2009 Chicago Basenji Specialty

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  • Meeting a Basenji

    Moved Basenji Meetups & Events
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    I
    I must agree that naive, first-time wanne-be owners need to do deep, extensive research. Basenjis are supremely unique and definitely not a good choice for a "beginner." I adopted an 18-month old 3/4 Basenji (other 1/4 is Min Pin, yet another quirky little breed, with some "bad" similarities to B's). I was somewhat familiar with B's, but not even a little bit of "enough!!" Gosh, Izzy-Bella was a piperoo!! A little 18 pound bundle of energy, destruction, and escapism. BUT, I have always loved bad boys (9 years working in a high school), so a little bad girl was a sort of delight. But, again, it takes many years before these dogs mellow out and mature and maximize their amazing intelligence. Izzy is SO SO smart: her early unbridled destructiveness has pretty much ended, and now, at ten years old, she amazes us every day with her intelligence, innate understanding, observational skills, language acumen, and comedic skills. And at ten years old, she acts like a three year old! I hope this means she will live forever. Once you have bonded with a Basenji, you are probably done and gone. But first-timers REALLY need to do their research and homework. Someone referred to entrusting their dog to a family member. I would entrust my B to nobody except a bona fide Vet hospital/kennel, with big-time fences and enclosures, B's are exceptional diggers-under-fences and escape artists. And a Number One cause of death for them is traffic. Their prey instinct sends them careening into traffic. Dumber than deer. But, bottom line: do your due diligence Basenji research, and understand early on that these dogs are singularly unique: indescribably destructive; escape artists; independent thinkers and behaviorists; smarter than you can even begin to imagine (I swear my Izzy understands everything I say and reads my mind!); and prepare to have lots of tissues on hand as auxiliary food, because apparently, Basenjis require wood pulp projects to prosper!! I don't get it.
  • National Specialty

    Moved Basenji Meetups & Events
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    DebraDownSouthD
    @scampy I am sorry to read about your mother. I hope she recovers quickly.
  • basenji NOVA Meetups?

    Basenji Meetups & Events
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    Found this thread and figured I would respond. I have an almost 1yr old Male (27 November) and would be interested in meeting up with other Basenji owners and their dogs. I live near Quantico and quite honestly don't see any other Basenjis ever. Will drive to most parks in the NOVA area.
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    I will try to get down there. I would love to see you and your 2 neat b's!
  • 2009 BCOA National Specialty

    Basenji Meetups & Events
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    Anubis's MommyA
    I haven't managed to find any Basenji's in my area and Id like to get together with some other Basenji owners and their dogs and let our dogs socialize and let us human's get to know each other. I love Basenji's and I figured it would be awesome to get them all together at a dog park or something and let them play. I figured this would be a great place to throw this idea out there since SO many members are on this site :)
  • Basenjis in Boston

    Basenji Meetups & Events
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    tah1212T
    We will try to keep the 6th open. Depending on how things go next weekend we might shoot to go done on Sunday.