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Is my dog a Basenji mix?

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  • We adopted our 8 month old dog Sadie from Spain a few weeks ago and after being initally told they thought she might be a sharpei/podenco cross, we are now wondering if she might be part basenji.
    As you can see from the pics, she has a wrinkly forehead and pricked ears. She hasn't barked since we've had her, but she has done a single sort of short sharp "half woof" on two occasions, she also whines at times. (Her brothers don't bark either, I'm told)
    She washes herself like a cat and has a cat-like pounce when she runs after a ball or toy. Sometimes it's a high double pounce before she reaches the item, followed by a roll over. She also acts the fool in the garden, rolling over and over down the hill, rolling over when she catches a ball, rolling over and biting clumps of grass, and zooming around like an idiot and nearly hitting walls and hedges before changing direction. When she runs in long grass she looks like a gazelle, leaping high in big arcs before landing each time, with both back legs landing together.
    She also has hackles like a mohawk which she raises when she's excited, nervous or scared, and sometimes when she's dreaming.
    She's obviously not a full Basenji as she's too big (17kg) and her tail isn't curled, but all her other looks and characteristics seem very much like one.

    Does anyone think she might have some basenji in her?

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  • She has some basenji-esque looks, but the only way to know would be to do a dna test. She's lovely no matter what she is!

  • Very cute, but I don't see Basenji..... but could be very hard to tell sometimes with a mix

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  • Basenji mix? And with what?

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    elbrantE
    I can see why someone would think there was Terrier, but I'm not so sure about Basenji. (The only way to know for sure is to do a DNA test.) Both of your dogs look very similar. What breed, or mix, is the older one?
  • 0 Votes
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    L
    I used Wisdom Panel for my assumed Basenji mix. It showed no basenji at all. My boy is 32 lbs and short hair. His DNA says he is 25% American Eskimo 12.5% Boston Terrier 12.5% Chow Chow 12.5% German Shepherd 12.5% Miniature Schnauzer 25% Breed Group-Sporting, Herding, Hound, Terrier. Having owned basenjis all my life I would say my boy has basenji in him by his personality and behavior regardless of what his dna says!!
  • 1 Votes
    11 Posts
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    T
    Hi everyone, Thanks for all of your replies! Rex just had his first vet visit (first with me at least), and he was given a clean bill of health. The vet that I saw also agrees with a lot of you that he looks like a Min Pin more than a Basenji, but he is likely still mixed with something because he's a bit too big to be a pure Min Pin. I've looked at a few DNA Dog Breed tests online, and they seem to range in price and in quality. It seems like some of the cheaper (~$50) tests are fake, but they go all the way up to almost $250 for the higher quality ones. Do any of you have experience with these DNA tests / have a brand you found reputable? I'll be sure to post the results of any of the tests with this forum! Thanks again, and Rex is doing really great in his new home!! [image: 1559586518913-img_3707-resized.jpg] [image: 1559586546977-img_3720-resized.jpg] [image: 1559586568474-img_3708-resized.jpg]
  • 1 Votes
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    ArwenA
    I could see a B in her face. I agree with the shepard cross. :)
  • Is my dog a basenji?

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    QuercusQ
    @Lovelace: Really? What ones? I don't know of any that have all the criteria? I've done extensive research on the breeds, and i'm curious I don't recall any. I think Pat means lots of dogs have one or more of these traits. Those three things all together MAY be an indication that the dog does have some basenji in it…but not for sure. Because the dog could be a boxer/husky mix...and end up with right color/markings, pointy ears, a curly tail, and have wrinkle on the forehead (lots of dogs have wrinkles around the face). Rat terriers are notorious for looking like Basenjis...but the shape of their head is slightly different, and the breed was founded using some Basenji way back. Another thing to remember is that after several generations of mixing, all dogs tend to go back to a natural or pariah dog shape...squarish, brown, pointy ears, slightly curled tail...that is just the natural phenotype of "dog"...so a dog might end up looking Basenji-ish even if there is no actual Basenji there. I am not refering specifically to the OP...that dog does look like it might have some Basenji in it..or Rat terrier...but it is REALLY hard to say for sure. It doesn't matter really, because everyone is welcome here...Basenji, mix, B-look alike...welcome...
  • A basenji Mix?

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    F
    Rafismom, we started him out in a crate, but he hated it. Cried something fierce. We then started leaving him in my son's room, and he was absolutely fine….well, until he started crying again. Then we gave him roam of the house while we were gone, and have had no problems at all. Yes, I know. I'm lucky! He absolutely hates for us to leave, but he's good while we are gone. No complaints here, for sure. Maybe it's the possible black lab that mixed in that makes him so calm? He has his moments, especially outside when he sees a squirrel, etc., but overall he's a very calm pooch. Just last week, I was walking the dog at a local park when I hear a woman saying something about the dog. She was a good distance away. I then realize she was talking to me and asked if my dog was friendly. I said, "yes" and she came over to pet him. She told me that the dog reminded her of her first dog. She said her first dog was a basenji. After more chatting, she said that it was actually a basenji mix, but that my dog looked a lot like hers. She told me how much she loved that dog and told me all sorts of stories about her. Such a nice lady. Gave me a few bits of advice and about a half hour later we parted ways. This is my first dog, and I've been amazed at how friendly other dog people are when I'm walking him. This has been a great experience.