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.
Hello all!
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Welcome to the forum!! I hope you find a furry little friend for your family. I started with my B's 5 years ago (Becca is 5) and I can say I have definately found 'my breed'. Take everyone's advice here and make sure you are purchasing from a reputable breeder (if you are not doing rescue) and make sure the health testing is done. It is critical for the dogs sake and yours. They should be able to disclose any problems they have run across and test results. Other than that have fun with your new pup…...hope you have a sense of humor!
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Thank you all so much! I am very happy to be a part of this forum. To answer some of your questions, yes I have been doing research for the past two years on the breed itself. I am 100% positive that I would make a great owner of a beautiful Basenji. And I have been looking for about two months now for a breeder, but I live in Louisiana, and there are no breeders in my state at all, so me acquiring one is more difficult than I thought it would be. I'm not giving up that easy though, I am determined to get one at least by the end of next year, if not sooner. Can anyone point me to any well reputable breeders that would perhaps work something out with me as far as me going pick the Basenji up or shipping my future furry friend? Its just so hard for em to wait, because I have waited for two years already! :p
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Welcome to the forum.
If you are thinking of an adult, BRAT (basenjirescue.org) is a good place to start. Also, reputable breeders also occasionally have adults that need to be placed - I have 2 of those that I adopted. If you are looking for a puppy, the first place to start is the Basenji Club of America's website, basenji.org. If you go the "About Basenjis" nav, one of the options is "Breeder Referral". Click that and on the left side of that page, breeders are listed by state. You should also spend some time on that website since there is a wealth of info for prospective/current owners. Once you have checked out some breeders, you can go to offa.org and check on health testing that has been done on parents/puppies. I don't know of any reputable breeders that will ship a puppy without actually meeting someone in person.
Good luck in your search.
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Welcome to the forum!
What part of LA are you in? In the western part, check out the breeders in TX, there are several of us. Or if you're in the eastern half of the state, you can look at Florida or Georgia, I know there are BCOA breeders there!Terry
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Thanks! I am just south of New Orleans, so kind of in the middle of the southern part of the state. Terry, do you know of any breeders that are close to the Louisiana/Texas border?
And renaultf1, thanks for the advice! I'm more interested in a puppy, but I would be open to an adult too. The only problem about the BRAT site is that they are based extremely far away from where I live, and to my understanding they have to actually visit your house before they will release a Basenji to your care. Which that is fine with me, my house would make a lovely home for a Basenji in need, but the concern for me is would they travel to Louisiana to meet with me and see my house?
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I'm more interested in a puppy, but I would be open to an adult too. The only problem about the BRAT site is that they are based extremely far away from where I live, and to my understanding they have to actually visit your house before they will release a Basenji to your care. Which that is fine with me, my house would make a lovely home for a Basenji in need, but the concern for me is would they travel to Louisiana to meet with me and see my house?
Jacob, BRAT is "headquartered" in Texas, but volunteers are spread all across North America. What would probably happen is you fill out an application detailing your interest and living situation, and if there's a specific dog that you're interested in, you fill out an application for that dog too. BRAT will find a volunteer in your neck of the woods to do a home visit. And if you end up being a 'perfect' match for some dog in need, the coordinators will try to arrange a transport run to get the dog to you. It's not a quick process, but it can be wonderful if it works out! It's a very organized group, so it's worth keeping it on the table as an option. Keep an eye on this list of available dogs because it's updated pretty regularly too.
And yes, welcome!
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thank you! I was a tad bit confused as to how the whole process would work, but now i have a clearer understanding. Thanks again curlytails!
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Jacob, I've p m'd you….
Terry
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We have done home visits for Brat dogs many time, and assisted with legs of the cross country trips for the dogs going to their new homes. The tri girl in TX sounds wonderful. I'd recommend a young adult vs a puppy for your situation unless you can be home every 3 hours or so during the day to let the dog outside. And while basenjis are barkless, they can howl to wake the dead with is a common occurance while crate training a basenji. All of mine have howeled for hours when we first started crate training. Not sure how your neighbors would feel about a coyote sounding screaming coming from your home for three months solid, which is a definite reality with basenji puppies who naturally feel they should get there way. A housebroken dog will make your introduction to basenjis so much easier, and you could get a puppy in a few yrs to keep the first dog company, they do like to live in packs.
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okay thanks. That was some really helpful information. What part of Texas is BRAT ran out of, if you don't mind me asking?
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BRAT is Nation wide run by volunteers, the dogs are fostered in locations all over TX. I know of several being fostered in the dallas area. I doubt BRAT has an actual office location, rather the addresses listed are the home addresses of the current volunteers fostering the dogs. Its not uncommon for a dog in BRAT to make a cross country trip to its new owner. We have transported many along I44 in Missouri that were coming from the east coast to their new homes in the middle of the country.
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The wonderfulness of a puppy (in our imagination) can be shattered by the reality of potty training, having your clothes and furniture chewed, howling from a puppy left all alone for 8 hours. A young adult is a wonderful entry to the breed, and with average life spans of 14-17 years, a dog a year or two old will be with you for along time and will be a good 'teacher' for that puppy a couple of years down the road. I'm just saying'.
Gale Whitehurst is a great breeder in south-west Georgia and she sometimes has adults as well as pups. Robyn Dubbert is in north-west Ga, also has great dogs but a bit further from you.
BRAT, as said by others, is really a nationwide, internet-based rescue group. Very well organized with volunteers everywhere to foster, transport, do home visits, pull dogs from shelters. Sometimes someone is so far in the boonies that it can take awhile to arrange a visit, but usually it is not difficult. We do visits, transport, help in shelters, etc. And my most recent BRAT would be a perfect starter-basenji for anyone! He is mellow, malleable, and eager to please, easy going with other dogs, neither challenging or assertive but not timid either. But too bad, he's MINE!
My husband gets puppy-lust from time to time but I am usually able to "talk him down"!
That said, research the many good breeders and realize that this is a 15 year commitment, be sure you have a good healthy, well bred dog. It's worth a plane trip or 4 day road trip to get the right dog or puppy. It's like a mail-order bride, you don't pick the cheapest or just the closest one, you research and pick the best for you, then make the details like price and transport work out!
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Jacob, you sound a lot like me, except that I had been wanting and researching about 14 years.
I did also want a puppy, but ended up going with BRAT and couldn't be more happy with our boy Gunner. He's an awesome Basenji and we really love him a lot! That said, I'm also thinking of another basenji at some point in time, and a puppy will likely be the way we go, though BRAT is awesome (making a wonderful home for an abandoned basenji or a basenji that has to be given up). Good luck with your search! -
Puppies take a lot of your time, and it really isn't fair to the pup unless you have that time to give. It's not good for any dog to spend too much time alone, especially locked in a crate. It can be disastrous for a pup. If you're home a lot, by all means get that special puppy, but if you spend much of your day away, an older dog might be the way to go. Of the five Basenjis I have owned, two I raised and three I adopted between the ages of eight months and three years. It was far easier to cope with already housebroken dogs and integrate them into our home. And down the road, if you do get a puppy, you will have a companion so the pup doesn't have to be alone.
