Welcome onboard Ben. I know you will love owning a Basenji as much as I have been these last few months. My B, Otis will be a year Jan, 4th..so we have been having a fun time with puppy hood and regular basenji behaviour..
I think they just look solid so my mind saw "bigger." I have one of the Wimaumau rescue giants (44 pounds), but even my 2 previous gals were far from petite... about 26 to 28 pounds. My dream of a petite 18 pound basenji just never happened, lol.
A tired Basenji?!!! Joking apart, I agree with the previous posts. It is really important that she doesn't get something for nothing as Wizard advises make her work for it.
Welcome to the Forum to you,Teagan and the others.