the breeder choose a puppy for us based on their experience and prediction as to personality. All basenjis are gorgeous to me, and as long as the markings aren't completely off-base and I can get a tightly-curled tail (I've seen that the Avongaras can be lacking in this area, and I need a cinnamon bun in my life), personality is the most important thing. I wouldn't nitpick it to death. I'll have to decide on a breeder at some point, and I'd love one who's relatively local so I could visit. The man I got Penny from had great pet Basenjis that he bred… I'd like to go with a more reputable breeder this time around. At the very least, he tested for Fanconi. I can be grateful for that, as all is well so far and I more than likely dodged a bullet when I ended up with such a fantastic dog. My plan would be to decide and get on a waiting list far enough in advance that if there were a couple litters that just didn't produce what my family and I were looking for, we wouldn't be waiting forever. In short, what I'm banking on is that the right pup with the right personality will fit in pretty flawlessly. I know what sets my basenji off in other dogs, and I'm hopeful that I could find one that would suit her and suit our home. Daisy certainly worked out well for her, and I'd love to have that same success again. I've done three puppies in my lifetime, and all of them have grown up to be well-adjusted adults. I know what it takes, and I know it's hard work. I would never go the route of having an infant and a puppy at the same time (isn't THAT actually the definition of insanity?? ;) ), but I am still trying to shoot somewhere in the next 3-4 year range so my two aren't past ten and too old to handle a puppy.
  • Who gets the computer chair

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    1k Views
    P
    What a funny story. I can relate.
  • Got to get that bunny!

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    3k Views
    Ninabeana26N
    @EskiLovr: Don't forget that the most favorite game to play for most Basenji's is, guess what? Chase games! They love to chase other dogs, and BE chased too. That's the favorite activity for our boy at the dog park. If he can find another dog that understands how to play the 'chase game' he's in heaven! And heaven help you if want to get ahold of him around the house. If I step after him, he immediately darts away and looks back as if to say "come-n-get me" tail wagging the whole time! That sounds just like my boy! He will grab something he knows he isn't supposed to have [i.e. a sock] & make sure that I see him then just start running through the house. If I don't chase him, he will drop it after he notices I am not chasing him. Haha. It cracks me up!
  • Getting depressed

    Basenji Talk
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    5k Views
    kristinkK
    There could be a thread on the things we do to registered names– Sol's is 'Solid Gold' but I call him 'Solomon' because he's a deep thinker, or 'Solace' because he is a solace to me-- I like the 'Ruby' adaptation! Kris
  • Poll: Where Did You Get Your Basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    6k Views
    youngandtiredY
    Well, it started when I was out with my 22yr. old son at the mall. He said, "Hey, Mom lets look at the dogs in the petstore ", I replied, "I don't have time besides your Dad has too many ideas what a dog has to be like for us to get one", I'll never find a dog like he wants". That was 3 yrs. ago this Jan., and I had never heard of a Basenji. I called DH about 3 times the night I found Sahara to persuade him we needed this dog, but she was very expensive so it took some work talking him into me buying her. She is owned by my son, me and my husband, she lives with my husband and I. She is the best dog I have ever owned, and I have had many through my lifetime. I would never get another dog from a pet store (didn't know about puppy mills)but I would have not known of this breed if I hadn't stopped and looked that night. My husband loves this dog so very much, he buys her whatever she wants or needs. I love her also, she is my joy and I can't stand to be from her for very long, we just got back from a trip and it was so hard missing her. My son said that she didn't eat very good while we were gone and was very destructive in the house. Guess she missed us as well!