• I have an allergy to dogs and the basenji look like a good dog for my family to have that won't adversely affect me,any help and info would be appreciated. Are there any breeders in the Stoke on Trent area ?


  • There is NO BREED OF DOG ON EARTH that is hypoallergenic. Period.

    I totally disagree with "keep the dog outside" but the rest may help. Try being around the dog or several. See how you can tolerate it.
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pet-allergy/expert-answers/hypoallergenic-dog-breeds/faq-20058425


  • Basenjis are NOT hypoallergenic. They do shed and they do have dander just not as much as other dogs. I would never place a Basenji that someone would be keeping that dog outside. What kind of pet is that? Basenjis are and should always be family members (as should all dogs)


  • I never said anything about the dog being kept outside basenji are from Africa so are used to heat not British weather, and from my post you knows it's to be a part of my family and kept inside. I have done some research on the breed and I'm fully aware that no dog is totally hypoallergenic. To be honest I was expecting a more informed reply than someone jumping to conclusions.i have special needs children and have been advised to get a dog for there benefit.maybe I should be looking elsewhere for a more professional opinion


  • In the past I have sold a puppy (three in fact, over a period of at least 20 years) to someone with an allergy. It worked fine and she bred some very successful litters herself over the years. But I think it depends on the allergy, the severity and it would be wise to visit breeders and mix with their dogs.

    See how you are affected before embarking on a very long experiment. Basenjis live a long time.

    Read all you can too - there are loads of articles on my website, including some devised to deter people from getting the wrong dog if a Basenji is not for them.

    You don't say what kind of special needs your children have. I am loath to sell a puppy into a home with very young children or unless I can be sure that the parents have done lots of homework and realise a Basenji is a very patient dog, up to a point.

    But when playtime is over, and the dog wants its own space for a while, it is no use whatsoever allowing the children to persist. There will be a warning growl and the kids MUST know that is a 'Stop Sign'. Parents must take the dog's side, if necessary against the children, and never assume the dog is in the wrong. One must be aware that the children may ignore warning signs.

    Email me privately (there is an address on my website) and I will send you a list of Breed Club Secretaries in UK. They should know who is breeding in your area.


  • Sally is on the track, if you read the replies carefully you will find something that appears to have snuck in, but no where does it say to keep the dog outside, in the UK or most of the planet. You need to spend time with the Bs and see if you have affects on them as well as them on you. People including breeders, are protective of the breed, because rehousing a basenji is not always fun, because you do not know how they were treated, and it can take some months to get them relaxed again. That is why we are protective. Whatever you do, make sure you are liked by them, and you do not get affected by their traits. Good luck.


  • @redial said in Looking for female basenji s-o-t uk:

    Whatever you do, make sure you are liked by them, and you do not get affected by their traits.

    Redial is so right. Make sure you take the children with you to visit Basenjis and watch their reaction. A couple came to us once to discuss having a puppy. My two boys of that time both tried to hide behind the refrigerator throughout the visit and the girls hid in the garden. We couldn't think why, the couple seemed completely normal -

    Until they got up to go and then the man couldn't find his way to his car, his wife panicked, grabbed his arm to steer him and asked for a biscuit or something. It was to do with his diabetes. We got him back indoors and he calmed down and managed to get out to the car under his own steam after a while.

    They did NOT get a puppy from us. The dogs told us something was wrong - we should have paid attention and cut the visit short.


  • Thank you zande that is the reason I'm looking for (reputable KC) breeders in my area so I can visit the dogs with my children who are 9 and 11 both have autism on different levels . I am continuing to research and we will not be taking on any dog unless everything is right for us and the dog . Again thank you for the advice, I will be InTouch with you soon


  • With autistic children you might want to look at getting an adult so you can see how they are going to relate to the kids. In my experience bitches are often very tolerant with young children, but I am not sure how that will apply to older kids who have autism.


  • Thank you for the input eeeefarm, that is exactly what I'm planning to do once ive done some more research.i have been around many different breeds of dogs over the years but never owned one myself so I have a fair bit of knowledge about most breeds and I would never put my children in harm's way or any dog for that matter. If I'm not as sure as I can be about my family's ability to love,look after and train a dog we won't be having one. This is why I got onto this forum to gather as much information from owners (like your good self) and others who have bothered to read my message properly,as I can before we go ahead and take on a very large commitment.

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