Skip to content

Considering a Basenji.

Basenji Talk
  • Hello, I am considering rescuing a Basenji. I am concerned about a few things, because I really like this breed, but I don't want a mismatch.

    I live alone in a medium sized apartment, which is very pet friendly, plenty of places to walk and explore for the dog, and walking and exercise is not a problem at all. What I am concerned about is leaving the dog at home while I am at work. I am sure I don't want a pup, which helps, but I know from researching that Basenjis need to be active. I plan on taking the dog out for long walks a few times a day (for my exercise too) and I think the dog will get plenty of time out and about when I am home. Other than work during the day I have plenty of time to be with my pet.

    I am a long time dog owner, and grew up taking on most of the dog training in my household. I have also helped rescue dogs before.

    Does the work day prove to be a certain mismatch with a Basenji?

  • @DennisH:

    Hello, I am considering rescuing a Basenji. I am concerned about a few things, because I really like this breed, but I don't want a mismatch.

    I live alone in a medium sized apartment, which is very pet friendly, plenty of places to walk and explore for the dog, and walking and exercise is not a problem at all. What I am concerned about is leaving the dog at home while I am at work. I am sure I don't want a pup, which helps, but I know from researching that Basenjis need to be active. I plan on taking the dog out for long walks a few times a day (for my exercise too) and I think the dog will get plenty of time out and about when I am home. Other than work during the day I have plenty of time to be with my pet.

    I am a long time dog owner, and grew up taking on most of the dog training in my household. I have also helped rescue dogs before.

    Does the work day prove to be a certain mismatch with a Basenji?

    I don't think it does… and I would bet that 90% of us on this list works.... And honestly, 99% of the time when you are at work, your dog/Basenji sleeps... So as long as you are planning exercise daily, you should do just fine... also there are a number of people on the list that live in apartments too... and do just fine with their B's

  • I'm not working right now, but I go to school, live in a small apartment, and have trouble getting outside exercise in the winter, but my Basenji seems to love it here just fine. Luckily I will be moving to a larger house in a warmer climate with a yard in a few months.

    Being that you are experienced with rescues and training, you shouldn't really have any trouble at all with a rescue. There is probably a local basenji rescue, or club with rescue contacts, otherwise there is BRAT which is national. You should be able to find plenty of help, information, and advice through this forum.

  • I've got just under 1000sqft for my Basenji in my Condo. Granted the layout is far more open than most floor plans, he has plenty of room to run around. Like others have said, they usually sleep during the day while you are away, but every dog has a different personality. My B doesn't seem to have any severe separation anxiety and is not house destructive. Thus making the situation very easy.

    I find that my Basenji gets more exercise with my building layout because everytime he needs to go outside he gets a solid 5-10 minute walk. Most dog owners simply let their dog go in their yard and they come right back in. Something to keep in mind. There are a lot of dogs in my building (hi-rise) and they all seem to get a long very well. The social atmosphere is simply fantastic for these dogs. A lot more dog owners a close proximity than you'd get in a suburban neighborhood.

    My B has made a lot of friends just in the last couple months. I love seeing that smile on his face after he's had the chance to meet a new friend.

  • Rescue has some wonderful b to rehome, also, check with your local basenji breed club.
    They can share basenji info, share playdays and lurecouring they might be doing..

Suggested Topics

  • Is she a basenji ?

    Basenji Talk
    50
    4 Votes
    50 Posts
    7k Views
    KembeK
    Looks can be so deceiving- here is an article of a woman who adopted a rescue dog in N.J. Dog looks like a basenji - even her vet thought it might be basenji. She did an Embark DNA test - no basenji. Turned out the dog was a mixture of Mountain Cur, Rat Terrier, Beagle, and Boston Terrier. link text
  • Considering a Basenji (Raleigh, NC)

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    6k Views
    I
    I am pretty sure my attempt at humor totally leapt over your head. Hmmm, perhaps, my bad. Trevor is my second best male cat ever. He requires no interventions. Time for me to opt out of yet another social media site. Tah.
  • Basenji

    Basenji Talk
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    P
    @ktiefen1 You would be correct!! Potty Training eventually came easy because ours is so treat motivated....lol. Basic obedience is a challenge for us......ahe is definitely her own girl....and please dont disturb her sleep. You could lose a limb. ::)))))
  • 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.
  • Is she a basenji

    Basenji Talk
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    9k Views
    W
    lol usually when you breed a bigger dog to a smaller dog the Male is the tiny one. Its just dangerous to do it the other way around. As far as DNA breed testing I would go for it if I could. But i am just interested in those kinds of tests. We offer them at our clinic but i haven't ever seen results for them.
  • 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.