Hi everyone, my wife and i are currently researching breeds that best fit our life style. I just took my wife to the mission circuit where I introduced her to the basenji breed. We wanted to make sure that basenji breed is the right breed for us. I feel it is only right that we do our research prior to making the commitment instead of acting on our impulses. We will be making our decision in 3 months time and also have considered other breeds like whippet or an IG. We are not insistent on puppies as we know that adults can be just as wonderful a pet. Hopefully, being on the forum would allow us to find out more about the breed and determine if the basenji breed is suitable for us. thank you everyone
Dominic
Welcome to the Forum…. lots and lots of good information here.... and kudos to you for doing your homework before you decide.
One suggestion I would have for you is to visit with Basenjis in their homes with their humans. It gives you a better idea of what they are like in the home and how they might fit with your lifestyle.
Hey Dominic! welcome to the Forums! glad you took my advise and signed up. (this is Charlene btw, My red basenji boy Zumi, Ron and I sat next to you and your wife during the hound group Sunday? And again the next morning Ringside for basenji judging.)
I'm so glad you are really doing your research, and hope you will find this breed a nice match for you and yours. If you have any questions, voice them! Don't hold off because you might think you'll sound ridiculous. The more questions the better. Take a good look around and enjoy!
hope to see you at another show!
~Char
Thank you. I think that would be a good idea to do so. I have talked to Denise Searey at the mission circuit and found out a few things about basenjis.
1. they can be destructive to furniture not just from puppyhood. ( a concern for my wife)
2. they are super intelligent and problem solving
3. stubborn
4. to make them do something , you have to let them think that they want to 
5. needs plenty of exercise, a tired basenji is a good basenji
so far that is what i know about basenjis.
Hey Dominic! welcome to the Forums! glad you took my advise and signed up. (this is Charlene btw, My red basenji boy Zumi, Ron and I sat next to you and your wife during the hound group Sunday? And again the next morning Ringside for basenji judging.)
I'm so glad you are really doing your research, and hope you will find this breed a nice match for you and yours. If you have any questions, voice them! Don't hold off because you might think you'll sound ridiculous. The more questions the better. Take a good look around and enjoy!
hope to see you at another show!
~Char
Hi Charlene! did you go to the show today? I wanted to go but have family over for bbq. I will indeed try to find out more and would like to thank everyone who has helped. Thank you again for your help at the show.
Thank you. I think that would be a good idea to do so. I have talked to Denise Searey at the mission circuit and found out a few things about basenjis.
1. they can be destructive to furniture not just from puppyhood. ( a concern for my wife)
2. they are super intelligent and problem solving
3. stubborn
4. to make them do something , you have to let them think that they want to
5. needs plenty of exercise, a tired basenji is a good basenjiso far that is what i know about basenjis.
Any dog can be destructive. My last 2 Basenjis stayed in the house all day long when I was at work and were very good. It depends on the dog, the work/trainning and exercise you do with them.
I second Pat's recommendation to visit basenjis in the home and would add visit several different "families" of basenjis. You may find some families of basenjis have more of the traits you are looking for than others.
I second Pat's recommendation to visit basenjis in the home and would add visit several different "families" of basenjis. You may find some families of basenjis have more of the traits you are looking for than others.
And I second lvoss suggestion…
and as far as Basenji being destructive to furniture, all dogs and especially puppies can be if they are not properly "watched"... as in don't leave them alone with those items that you value....
Thanks guys. that is why I am not ruling out adult dogs simply because they have already past the puppy phase. Also, adults I feel deserve the chance to have a loving home just as much as puppies:) Which "families" of basenjis would be recommended that has less destructive tendencies that are local in the southern california region?(please pm me) What type of exercises and training would be recommended?
As to what I value, its all stored in the garage:) However, my wife is keen on the furnishings within the house. That is why I would worry about leaving a puppy to roam freely. I would like to have the pillows intact and tassles complete 
lol. Perhaps its just a matter of setting an area of the house where the dog can run freely( dog proofing)
we built a very nice indoor and out door kennel for our 2 b's. they are very good when we are gone. we work full time but i come home at lunch everyday to walk them about a mile. I walk them every morning before work about a mile and after work another mile. we take at least a 2-4 mile walk in the evening depending on the weather. they are very good with our furniture. we put things up that we dont want chewed and we leave toys out for them to chew/play with. the only thing we really have to guard is the TRASH and our plates are never left alone on the table.
we find them to be the things you listed BUT also add:
very loyal
very loving.
great friend/companion
very entertaining
unique and challenging in a fun way
Thanks guys. that is why I am not ruling out adult dogs simply because they have already past the puppy phase. Also, adults I feel deserve the chance to have a loving home just as much as puppies:) Which "families" of basenjis would be recommended that has less destructive tendencies that are local in the southern california region?(please pm me) What type of exercises and training would be recommended?
As to what I value, its all stored in the garage:) However, my wife is keen on the furnishings within the house. That is why I would worry about leaving a puppy to roam freely. I would like to have the pillows intact and tassles complete
Adults are not past "being past" puppy stage… and in fact... I have found that many times that adults that are being place have more issues then puppies... different... but issues all the same.... is it not what families that would be less destructive... it depends on if the puppy is well socialized... and if a rescue adult... what is known about its prior home life.
I would never leave one to "roam" freely when you are not home... and even when you are... they need supervision... and that goes for any breed of dog... just not a Basenji.....
Yes. I agree Pat. All puppies or dogs can do so. Thats why we have not set to must have either a puppy or adult. I know whippets, another breed I am considering to be also destructive in puppyhood. In addition, I know that many have separation anxiety. Do basenjis have this as well?
Basenjis can have separation anxiety and any dog can develop it. Patricia McConnell has a booklet on helping to prevent separation anxiety and work with dogs that already have it called "I'll Be Home Soon"
Tassels are probably going to be pretty irresistable to most dogs.
Establishing good habits and consistency in training when young goes a long way in having an easy to live with adult. In addition to doing your homework on breed and breeders, you will also want to make sure you are also finding resources like trainers and deciding what your rules are going to be so you can be consistent from the start.
Welcome to the forum, there is a wealth of information on here to help you make your decision.
I was thinking the same thing as lvoss…tassels might be a compromising point...
I was thinking the same thing as lvoss…tassels might be a compromising point...
LOL - Yeah, I KNOW in my house that tassels would be gone in 60 seconds - even with Ruby who is really well behaved. 
Well, my 2 b's won't touch anything sprayed with Bitter apple.
Once you get a dog, that would be my first suggestion.
Doing your homework before getting a dog is a great thing. We are happy to help.
Lol. So far a couple of things on growing check list..
1. Bitter apple
2. Tassel protector
Yeah, even my extremely well-behaved Curie would have chewed the tassels off anything. It's like OCD. "That dangly thing must be dealt with. Immediately. Now."
Shucks, we look at things almost in Opposite World these days. We see something with tassels or the like and look at each other as if to say, should we get that FOR the puppy? We probably have gone over to the dark side at this point.
We had an oriental rug with tassels on it for the first 1 1/2 years of having a basenji. Only caught him messing with it once, corrected him, never had another problem.
Ours is weird though, and never (EVER) unsupervised.
I had more trouble with the vacuum cleaner and that rug than with the dog! Glad it's gone, got tired of it messing up my vacuum all the time.
