Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Talk
  3. Any advice on getting another Basenji?

Any advice on getting another Basenji?

Basenji Talk
  • S

    Myself and my partner have a 3yr old Basenji (Kai) and we are wanting to add another one to our little pack, either a puppy or by adoption, we have contacted medfly (not heard back yet) already and are looking in the California area too.

    Anyhoo!

    Kai is spoiled, he totally has "only child syndrome" loves his treats and attention and we are curious to know what peoples experiences have been with adding another Basenji to a household that already has one.

    Also, I have read that it's best that if you are going to have two Basenji's that you have 1 male and 1 female, is this true or just an old wives tale of sorts?

    Thanks!

    ![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")My Basenji supports Equality![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    0
  • G

    It's definitely not an old wives tale about getting the opposite gender when adding a second Basenji, there are breeds that have a lot of same sex aggression, and the Basenji is one of those breeds. Of course there are many examples of 2 of the same sex getting along, but it would be best to play it safe and get Kai a girlfriend.
    -Joanne

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    agreed on the male/female thing, however, be aware that the female will probably end up running the household.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @SpoliedKai:

    Myself and my partner have a 3yr old Basenji (Kai) and we are wanting to add another one to our little pack, either a puppy or by adoption, we have contacted medfly (not heard back yet) already and are looking in the California area too.

    Anyhoo!

    Kai is spoiled, he totally has "only child syndrome" loves his treats and attention and we are curious to know what peoples experiences have been with adding another Basenji to a household that already has one.

    Also, I have read that it's best that if you are going to have two Basenji's that you have 1 male and 1 female, is this true or just an old wives tale of sorts?

    Thanks!

    Not a "old wives tale"… rule of thumb, opposites are the best match... have you contacted any breeders yet? If you are considering a puppy, best now to get to know breeders and if a match... line yourself up on their reservation lists. Most breeders are just now thinking about their breeding plans for the Fall.

    If you get a puppy, there is a large adjustment period as the puppy will be a puppy and all over the adult... it is the time an adult will teach that pup "manners" but you will think someone is being killed ... LOL... but it is all noise and the adult teaching things like soft bite... and "hey.. don't bother me"... it passes quickly once the pup figures the signals out from the adult.... with bring in an adult, adjustment can be different depending on how the react to each other.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • tanzaT

    @giza1:

    It's definitely not an old wives tale about getting the opposite gender when adding a second Basenji, there are breeds that have a lot of same sex aggression, and the Basenji is one of those breeds. Of course there are many examples of 2 of the same sex getting along, but it would be best to play it safe and get Kai a girlfriend.
    -Joanne

    Yes, right…. as we say... it works till it doesn't.... best to take the high road and get opposite sexes

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Let me add that it is true of MOST breeds. Many breeds, however, generally same sex get along. Not so much with basenjis. In fact if you have someone trying to tell you it's an old wives tale, run from them as fast as you can. :)

    Next advice… get your dog tested for Fanconi if you haven't already. Please. The earlier you KNOW the better chance you have of keeping your pet healthier. If you got this one from a breeder, contact the breeder to get it's parents' AKC numbers or proof of Fanconi testing. If they are both clear, or only one a carrier or affected, you don't have to test your dog as it cannot have Fanconi. If you can't get proof, then do the DNA test.

    THEN make sure you have proof that the puppy or dog you get is either clear or a carrier. .. or read up and make SURE you are willing to follow the protocol and take care of an affected dog. I have no idea if Medfly tests... but nearly all breeders do and Camp Basenji in FL does. Often breeders may have an adult or older puppy to place if your heart isn't set on a puppy.

    Good luck and post pictures! :)

    Debra

    0
  • MrBaRooampBittyM

    Our first B was a female rerscue, previous owners didn't know or understand Basenji's so she was a total basket case when we got her. After me spoiling her rotten for almost 3 years we adopted a 2yo male from BRAT. Mr Baroo and Bitty declared an armed truce, wirh Bitty doing the leading. Then this last summer we adopted anoher male, supposedly almost 2 years old, however developmentally he was more like 10 or 12 months, Mr Baroo adopted him immediarely as his best buddy, which satisfied Bitty, totally. So, after all this, our opinion is that when adding a new B to the family it is best that you get the opposite gender, then if you want to adfd another it really dosen't matter the sex, but the first 2 should be opposites.

    0
  • S

    Thanks for all the advice guys, I have convinced my partner that getting Kai a sister is the best thing to do:)

    Speaking of fanconi, we actually ordered Kai's 3 year DNA test kit thingy a couple of days ago :)

    ![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")My Basenji supports Equality![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    0
  • TMartinT

    We added a puppy in January as a playmate for our 1 yr old boy. Loki has always loved dogs so we knew adding another would go over well, it was just the matter of making sure we had the right one. At first we thought we were getting a boy as the breeder was debating between our now tri girl and a few of the red male puppies. I think with Loki, the right male still would have worked, but Kaia is the better fit, just because she is not in any way a pushover and makes sure Loki gets as good as he gives.

    Loki still goes all "Mr. Grumpy" when he's getting cuddles from my husband and I and does not want Kaia stealing his attention and she does the same thing, but they have bonded so well that I couldn't imagine not having Kaia. They make the craziest noises when fighting over a toy or antler. It can get very, very loud and sometimes cause you to shake your head and wonder just where that sound came from. But you will definitely laugh!

    Loki & Kaia

    0
  • K

    We got Lela as a pup, and when she was 8 months we got her older sister Binti whom she already knew as Binti lived with the breeder.
    From a few adaptive things to be expected, it went very well.

    0
  • M

    I got 2 females, looks like already they get well along, but sometimes not so well. Be safe and get the opposite..

    0

Suggested Topics

  • E

    Should I get a Basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    9
    1 Votes
    9 Posts
    1k Views
    J
    @emmett Hope you're still reading our responses. I'm impressed that you're doing research and reaching out to people who have the breed of dog you're interested in. In my opinion you're doing exactly the right thing. I also like that you're considering a Basenji. I really hope you'll keep that seed of interest in the back of your mind, and that when the time is right that you'll revisit having a Basenji. As other have pointed out, and you've concluded... a Basenji may not be the best choice for where you are right now. Another thought might be to find a local dog park, go there, observe the dogs, the way that they interact with their owners and see if particular breed looks interesting. Some are laid back, some are high energy, some crave attention, some want independence, etc. Watch them. Get use to spotting the behaviors that you want in a dog. Then, when it comes time for you to choose your dog for life, you'll be better prepared to spot the personality, or temperament as we call it, that best fits where you are in life. In turn you'll be making the best choice for your new pal as well. We have great members here with decades of experience breeding, training, showing and co-existing with dogs. I hope you'll stop by anytime you have any questions at all. They don't have to be about Basenjis. Good luck and let us know if you get a pup!! :oncoming_fist: :slightly_smiling_face: :thumbs_up:
  • ?

    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.
  • sonjatS

    Another basenji mix?

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    MothM
    He is adorable <3
  • R

    Mistake getting a Basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    35
    0 Votes
    35 Posts
    13k Views
    PearlsMomP
    Hello! I wish to comment on my dog Pearl. She is Very quiet, hardly a sound. I try to encourage her to speak. She does a lot of nonverbal communication. About the child issue. Pearl came to us as a puppy. My kids (12 & 13 at the time) spent time with her, the neighbor kids played with her, and she loves kids. No problems socializing with young people. I guess the point is, your pup will love anyone who treats it well and cares for it. At 5 , I'm sure your child understands the importance of being gentle with dogs. Pearl has done her fair share of chewing. Interesting what she likes. She will be 2 in October, and is better, but she has lots of bones! I love Pearl, however, I am easy going, and enjoy taking her on walks, playing with her, and having her as a family member. Its up to you what you want from a dog. Pearl is pretty free, and thats what I like!
  • M

    Adding another Basenji

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    M
    my thanks to all of you for your wonderful advice - i will take everything that you all have said into consideration before making a decision - however my wife and i have decided that our grieving over the loss of our 4 year old is not over yet so we are going to delay any decision until we can get past this point - with that in mind, and realizing how difficult these discussions have been for me, i am going to unsubscribe myself from this site until such time as we can come to better terms with our situation - again, my thanks to all of you for trying to help - Manny
  • JodieJ

    I saw another basenji!

    Basenji Talk
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    12k Views
    GoobyG
    I'm sorry to hear about Lucy. I had to bury my english shepard Missy around the same time. We got Goober on April 25, 2007