It is true that this is not a good time of year to find a young pup to bring home. This is a good time of year to begin screening breeders for fall litters though. Also, you may want to consider a young adult. Breeders sometimes have dogs that didn't turn out quite as they expected or sometimes dogs are returned and need rehomed.
I don't mind a 4-7 month old Basenji. In fact, I could tell what kind of personality they have more at that age.. It doesn't need to be 10 weeks, or 13 weeks, or whatever.
But with one that is older and needs to be rehomed, he might already have bad habits.. The only thing I didn't like about Chopper is that he was hard to train (took twp months I think to teach him to lay down on command and I couldn't teach him to roll over.) and I think he was hit a lot by his previous owner. While I loved him and he was nearly perfect, I'd like a dog that has only been with a breeder so I can train him correctly.
I was hoping some breeders might of had ones they couldn't sell. Doesn't seem the case in Florida, though. 
Sorry to hear about Chopper.
You never know about older dogs that need rehoming until you go and meet them. Good breeders will sometimes have to rehome one of their dogs (the previous owner may have died or got shipped overseas or whatever) - that doesn't mean the dog was a problem dog. My second dog was a 5year old retired show dog that was very well trained.
And regarding training - that partly depends on the dog's personality. Two months to learn to lay down - ha - I had a 9 year old who refused to lie down up to the day he died.
So be more openminded about "older" dogs - you just might find one nearly as perfect as Chopper.
But with one that is older and needs to be rehomed, he might already have bad habits.. The only thing I didn't like about Chopper is that he was hard to train (took twp months I think to teach him to lay down on command and I couldn't teach him to roll over.) and I think he was hit a lot by his previous owner. While I loved him and he was nearly perfect, I'd like a dog that has only been with a breeder so I can train him correctly.
QUOTE]Many dogs returned to breeders are returned because the family is overwhelmed and that may or may not be because of the dog. I would not rule out a dog that has been returned without meeting the actual dog.
Also, just to be realistic, even puppies can have difficulty learning commands. Basenjis respond very well to positive reinforcement training but can take a while to gain reliability with a command. They are also sighthounds so the issue of being distracted and therefore not reliable in performing commands when outside will always be something that has to be worked on.
Lets talk a bit about 'training' - while some basenjis do learn parlor tricks - roll over, shake etc. It is a little unrealistic to expect that they all will. 'Training' for a B is typically those things that are critical like Come, sit, walking on a leash without pulling and giving some indication that it's potty time. For those that are more independent they look at you like "what ta heck to I have to roll over for" or "fetch it yourself", if the task does not fit their purpose - it's harder to teach.
Althouh - on old dogs new tricks - my daughter, when she bought her house took a favorite basenji with her and Thumper is 11 and she did teach her parlor tricks that she never knew as a youngster. So I suppose - timing is everything.
There are a couple of puppies in Indiana with breeders. It's seldom that you find breeders where you are - if you want something specific - you need to go where the Breeders are.
I have a Basenji Boy and girl available, I am in Tampa, would you consider taking
them? Cabrerajo@msn.com
@Jo:
I have a Basenji Boy and girl available, I am in Tampa, would you consider taking
them? Cabrerajo@msn.com
What is their breeding? Sire and Dam? Have they or the parents been DNA tested for Fanconi?
Both rescued, beautiful dogs, have no idea about the breeding, but had
someone adopt them both yesterday, you seem to have a wonderful breeding
situation do you also rescue?
@Jo:
Both rescued, beautiful dogs, have no idea about the breeding, but had
someone adopt them both yesterday, you seem to have a wonderful breeding
situation do you also rescue?
I do participate in rescue for our breed.
Do you know if those two were purebreds? If so, please pass along DNA testing information to whoever adopted them for Fanconi.
I will, Thank you
I am so sorry for your loss…
