Mistake getting a Basenji?

[Janneke]

@nobarkus:

You'll need 2 very important things Ray. Patience and a sense of humor.

Agreed!

[wizard]

Welcome to our group and congrats on doing your homework before you buy (hate to see one of "ours" end up at the dog pound because it wasn't suitable).

Here's my two cents … my first basenji was so mellow he was no trouble at all; loved walks (but didn't like to run along side my bicycle); he was a great hunter (even blind in one eye he still caught rabbits) but when chasing a critter paid no attention to anything else (that included cars). My second basenji had an attitude towards men and would nip at their heels when least expecting; also a great hunter; also a great escape artist. My current basenji is very laid back with other people and dogs but can be destructive (chewed up the stuffing on the couch) if left too long without stimulating toys and sometimes gets back at me for leaving her a second time in one day (pees on my bed); likes short walks but refuses to go any further (screams and tries twisting out of her collar) when she decides it's enough.
So each is an individual and if you are working with a breeder you'll get a pretty good match.
However, just because you like to jog doesn't mean the pup will (and remember a pup gets tired); make sure the daughter learns to put away anything she doesn't want the dog to chew and that she learns about doors and gates and dogs; a fenced yard is great but you still need to be diligent as these are great escape artists and can be so keen on chasing a squirrel that it ignores all other dangers.
Having said all that ... I wouldn't be without one. They are inquisitive and intelligent and will make you laugh and cry and swear all in one day.

[thunderbird8588]

Yes i agree with what everyone is saying, they are very very mischevious and will steal things within reach like pens ,combs, tissues and more valuable items like glasses and in our case my mother in laws false teeth
They like to go on furniture and can be difficult to persuade to get down, they hate to be woken and also if you go to lift them off with your hands. Like nobarkus says you need heaps of patience.
That said they are a wonderful breed, fun to be around, like to cuddle up and make an array of interesting noises. If you fall under their spell you will be under it forever.:)

[Quercus]

To add to what others are saying, I have found that Bs that are raised around kids are completely bomb proof, meaning, nothing startles them, or freaks them out…because little kids just make a lot of noise etc, and they become totally habituated to it. Particularly if the Basenji starts off with a sound temperament. You can have a B with a nervous temperament, and try to socialize it perfectly, and still have problems...but most dogs that grow up with kids are VERY sound around people.

It sounds to me like you have thought this out, and are on the right track. You do need to know that no matter how well trained and socialized, a Basenji will always still do things a little differently than other dogs...they will ALWAYS steal toilet paper and they will ALWAYS seek out the best sunbeam spot to lie in. Think 'do I like cats, but wish they were a little more interested in people, jogging, and learning tricks?'...if so, you would probably do well with a Basenji

[snorky998]

You might want to read "Is a Basenji right for me?" by the Basenji Club of America.

http://www.basenji.org/learn/Index.htm

Welcome to the forum.

[crystalncody]

I totally agree with everything said above, especially what Janneke said about basenjis' character.

I am also somewhat new to basenjis, I got Cody in May, but did a lot of research about the breed before deciding whether or not I wanted one, just as you have. It has been rather trying at times; we've been through destruction, separation anxiety, escaping, and many other things, although our circumstances were different than yours, as Cody is about 3 years old and you will be getting a puppy. Even so, I definitely do not regret bringing him home, and I couldn't imagine life without him.

Just continue reading and researching, be prepared, and (at the risk of sounding cliche) expect the unexpected.

[noodle]

What more can I add? All of the above apply!

I can remember having all the same reservations that I'm sure you're having before getting my first basenji about 5 years ago.

I now have 3! Life is never dull. Just remember every dog is an individual. Each of mine are very different and Elsa has certainly mellowed with age.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll make a great basenji slave.

Keep us all posted.

[JISGARD]

@thunderbird8588:

Yes i agree with what everyone is saying, they are very very mischevious and will steal things within reach like pens ,combs, tissues and more valuable items like glasses and in our case my mother in laws false teeth
They like to go on furniture and can be difficult to persuade to get down, they hate to be woken and also if you go to lift them off with your hands. Like nobarkus says you need heaps of patience.
That said they are a wonderful breed, fun to be around, like to cuddle up and make an array of interesting noises. If you fall under their spell you will be under it forever.:)

Yes as Shelly says they will steal small objects like pens, remotes, phones and glasses etc. and chew them up, this is more what I would describe as impish behaviour. They can also be destructive if they are bored or frustrated, both type of behaviour can be controlled easily by removing the possibilities.

They respond well to a lot of love but some need a firm hand. They are very intelligent and they will try to manipulate you if they can.

In my experience they will be fine with young children as long as they are introduced early and well socialised.

I have recently come back to owning B's after some 14 years and even being a seasoned owner in the past, I had doubts reading the put offs. I must say that having recently acquired a puppy who is now 7 months old, the whole experience has been a totally positive one. In my opinion the temperament of the breed is much improved with a few exceptions.

In conclusion with Basenjis it is very easy to describe the bad points, but very difficult to put in words what endears them to us. My only advice is to meet a number of dogs at a large kennel or at a show. I think you will then know if they are for you and visa versa and hopefully you will fully understand why we are so besotted with them.

Steve.

[nobarkus]

A friend of my Mothers gave me my first Basenji in 1975. "OK, I'll take her and Oh, what's a Basenji"? Had her for 17-1/2 wonderful years.

[sharronhurlbut]

Glad your doing your homework..
Welcome.

[jonny b.]

We just got our two rescues this year. Got one in Jan. and loved him so much we got another rescue in May. We are first time dog owners and we cannot imagine life without our babies. We went thru BRAT and we were patient and waited for the right match for us. The best thing we ever did. The love we get is much more that we ever dreamed of.

[Schouiffy]

Well, everyone gave you their 2 cents, and mine is pretty much an echo of theirs. My biggest thing is that make *sure your breeder tested for Fanconi disease in their dogs and the results are listed on the OFA page, if they are not on the site, they have not been properly tested. A breeders openness on their dog's medical care is a good indication of their ethics of breeding. Trust us when we say, you will want a breeder that stays involved with you through out your Basenji's life as they are invaluable resources if you get lost in training or your dog becomes ill.

My B is excellent, I mean patient to the point of physical (be it accidental) pain, with children, one would think she was a Lab or something. Her breeder was a grandma and so the puppies were always around kids.

Just try to bear in mind, that the training for this dog will be quite different. You will have to be smart enough to out maneuver a Basenji and train it with positive reinforcement to have it be a manageable little monster The 2 golden rules, as said before, A tired Basenji is a GOOD Basenji. & Have a darn good sense of humor. You can't go wrong with those two!!!!

[Maya]

You've had a lot of wonderful advice so i can only give you my opinion from my experience as a new basenji owner.

Yes they can be destructive, yes they can be stubborn. They are not like a "normal" dog to train. I've had a fair few dogs in to train for the showring over the years of various breeds and basenjis are a whole different thing. Maya wasn't too bad, but one day she will just decide that she cant possibly stand still so she'll keep flicking her feet or turning around. Not a major thing, but frustrating when she does it ONLY when the judge is looking at her I have found food works with almost any training though

As for destructive - she is nowhere near as bad as a labrador puppy! But, if you did have a bad one, just crate it while you're out so it doesnt wreck your house, and keep it supervised

I have no kids myself, but my neighbours have 6 all under 11 years old. They adore Maya and she adores them. She has never once shown any sign of aggression towards them, she plays really nicely with them, never even nipped as a very young puppy. I think its all about socialising them from day 1

Good luck if you do decide on a basenji though. Its definately the best decision i ever made to get Maya, i dont think i could be without one now

[GenJMar]

Everyone here has given you great advice I will only add that not only will the pup require physical AND mental stimulation you will also need to be mentally on you toes to be creative when playing and puppy proofing your house. These dogs are smart and will test your mental limits too. I have come home many times scratched my head and wonder how did they do that? I should also note that I have to rotate my child saftey locks on all my cabinets about 4-6 months b/c mine "figure them out". But I wouldn't haven't it any other way.

[Kitsune]

Ditto, ditto, ditto to everyone's remarks.

Patience and constant suprivision are a must! Invest in some puppy prep materials.

If you can't watch the dog, even while you're in the shower, it needs to be contained in a safe-zone. We have a pet playpen 4X4 with a cage top where the dog's sleeping and eating areas are contained. The dog sleeps there when we're in bed and cannot destroy the house at night or while we're away. We also tacked some rabbit wire fencing around our existing rickety wooden fence to prevent escapes.

Other than that, be consistant with training and always give treats if you expect them to listen at all. Positive training works best. My girl flattens her ears and persists in her task if I try to herd her out of the way by force. But produce a treat and happy-happy yes ma'am! Can we do that again?

Knowing the possible problems with this breed helps you to train sooner so the dog doesn't develop those bad habits to begin with.

Last March I also decided to take the plunge and own my first Basenji. It had been decade since I owned any breed of dog and I hadn't even heard about Basenjis until I did my research and chose a dog that sounded compatible for me and my husband. My husband was not interested in any dogs so I had to really do my research. I almost got cold feet too when reading about the counter surfing and stubborn behavior. But after doing my homework like you are doing now, my husband and I agree that this is the best dog ever!
Hope all works out well for you, mine worked out better than I could have imagined!

[Jylly18]

I agree with what everyone said here, I would just want to add that you want to be prepared to supervise this dog at ALL TIMES. If I turn my back, even for a second, Tosca will often be getting into something she shouldn't. We've learned over the last two years what she will go for most (remotes, DVD's, and any kind of paper) so now those things are not w/in her reach and it is not so bad.
I would say the only other BIG stress is the factor of running away and eating things the dog shouldn't. Tosca will not just chew, but actually eat, pen caps, bottle caps, batteries, remote piece, medicine, etc. Not that mine has actually eaten these things, but would in a heartbeat given the chance. She did eat an entire child's sock once, but luckily threw it up before any real damage occured. The running away thing can be very difficult. Once your family has learned to adapt to it, it should not be hard, but it might not be easy to get a five year old to understand the need to make sure the dog is nowhere near the door when it opens. It is also very stressful when you have guests over or need to take the dog places. At least in my situation, they just don't understand that you cannot leave doors open, or let them close gradually on the way out, or your basenji will be GONE. I've had several times where we've had people stay over, and Tosca will be sleeping with me in the bedroom, and I wake up, let her out the door, and for whatever reason, someone will be going to their car or whatever, leave the door open, and out she goes. Not a pleasant way to wake up! I've learned from this now, and keep her on a leash or hold her when staying over somewhere/or when guests come over.
However, if you can get by the need to constantly supervise your dog, they really are wonderful dogs to have. From reading posts on here, it sounds like the dogs can be very different, but mine is the sweetest, most affectionate dog I've ever seen. She sleeps great, never has to be let out in the middle of the night, is crate trained (before we got her, thankfully), never needs to be bathed, and is wonderful with children. She is absolutely hilarious, and she makes my husband and I laugh all of the time. Like I said, if you can deal with the large amount of effort/supervision this dog needs, I think you'd be really happy with a basenji…good luck!

[thunderbird8588]

We no longer have Benji unfortunately but we have many items that bear his chew marks, we will never get rid of them as they remind us of him, and yes we are getting another Basenji, maybe in time even two

[Basenjimamma]

I agree with all things said. Basenjis can be destructive, but so can other breeds, they don't bark= does NOT equal silent or mute..They do steal, although they see it as borrowing. They will bring you many years of laughter and wonder. As a parent of two children, one 9 and one 4, I would not have gotten a dog if it is known to be aggressive. B's are not agressive, they do tell the kids when they have had enough though, and key, in my opinion, is to teach the kids to listen to those cues..any and all dogs can be aggressive if they are pushed..training is key..you come first, kids second and dog third…never let the dog, no matter what breed, think he is equal to you or the kids...

[sharronhurlbut]

basenjiimomma, I do have to say, that children need to be taught to respect animals as well.
The dog should be allowed to sleep without kids jumping on them.
Kids should NOT be given free passes to do what they want with animals.
I have seen too many rescue dogs tossed outside the house, because the parents let the kids run riot.

[Basenjimamma]

Sharron, I absolutely agree with you on that. We have a strickt rule at our house, regarding all dogs, not just Otis..if they growl, try to get away or the like and if you(the child) do not pay attention to that, you are the one in trouble ( with me), not the dog. Paying respect to animlas is key. My mother-in-law has even accused me of loving my dogs more then my children because I believe in the mutual respect thing…GGGG. but that is an whole other story. but then again, she believes kicking a dog is showing it love....:mad: