My fiance and I are getting married in June, and after a lot of research we believe that the Basenji is the perfect dog for us to begin our new life together with.
Being a resident of Maryland I have tried to use the Basenji Club of America's Breeder Directory to find breeders along the mid-Atlantic states and as far north as NY and as far south as NC.
It has recently come to my attention though that puppies only come around one time a year and only in late fall/early winter. This would be a heart-breaker for my fiance and I since it looks like we would have to wait another year essentially to welcome a new basenji puppy in our home.
Are there ever instances of puppies being born in the late summer/early fall? Any help/guidance is much appreciated.
Thanks.
Very rarely will you find off season (for Basenjis) puppies.... Think about all you can learn in the time you are waiting.... visit with breeders, visit dog shows, meet owners/breeders/go to performance events.... Will make bring home that new puppy all the sweeter
Rare...you will have to wait, like the rest of us 
But you can try adopt on BRAT ( basenji rescue and transport).
Its only few months of waiting...and you can get to know the breed a bit more. Trust me, you will be discovering the breed for years as your pup matures 
Consider an older dog, they are much less work at one year. Honestly, I used to think of older dogs as ‘used’ vs ‘new’ but the last Basenji we got was nine months old. No potty training, no ripping up everything, no teething, just an awesome dog right from the start. Plus if you adopt from BRAT you are helping a dog and get a lifetime of free support.
Nothing wrong with "used" dogs. Out of the 7 Basenjis that I have shared my life with so far only 2 moved in as puppies, 2 came from breeders at 9 months, 2 came from BRAT as young adults, and 1 was a non-BRAT adult rescue. We loved them all equally, they were all good dogs, and none seemed "used" to me. We've also had 5 non-Basenjis that were "used".
-Joanne
@dagodingo
I totally agree w/ @dagodingo! I had my heart set on a basenji puppy - the breeder talked me into a puppy that was returned due to a divorce - she was 6 months old @ the time. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise - she actually chose us by cuddling right up to my husband. She was already potty trained which was a plus. I took her to doggy school which brought her to the next level. She is the PERFECT DOG - I could not ask for a better baby. We absolutely LOVE her - she is a member of our family.Please consider a basenji rescue!
Can I ask what brought you to feel basenji's would be for you? Have you been around them? I certainly love my b's but generally don't recommend them for most people especially if you work long hours. Basenji's are trainable but aren't like golden's who come when called. Basenji's take a message unless there's something in it for them.
Do you plan to have children? If yes, then wait until your kids are past the toddler age.
It may not look 'modern' but my Zande Put-Off is still very pertinent.
http://zandebasenjis.com/inform.htm
And a variety of other articles on that website - make absolutely sure you want / need a Basenji and have patience ! Learn all you can first. I have spent many years putting people off having a dog which is NOT for them.
Another plug for adopting: Our first pet as a married couple was a Basenji puppy. The challenges were many, and through the years, I've reminded my husband that if I ever wanted to have children, just get me another puppy, and I would be cured of that desire. Nevertheless, we fell in love with the breed. Since that first puppy, we have adopted all of our dogs through BRAT including one non-Basenji. They are well-vetted, and we have loved them all dearly even though they are a handful.
@marsha - Adoption is great if that is the choice, however it can take as long as waiting for a pup to be born.....
You are getting married, starting a "new life together" and you think an immediate puppy of any breed is a good thing? Instead of relaxing and getting to know married life, you are bringing in something that is going to take a whole lot of work and time and attention. Getting a living pet is one huge event, getting married is a huge event... do them one at a time and enjoy it. 
Getting a pet should be a separate event from anything else. It isn't like adding nuts to your ice cream sundae. It should BE the sundae. As suggested, take time to find people with them, go actually MEET Basenjis. What you read isn't the same as getting to know them. Or as Spock said on Star Trek... the having is not the same as the wanting. To even be searching for a puppy before you have met the breed up close and personal is a bit disconcerting. I am glad you know to go with only BCOA breeders, but this isn't a breed to get impulsively. Waiting a year isn't a "heart-breaker" ... it's hard, annoying, etc. but "heart-breaking"... no.
You are looking at something that will live 12 to 17 years, it's worth waiting. It's also worth doing more researching and getting out to meet them. An indication of lack of researching on the right places is that it just recently came to your attention that they generally have only one litter a year, typically fall or winter. That's one of the unique characteristics and I'd like to suggest you go to some better sources (like BCOA breeder's pages). Meet some dogs. Go to a great source, Basenji University, ( https://www.basenji.org/BasenjiU/niversityIndex.html ) and read more. Spend time here looking at behavior issues. I'm not suggesting your puppy will have those issues, but if you know ahead of time what problems can arise, you'll be ahead of the game in keeping them from developing with your puppy.
I am not, like others, going to dissuade you from wanting a puppy. If you are willing to do the work, read about positive training, use the time between now and the puppy to KNOW how to house train, crate train, basic obedience. A puppy is an exhausting but joyful thing. I love rescue and rescues, but wanting a puppy doesn't make someone selfish or bad. One suggestion I am almost reluctant to make is that you might still want to contact breeders and let them know if a puppy placement doesn't work out, you are willing to take an older puppy. Just please, meet some before you do. Because I promise you, a lot of the things you read may sound enchanting--- and you may find they are, or you may find it drives you up a wall. My first Basenji did more damage than the previous 25 years of Rottweilers and Chows. No exaggeration. Until you come in to find a dog climbing a bookcase to get your glasses, you don't appreciate the determination. Your definition of "puppy-proofing" will go to all new levels. And if you both didn't grow up with dogs, you're going to need amazing senses of humor.
As for BRAT, Camp Basenji or the few other rescues that are responsible, unlike 10 years ago, the number of young to even middle-aged and healthy Basenjis has dramatically dropped. It is great for the breed, harder for those looking for a younger healthy rescue. From hundreds, I have heard BRAT placed less than 100 last year. I remember when I first started looking and they had a few dozen available dogs. Right now, they have 4 listed.. a 4, 6, 11 and 12 yr old. The one in GA is closest to you, but not good with younger children should you plan to have some. Frankly, at this point if you want a young dog, much less a puppy, a responsible breeder is likely your best chance.
As for your question... since I've given you a boat load of unasked for advice... yes some Basenjis have puppies in spring/summer/early fall. Some even have 2 heat cycles a year. It's not the norm. And the reality is that most responsible breeders have homes already on a list, so while you MIGHT get one, at this point, most likely it would only be if there was enough people on the list dropping off.
Debra
@mattmanutd
My first Basenji was a spring puppy. Of course we had to wait 9 weeks before we could bring her home. I was told by the breeder we got her from that occasionally Basenjis will have a spring litter.
This is even more off-topic but I've been extremely lucky - a very high percentage of our litters have been born in Spring and Summer. I love a Summer litter - the pups can play out in the garden, jump through long grass and learn very quickly to be CLEAN out doors. Although the bitches would look at each other and agree this was about time - and all five came in season within a couple of weeks of each other, I am convinced these were often 'sympathy' seasons. Plessy was born in September and although she always had a summer season along with everyone else, efforts to get her in whelp failed. She may have been showing color but I'm sure she wasn't ovulating. She had her proper season again later in the year and those matings were successful.
@mattmanutd
Im not sure why people wrote long philosophical answers for a simple question.
you can check this group, there are puppies available,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/136057556752554/
if you are willing to pay (high) costs of shipment from Europe I can recommend you some great breeders.
Good luck. Basenji puppies are like all puppies. Little work and great fun,
On the take care note... anyone posting puppies for sale on a facebook page... really check them out. Make sure they belong to BCOA and that they do testing.
@mshilo Wow Thank you for this! I just requested to join the group. I would like to talk to you more about what you posted (Facebook group and the European option). Would you mind if we discussing this further in a private chat?
Thanks again!
@mattmanutd sure, feel free.
So because you possibly can't get a basenji this year, a year during which you're getting married an already stressful situation, you're looking at potentially having a dog shipped overseas? Are you paying for it have its own seat? Anyone who truly cares about their dog would not ship it in cargo especially overseas. Please do not get a dog this year or until you've settled into your marriage. One major life change at a time!
@marty I wonder. You are advising a grownup person that has asked a specific question like he is a kid. I find it very rude. I, for example, think that a puppy to a young couple can be am amazing idea. But the user did NOT ask for my opinion not for any evaluation if he can, can not, should or shouldn’t bring a puppy, Basenji, now or in ten years. He only asked the users advice how to get a Basenji puppy and the honorable users should reply to this request and this only. But that’s only my opinion.i from my side gave him two start options and if he would decide to follow one of them I will help him, as much as I can as a dog lover without any benefit whatsoever , to get a puppy from a responsible breeder or/and how to check that the puppy he gets from any breedr he chooses, is from a responsible breeder and the puppy will not suffer from any Basenji special illness.
