That is great..yes they are smart..scary smart..
I guess I should know this
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I would prefer hounds as well…but, really? You don't see any other characteristics? How about the overall tendancy for this: "are you looking at me...was that a look...what does that look mean...you wanna fight? sure I'll fight, c'mon...bring it on...." oh, and there is also the "what's in it for me attitude" that both groups share
They are also physically square like most terriers. Most terriers have almond shaped eyes...most terrriers have triangular ears that have been bred to flop over.
There original name when imported to the west was "congo terrier"
I see quite a few similarities
But I defintiely prefer being in the hound group. And honestly, if we were going to be re-grouped, I would hope for a primative or spitz group to be formed...that would really be the "right" place for us 
I agree Andrea… I could have seen Basenjis put in with terriers very easily.. and I am glad that we are with the hounds... Also agree with the re-group..
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@vstripe:
Cool thanks for the tip I'll have to look that up on line and learn more! Do basenji's do scent trials? He is from a rescue that picked him up at a shelter. I know zero about his backround or where he is from. He has the "look" of a puppymill Basenji, in the family there have been 2 from a breeder 1 pet store & now this guy the rescue.
Basenji do scent… but there are not trials, per say for them but I know that one of my puppies participated in one scent trial (however I don't remember the details).... You should subscribe to The Basenji Magazine... we have one Basenji owner that does hunting with his basenjis and does articles for the magazine... If you go to www.thebasenji.com you can get a free sample copy….
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Basenjis can participate in Tracking Trials but they are pretty tough to get into.
As for being like a terrier. I do see plenty of terrier traits. In fact, my obedience instructor has a border terrier that absolutely loves basenjis and has ever since she attended the BCONC Rally Seminar. Miss Pickle couldn't believe there were other dogs that wanted nothing to do with her and loved their own personal space. It made so much of an impression on her that when the basenji puppies came for the day she was like, "Mom, you finally brought the right puppies home."
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Basenjis lack the one trait that terriers all have that I do not prefer and it is the attentiveness, or desire to please their people all the time which portrays the hyper nature. I like that my basenjis aren't in my face all of the time.
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Basenjis lack the one trait that terriers all have that I do not prefer and it is the attentiveness, or desire to please their people all the time which portrays the hyper nature. I like that my basenjis aren't in my face all of the time.
Hmmm…well, that sure isn't like the terriers I know...there is a reason why they call them "terrierists"
Most terriers couldn't care less about pleasing you. But yes, they usually are very busy! I think of sporting and herding dogs as being much MUCH more wanting to be in your face, and please you all the time...and yes, I prefer that my Bs aren't like that (most of the time...sometimes I wish they were a little more attentive to what I want ) -
Hmmm…well, that sure isn't like the terriers I know...there is a reason why they call them "terrierists"
Most terriers couldn't care less about pleasing you. But yes, they usually are very busy! I think of sporting and herding dogs as being much MUCH more wanting to be in your face, and please you all the time...and yes, I prefer that my Bs aren't like that (most of the time...sometimes I wish they were a little more attentive to what I want )No kidding. That little toy rat terrier that my friend has is super hyper and could not care less about pleasing them. You can't hold him unless he is very sleepy. He simply must be down destroying things, chasing the cat. If they give a command such as "sit", he'll sit for 1/10 of a second and then he's outta there. He managed to pass his first obedience class, but even she's not sure how he did it. She said he embarrassed her every week in class by being the worst listener every time. LOL
There was a Basenji in that class, and she said he was a dream boat! -
Basenjis lack the one trait that terriers all have that I do not prefer and it is the attentiveness, or desire to please their people all the time which portrays the hyper nature. I like that my basenjis aren't in my face all of the time.
Wow, all the terriers I know are so very much like Basenjis?… what attentiveness...?? I very rarely have seen that in any terrier....
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Wow, all the terriers I know are so very much like Basenjis?… what attentiveness…?? I very rarely have seen that in any terrier….
Yeah - Unless there's a treat - what attentiveness? I'm sure Duke is Basenji-Terrier, I think Jack Russell. Both worlds collide with him. When Duke wants love, like a cat/basenji, he comes to get it. Otherwise, he's very independent. I like the term "terrierist".
How old is your friend's Rat Terrier? I had a heck of a time getting thru Beginner Obedience last year - he was about 8 months old. Now he's 1.5 y.o. and he's come a long way since then. I don't complain so much anymore about what he's done - lately. Daisy's taken over his place as the accused.
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You know when I worked at the grooming place for a year we had some kind of terrier almost everyday. I dont think basenji's act like them at all. Thank goodness too, most of them would usually nip, bite and give us a tough time (some were very sweet). Not like-"really agressive" more like stubborn brats. I'm so glad they are in the hound group because sight hounds are bad a$$ looking. Especially Borzoi, Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Pharaoh hounds, & Ibizans.
Funny thing about obedience classes. We did begginer and inter. with Garrett and our teacher would always pick us last or not pick us at all to do demo's of tricks in front of the class ( think she was afraid he would make her look bad). She had two golden retrievers and the class was a bunch of border collies aussie's couple of labs. a golden stuff like that.
Anyway, the few times she did pick us Garrett actually did what she said! He messed up a little with the off the leash course because he was more interested in going to investigate the other dogs. By the end of class she was so happy with his performance and would tell us how cute and good he was. I like to think in some small way our B changed the way she thought about basenjis. -
Remember however, those dogs most likely have little or no social skills and/or training…. I know people that have taken Basenjis to groomers and they "cringe" at the sight....
And.. Borzio, Greyhounds, Whippets, etc.. are sighthounds, not scent?
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Eekk I meant to write "sight" I was looking at that scent stuff on a web site
Come to think of it, maybe our teacher always picked us last because my boyfriend and I looked weird lol! We were wearing all black, leather jackets and were the youngest couple in class! -
You DID write sight..unless I'm missing something. {"they are in the hound group because sight hounds are bad a$$ looking. Especially Borzoi, Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Pharaoh hounds, & Ibizans"}
And yes, they are sighthounds.
My friend's rat terrier is only a month older than Keoki, so he'd be about 7 mos old now.
"Remember however, those dogs most likely have little or no social skills and/or training…. " And he's been through obedience training - ha ha! - and many attempts to socialize him w/dogs and people have been made. He's a firecracker, and not from lack of trying on their part to settle him down a bit. They'd hoped neutering would help -- ha ha again. I was at their house the night of his surgery and he was EVERYWHERE and into EVERYTHING.Jill, I'll let my friend know that yours is better now. It will give her hope for the future! LOL
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POOR BUNNIES!! Jack would KILL a squirrel if I would let him off the leash to chase it i just know that for sure, in FACT he miss took a small long haired Chihuahua of our neighbors for small game and I'm sure if i wasn't out there with him, he might have brought me the kill, EWW. thanks goodness he hasn't done any hunting yet, but of course my husband would LOVE to train Jack to hunt with. we will see.
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the problem who getting the kill away from the basenji in time.
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speaking of baby bunnies. I have been feeding the birds and squirrels for a while and there is this darn cat that runs loose in the neighborhood. Anyway, the cat found the baby bunny nest and chased out the babies. She caught one and 2 darted under our fence for protection–right into the mouths of Dash and Sissy. Bad, Bad choice. I came outside to 2 dead bunnies. They were not eating them, just playing with them. I didn't have any problem getting them away from them. They were dead-game over. No more chase. Dash had moved on. I felt awful, but they are hunters. Between the Beagles nose and the basenji's sight. They didn't stand a chance.
Also, I see quite a resemblance to terriers. I don't consider it bad or good. They are what they are.
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I have always been told that animals must learn to kill.
Our female, we got as a puppy, has always 'instinctively' killed animals. No play involved either. She chases, kills as fast as she, can then eats as fast she can.
Both my wife & myself don't encourage it, but for me (not my wife) watching her do it with the bunnies was like watching a discovery animal scene of a lion chasing her prey. I remember it so vividly, like she was in slow motion, she chased the 7 or so bunnies, they dodged & ducked and they dog adjusted to every move. No anger, no blood thirsty ravaging, just like a wild animal she was just catching food but with grace & beauty. We only saved one bunny. It was actually beautiful watching it (except the killing part). She did it quickly and efficiently as she could. Our male has not a clue to killing and ends up getting all bit up (stupid dog!)
It minds me of someone taking a street Ferrari out a track racing with other cars, seeing it work as what God intended the design to do. Poetry in motion, I guess what Lure Coursing must be like. I can tell you what it was like, or see pictures, but seeing it in person is different.
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I don't think I could have watched it. I was crushed as it was. I enjoy the animals around our yard and if I could catch the loose cat I would remove it. As much as I realize it is their instict, I still would freak out.
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I have a big fenced yard - this basenji playground however on occasion attracts smallish bunnies - they hide in the hostas and when the basenjis aren't looking make a dash for the fence. The probelm they will encounter is that soon they will not fit through the fence and then they'll be the bunnie buffet in the basenji playground.
You would think they would figure out and stay away - I have a large area that is not fenced with nice cover, woodpile etc even a pond - but know inside the basenji yard they play - until they don't.
Last year Sarge got a tail and piece of skin - before he got the whole bunny later. I will also say that killing a bunny Thanksgiving morning was perhaps the shinning momemt in my old guy Mo's last month alive. He was old tired and slow but chasing the bunny invigorated him - I swear he smiled for a week.
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I don't think I could have watched it. I was crushed as it was. I enjoy the animals around our yard and if I could catch the loose cat I would remove it. As much as I realize it is their instict, I still would freak out
My wife had the same reaction and was really upset by it, she even resented the dog. We tried to catch them but you know you just can't catch a basenji, yet alone one after a bunch of rabbits. As much as I dislike rabbit & other vermin in my yard, I don't want to kill them personally or by our dogs. If a owl comes by during the night thats OK, it's natures way. You can't yell or be mad at a dog doing what it was intended to (my wife). People love to humanize their pets, but really they are animals and preditors.
He was old tired and slow but chasing the bunny invigorated him - I swear he smiled for a week.
Our dog is a timmid scaredy Basenji and she was he same way after that. I did wonders for her ego, she was so proud. I was happy for her.
