• I agree Esther, I prefer my Basenjis to look like they could go out and hunt down their own food (hehe, not that either of mine could)… Slender and petite is how I like my females.


  • Samantha was the runt of the litter, so she's very slender at the waist, but measures 16" at shoulders, 16" from shoulders to tail and weighs 19-20 lbs.


  • @gemurray:

    Samantha was the runt of the litter, so she's very slender at the waist, but measures 16" at shoulders, 16" from shoulders to tail and weighs 19-20 lbs.

    Which is right on the standard. I have never really seen a "runt" Basenji in any litter. One might start out smaller then the others, but by the time they are full grown, they have always caught up. It really is not something that we see in our breed, IMO


  • Medjai was the runt, and the rest of his litter is also really light boned. I've seen 1 sibling, and 1 half sibling, and they are both about the same as Medjai, just about .5-1" taller. I will measure him later, but he is now weighing 18.5 lbs.


  • @etzbseder:

    Medjai was the runt, and the rest of his litter is also really light boned. I've seen 1 sibling, and 1 half sibling, and they are both about the same as Medjai, just about .5-1" taller. I will measure him later, but he is now weighing 18.5 lbs.

    Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't your Medjai come from a questionable breeder?
    That may account for the fact that all his puppies are smaller than the standard.
    If he's not breeding dogs that meet the standard for Basenjis, he's going to produce dogs that don't meet the standard.
    And that is why the reputable breeders may seem to elitist to you, but should also illustrate the WHY of their attitudes toward careful breeding.
    Just a thought…...


  • Medjai did come from a questionable breeder, but for Medjai, he just took after his mom. He's 16.5" tall 15.5" long. His mom is just about that same size, but his dad is about 18" tall and almost 32 lbs.


  • Mirtillo is 41 cm (16,1 inch) from shoulder to ground and 41 cm (16,1 inch) from chest to buttocks and he weighs 7 kilo (16 pound)


  • Huh, Jack is lean but he weighs 29lbs a little more than most of you, Wonder why?? (Hes 6/7years)


  • How tall is he? Most of the rest have been around 17-18"


  • @etzbseder:

    How tall is he? Most of the rest have been around 17-18"

    Even at 18… it is possible that he is that weight... remember you have to take bone structure into account...not just size...

    My Jamari, who is just about 16 3/4 and to the small side, is not in bone structure. His normal show/coursing weight is 26 lbs... and if he was a bitch he would be "huge..."..... so very hard to just look at weight....


  • Thanks that makes me feel better about it. I dont know his exact size (and I cant measure him until he gets home from "Jail" 😞 ) But I know hes not fat! thats for sure!! lol


  • How long until they are fully grown?

    Our older pair are both much bigger than the newer one, who is now about 15 months and about 75% the size of them. Our Male is 18" and about 23 pounds last time. The female is 17" and 21. THe young one is 15" or so, but I have not weighed her lately.

    Also, where exactly do you measure? Just the level of their back right above the shoulder?


  • You measure from just behind where the neck joins the back, also call the withers like on a horse.

    And 99% of the time their full height is usually by 6 to 8 months… they will "body" up but typically their height is just about done by 8 months. Their growth plates close typically before 1 yr and all mine have closed at 7 months.

    Your 15 month B is most likely at full height....


  • Sahara is 16" and weighs anywhere from 21 to 25lbs. She is not a great eater, and her weight goes up and down depending on her mood. There are days she will only eat once a day, and she is mostly right at 24-25 or below. She has a very muscular build and looks slim and trim, wish I could say that, haha!!!!!


  • Serenjane is a bit overweight at 30 lbs., however she doesn't look fat. Can you tell she is spoiled? Too many treats.
    Whenever I learn how to insert her picture I will. On my list of things too do.


  • @etzbseder:

    This is far off topic with any of my other threads, and all the other ones I've seen, but I was wondering if there was any way to track the size (weights, and maybe heights) of people dogs. From what I remember seeing in many threads, there are a ton of dogs that are quite a bit bigger than the standard, and several that are smaller. I just have rarely come across posts of basenjis that were actually (weightwise only) the standard size anymore.

    It seems to me that there are more dogs actually closer to the standard than not, with a few chunkies thrown in. :), and most have been closer to 16" than not.


  • Dallas is almost 7 months & weighs in around 18 lbs. 🙂


  • Seren Jane is abit on the chunky side at 30 lbs. Too many treats.

    I think I already posted her weight on another thread, forgive me I am still learning to navigate.


  • It is always a good idea to keep your Basenjis in good healthly weight… overweight can lead to other health problems. That said, I like to keep young puppies (2 months to 5 months) with a little extra weight, just in case they get sick (and it is not always possible to do so, but I try and don't worry about them).. and the elders... a little heavier again in case of illness... By elders I am talking about over the age of 12... Here is a picture of my boy, OJ.. now 16 yrs, 9+ months... and in fact I am trying to get another lb on him....


  • What a handsome old gentleman. Yet another reason to love basenjis… I've never met a really old one (more than 7 years), but in pictures of old ones they still look so young.

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