They actually specifically say that a basenji is good for any family if well-trained…I just don't think "any" basenji is good for any family. Their personalities range so much from what I've heard!
Last night we were at a puppy social and someone asked about Paco's breed, and Chris used the "lions" line, lol. I smacked my forehead and was like "I'm sure that at most, having a pack of them in a village might have discouraged lions from coming near. Everything I've researched says 'helped chase small game into nets'."
edit: found at least one source for the "lion" story: http://www.basenji.org/african/macd6709.htm
check the fourth and fifth paragraphs
And they are Calm?… not if you watch my two... like please they should have had the B-500 on there...
LOL, I had the same thought - neither pack that I have would be considered calm - not even my 5 year olds…
Oh, and did they even mention the Congo? I don't remember hearing that...
edit: found at least one source for the "lion" story: http://www.basenji.org/african/macd6709.htm
check the fourth and fifth paragraphs
Interesting article. I really like the bottom section - perhaps the precursor to our brindles? At least maybe we could put the wandering, lustful brindle whippet to rest. :O) Would love to see what it looked like.
"We also have a cat-dog animal that looks somewhat like a tiger stripe. It is called "Safando," It is a separate wild animal of its own kind. When young, it can be domesticated and can be mixed bred with dogs. As a separate animal, it is so ferocious and strong, it can kill a hyena. When catch-ing the young, we wait until night for the adult animals to go hunting, then we can take the cubs. They can be trained and make a good pet. We don't like them too much, but the Europeans like to have them for pets. There are so many free dogs about in Gambia we do not think so much of them as you do in Canada. "
Interesting article. I really like the bottom section - perhaps the precursor to our brindles? At least maybe we could put the wandering, lustful brindle whippet to rest. :O) Would love to see what it looked like.
"We also have a cat-dog animal that looks somewhat like a tiger stripe. It is called "Safando," It is a separate wild animal of its own kind. When young, it can be domesticated and can be mixed bred with dogs. As a separate animal, it is so ferocious and strong, it can kill a hyena. When catch-ing the young, we wait until night for the adult animals to go hunting, then we can take the cubs. They can be trained and make a good pet. We don't like them too much, but the Europeans like to have them for pets. There are so many free dogs about in Gambia we do not think so much of them as you do in Canada. "
I loved that paragraph, too. I went looking for more info but haven't found much yet. Roamed around the cape dog sites a bit, which distracted me from any real work all morning 
Very intersted article for sure..I had no idea about some of the things stated in there.
Thanks for sharing Shannanigan.
They actually specifically say that a basenji is good for any family if well-trained
My question is…the basenji or the family? Which needs to be well-trained?
My question is…the basenji or the family? Which needs to be well-trained?
Bahahahahah…good point!
I enjoyed the video but thought that they ought to check many of their facts. The trouble is that people who don't know take these programmes for gospel and things get repeated - that's how urban myths arise. I wonder where in the world there are pygmies and lions together with Basenjsi!!
Is the "Safando" related to the wild haggis that roams the remote areas of Scotland? I can't find anything about it on the 'net. Googling Safando, I got lots of pics of jeans.
Is the "Safando" related to the wild haggis that roams the remote areas of Scotland? I can't find anything about it on the 'net. Googling Safando, I got lots of pics of jeans.
Hmmm, Basenjis like Jeans!!!!
Know I know the meaning of using basenjis to hunt lions-
Masai" use them for hunting lions in the
forests of the Kenya. The "Masai" hunters use the fast, silent dogs as bait to taunt the lions out of
their dens.
As bait!
Was very pleased when I saw that video on Dogs 101 - glad you posted it here! It's very rare to see anything concerning Basenjis on TV, and it would be great to see one showing all their idiosyncrasies so people would know to really really know the breed before getting one - their looks and their quiet sell them right off, to some who don't understand them. We spoke with a woman just the other day who had gotten one from the Humane Society - this poor dog had been adopted out AND RETURNED three times before she finally found him and saved him.
There was a shelter in Columbus, OH and they used to call B rescue in the mid 90s because the adoptions of Bs did not work out. We took in a B Mix-probably part Sheltie and she was not even put out in the adoption area as she was kept in another room. I was working in Columbus temporarily M-F and staying in a motel and I would go see her M-Th to make sure she was socialized. She eventually came to BEAR in Dayton, OH. Only B I knew that would chase balls and bring them back! She had a running style like a B and loved to practice lure coursing. She was a sweetie. The adoption worked out well also.
Jennifer
Many shelters will contact rescue directly, because they know b's are hard to place into the right home..
Which is wonderful for rescue and the b's…we find them a basenji smart home!
while i appreciate Animal Planet doing anything about Basenjis i was horrified by some of the people who take this seriously! i was out walking Zumi my b-boy the other day and were stopped by the park by a mother and two small boys. The boys were so excited and squealing, and the mom kept encouraging saying things like " see boys? this is a LION hunter!" and so on. i tried to correct but they would have nothign of it, the lady even going so far as to call me ignorant of my own breed because she had seen the show! really people? my little guy could probably kill a squirrel, a bunny or even a cat, but a lion? i don't think so. and why do they have them located on dry plains? they are more jungle-ish. how sad. if they want to do a show on the breed, they NEED to do a thorough research first.
also, whiule Zumi made an awesome apartment dog (walking him 5 miles per day, and him having lots of activities/toys in the house, and many trips to dog parks) not all b's would be good. they can be very loud, and very destructive. i so agree that they should have shown a b-500. i think its a breed trait, lol. and to be honest, the family needs to be trained in order to train the B.
i loved seeing a B on TV, but i wish they had done it correctly. now people are going to have a warped view of them, its sad because the new owners are going to have a poor foundation and knowledge of what they are truly getting into.
Only B I knew that would chase balls and bring them back!
Paco will chase a ball and bring it back - but you'll have to fight him for it to throw it again. 
Question – is it an exaggeration to say the breed was almost "wiped out" by Fanconi in the '80's?
While I loved the dogs featured I have to ask - where DO they get their information? Lion hunters? Wiped out by fanconi? Bond to only two members?
So informative, I never knew they hunted lions, were nearly wiped out by Fanconi, only bond to a couple of people, are for fastidious owners (which means you don't want hair but don't mind the contents of your trash cans, furniture and other things shredded), and not vocal as other animals (I guess screaming so the police come thinking you are killing a child doesn't count?). And they do their own grooming. (So why do I have to brush teeth, cut nails, wipe off pollen, clean ears????) Sigh.
But cute to watch the dogs.
I like your comments DebradownSouth - what a laugh!
How many of you out there have already received inquires as a result of people watching this show? I have received about 3 or 4 already. And mostly everyone's comments that they are now interested in this dog because of "being quiet"… NOT... "being calm" NOT..... etc... .... Since my two girls are pretty good about being vocal when I am on the phone... I just stick the phone out and say... take a good listen, not exactly mute or calm as they come crashing through the doggy door make a lap around the family room, up the stairs, scrambling across the hard wood floor and back out the doggy door for another lap around the yard...
I have received more inquires about Bambi, my rescue girl up for adoption. Only one was from someone who presently owns Bs. I forgot that the show was broadcast and the increased inquiries are probably due to this. I did tell one to go this website to learn more about Bs.
I think people also need to go to a website that has a B or more than one B yodeling. Mine are loud when they yodel!
When did this show air?
When I lived in Houston, a lot of people would ask me about Bs and the first thing I would say is that they are hounds and are hunting dogs and they should never be off leash in an unfenced area. I said you would not be able to catch them if they ran off to chase something. Many of these people lived in apartments and/or condos and they wanted a dog they could let out the door to use the bathroom and call back. Definitely not a B! I think they liked the size of a B since many apartments have a weight limit, usually 20-25 lbs. or less.
Jennifer
