Chi-Rat....Basenji??

Basenji Talk

  • We adopted Stella a month ago and they guessed she was possibly Rat Terrier and Chihuahua. Since we’ve had her I’ve had a couple strangers stop me and ask if she’s part Basenji. I hadn’t even heard of that breed until now! She’s 22lbs and about 16.5 inches tall. She stretches out like a frog CONSTANTLY throughout the day and never barks. We’ve only heard a couple single barks from her and that was only when provoked by other dogs aggressively barking at her. alt textHer tail doesn’t curl, but has a weird bump at the base...it would look more normal if it did curl! She doesn’t really play at all with us, but is HIGHLY obsessed with any type of rodent (which could also just be Rat Terrier in her!), animal or other dog she sees, hears or smells!

    I’ve researched and saw articles talking about how rare Basenji mixes are, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she has none in her! Just curious for now. I’d like to eventually get a DNA test done.

    2_1567875059407_F94610C8-209C-4459-A5D8-E92C1E419F86.jpeg 1_1567875059407_22AF26F3-DD27-4E4E-90CF-33C5D61F34B4.jpeg 0_1567875059407_D68B94F0-407F-42D9-A43D-A2E0A2BC671F.jpeg


  • Face, ears, stance - look Basenji. You need to get a DNA test to verify. The dog is an absolute adorable baby!


  • Sorry but Basenji doesn't appear there to me. I'd go along with Chihuahua and something terrier-like. That said, she's a cute little number ! Enjoy her as an enigma but have a DNA test done if it matters what she is (other than adorable !)


  • ! I'm not a breeder or show person but I have to say.....Basenji or not she is adorable!
    I wouldn't worry that she doesn't play a lot with the humans yet. I got my almost all my Basenji's from reputable breeders so they were well socialized. It just takes them time to ascertain if you are worth playing with! Just love her and give her lots of attention and she'll come around in time. As with any of the high prey drive pups keep her securely in the house (take care with opening the door for any reason..... they can beat Houdini when it comes to getting out of a house or car) and never leave her in a fenced back yard without supervision. I have a solid 6 vinyl fence but when my pup is on the yard I'm at the patio door. I treat like I would a kid if I had a swimming pool..... it my eyes aren't on her when she's in the yard, she has to come in. No answering the door bell, no taking a minute just to grab the phone from the cradle. It only takes a second for them to squeeze through an opening and be gone and that high prey drive means they will dart into the street. Good luck with the little princess!!


  • @njdeb thanks so much for the advice!! 🙂


  • Our Basenji-Mix (only 2 vets verified, haven't DNA tested yet so bear with me..) has the same weird tail bump and I can't find evidence of it on any other dogs! So cool. She also does the frog pose alllll day long.


  • The ears say Basenji. I have never replied but felt I had to this time. I have a Basenji-Pitbull mix named Daisy. It was Daisy's ears (and behavior) that I discovered her to be part Basenji. I have not found another breed with the ears such as Basenji's have. I'm sure I will get "crap" because I have not had DNA or other testing done but there is no mistaking, Daisy is part Basenji. I think its important to know if your dog is part Basenji because in Daisy's case she is 98% Basenji and 2% pitbull concerning her behaviors and personality. Daisy is 2 years old and it has been quite a learning experience owning such a smart, stubborn, loving, mind of her own, amazing dog! Daisy is a mix but I have to train, teach, go outside to yell out frustrations cause of her (and no I'm not kidding, but never in front of her) and all that goes with a pure Basenji because trying to train her like a normal dog does not work.

Suggested Topics

  • Is this a Basenji?

    Moved Basenji Talk
    5
    1 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    D
    @weedtrek Possibly Basenji mix, nose looks a bit wider and the eyes are less oval. Could well be a Basenji mix though.
  • Basenji

    Basenji Talk
    4
    -1 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    D
    Where I am it costs about $2K+ for a dog from a breeder for just about any breed. Goldens may be less because the litters are so large. That may seem like a lot, but, as Debra mentions, dogs cost money to care for. After vet bills and boarding fees and food, it matters little what the dog cost to acquire. Leaving true puppy mills out of the discussion, given the costs of being a responsible breeder -- testing, vet bills, feeding -- and how much work breeding is, I can't imagine anyone doing it for the money. That leads to two problems for people looking for dogs. One is that since breeding isn't really lucrative, there aren't a ton of breeders, which means the supply of pups is low. Second is that most Basenji breeders want to place their pups in the best possible homes -- remember they aren't doing it for the money -- which means they're looking for people who have had Basenjis before. Something of a Catch-22.
  • Basenji Song-Moon Over Basenji

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Oh Barklessdog, you are a brave person. I must now stand with you in insane-solidarity and admit I bought it too. It is awful but when you get the line "we couldn't say goodbye so we took him home" part, you know you got to help support the woman. lol
  • Could she be a basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    10k Views
    W
    @Thana: she does have basenji characteristics then apart from her colours and looks.- i also think she must have some basenji blood! She is lovely and lucky no matter what! adorable little face:))))) Having read about the characteristics I think she does. The lady with the basenji that we met also commented on some of the things she was doing as "very basenji" (eg. standing on her back legs so she could see what was going on). Has a lovely wrinkly forehead too. Got very frustrated with me earlier and did her funny bark, more of a wierd howl really. She is def one of a kind. Its a shame we have to have her spayed (not that I could ever justify letting her have a litter).
  • Is this a basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    37
    0 Votes
    37 Posts
    9k Views
    DukeD
    @phoenix3: Looks like a B to me but i think more of a B mix he looks like he has corse hair Maybe be has the size of a cattledog body and a basenji head :) My Aspen is a cattledog/ terrier mix he has the body of a cattledog {the colors} and the height and face of a terrier heres a pic so u can see the colors of the cattledog well one color anyways :D :D phoenix3 - this is Aspen? I'm so amazed at her spots, because my Daisy has spots like Aspens. We know her mother is pure R/W Basenji and she is thought her other half Beagle. One of her other litter mate moms thought Blue Healer (cattledog). But I subscribed to the Beagle. Daisy could be … Cattle Dog I suppose. She's bigger than Duke now at almost 9 months old. I will show her off soon on "Show Off" forum soon.
  • Basenji Traits Your Basenji Doesn't Have…

    Basenji Talk
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    17k Views
    M
    My Rue is pretty perfect. She is mixed with something (I don't know what) so she doesn't look like a real B… and she isn't interested in anything in our house (chewing wise), doesn't bolt out the door, and licks like CRAZY! She also doesn't really like to play with other dogs at the dog park, she just smells them, occasionally chases them, then comes back and lays down by me (EXERCISE DANG IT!). The only normal B behaviors that I see in her are the little noises that she makes (she makes a lot of them for different reasons) and her BAROOOOOOO (which is fitting because we named her Rue before we even knew she was a Basenji) and it seems like she is stubborn about sitting. It's like she is saying, "yeah I know you want me to sit, but first I'm gonna spin around in a circle. Then maybe I'll sit if I feel like it." Haha! She is a character!