The Basenjis

Basenji dog breed belongs to the hound group and they are used as pets or for exhibitions and contests. These dogs have a normal dog diet. However, they love to steal food, and therefore they may easily gain weight. Basenjis have a lifespan of ranging from 9-15 years. They have about four cubs per pregnancy. How do these barkless dogs look like?

They are small to medium-sized dogs with soft fur and a curved tail. They are not too bony and they give the general feeling of a compact, gracious animal. They are unique due to the fact that they are the only dogs in the world which do not bark. However, they make all the other dog sounds and they growl when they are happy.

Basenjis originate from the pariah dogs and have particular features of this dog group. They were initially raised as company dogs for Pharaohs. There are portraits of this breed on the pyramids. In time, the species was moved to Central Africa where they were taught to kill long-toothed raccoons from the Congo region. These raccoons were a dangerous threat to people's stored food and because of that they needed a good hunting kind of dog. The Western world only found out about them during the Victorian Age. The African explorers have discovered the barkless dog and brought them to England in 1895.

The Basenji dog is fast and intelligent, but at the same time it can be quite nervous and agitated. This combination of features makes it a bit hard to train. They must be socialized at an early stage of development especially when it comes to interacting with other dogs. They have the tendency to bite. They are disobedient, but they can slowly learn to play the role of the family's pet. Their most obvious features include: the well-contoured head, with raised eyebrows. They have dark-colored eyes which are obliquely placed on their faces. They have arched neck and well-proportioned shoulders. Their chest is neither too prominent, nor too steep. They have short and narrow legs and their tail is curved one or two times. Their skin is covered with soft, chestnut-colored, black or tri-colored fur with white spots on their chest, on the tip of their feet and on their forehead.

Basenjis have a high level of energy. They ought to be trained for about 60-80 minutes per day. They have been raised to hunt in the toughest places and they still have this in their genes. Basenjis need physical and mental exercise but however they can enjoy quiet times at home. Although they are hard to train, it's good to involve them in a sport that is typical of dogs in order for them to keep their mind and body healthy. They don't have a sense of danger and because of that car traffic can be a real problem for them.

They have no sense of danger and they don't bark, so they are not very protective watchdogs. Nonetheless, they are known to have a high level of aggression. They are not very compatible with other pets. Also, they have a medium level of compatibility with kids. It has very interesting general and temperament characteristics. Thus, although it is so alert, agitated and intelligent, it is also cleaner than a cat. Basenjis are very clean dogs and they clean themselves all the time, and because of that they don't really smell like dogs. Their fur can be cleaned with a glove from time to time in order to get rid of the falling hair. Also, their ears and nails must be constantly checked. The best things about Basenjis are that they are so playful, that they love attention and interacting with their owners. Although they are unfamiliar with the concept of obedience, with plenty of passionate work, this dog can be trained. The good news is that Basenjis would do most anything to please their owners. Many Basenji owners say that the key is to make the dog believe that everything you want him to do is his very own idea.

At any rate, these dogs need a lot of affection, enthusiasm and exercise. If they have these three things, training them will be much easier than usual.