Basenji Breed Information & Characteristics

The Basenji is a dog breed that has a low to average risk for obesity. This means that they are less likely to gain weight than some breeds, but it is still important to monitor their food intake and ensure they get enough exercise to maintain a healthy weight and overall well-being.

Unfortunately, the Basenji is not hypoallergenic, making it not a good choice for a dog lover who suffers from pet allergies.

Affectionate
Curious
Playful
Alert
Energetic
Intelligent

Basenji will shed a negligible amount of hair. Some owners say that they do not shed, but that is not true. But the amount of shedding can be rather light than other dog breeds. If you do not want to deal with the hairs flying around in your home, then this breed is a perfect choice for you.

The Basenji dog is one of the best choice if you want a good watchdog. This breed will keep watch over you and your family at all times. This breed takes this task seriously and will typically perform its guarding duty with little to no training. This dog will require obedience training, or you can consider guard dog training to sharpen its skills.

Central Africa (Zaire and the Congo)

African Bush Dog

Ancient

Hound (AKC:1943)
Sighthounds and Pariahs (UKC)

Hazel
Brown
Amber

Black
Brown

White
Black
Brindle
Red

Basenjis are known for their short coat.

Straight

A Basenji can have a litter of 10-12 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

Basenji dogs generally adapt well to changes in lifestyle and different living environments, but it is considered as an average level of adaptability compared to other breeds.

The Basenji is generally considered to be healthy. However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to certain health issues and it is important to keep an eye out for them and address them with your veterinarian as needed.

PRA
Fanconi Syndrome
Basenji Enteropathy

Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)
Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency

Eye
Dna Test For Pk
Fanconi Urine Test
Full Body Physical Examination

Basenjis are high-energy dogs, thus an active lifestyle suits them well.

The Basenji dog has below average social needs compared to other breeds. They are known to be independent and aloof, and they are content with spending time alone and not requiring as much interaction and companionship as other breeds.

The Basenji dog needs significant physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They are also well-suited for those who lead an active lifestyle and enjoy activities such as running, hiking, or other outdoor pursuits.

Basenjis are active dogs that don't require as much sleep as other breeds. However, they still need enough sleep to stay healthy.

The Basenji is a dog that is known for its low drooling tendency. If you dislike drool marks on your clothing, the Basenji could be a suitable choice for you.

Basenjis are known to bark very little or not at all. They tend to be very quiet and do not bark excessively. They may only bark in specific situations, such as when they need to alert their owner to something important or when they are in distress.

Basenji dogs are known for being average at defending. They possess the capability to defend their territory or owners, but it is not their primary trait. They are not the best choice for guard dogs

Shake, Running, Sniffing, Cuddling, Destroying toys, Marking, Run, Play with Toys, Dog Parks, Walk, Being pet, Fetch, Smelling, Out, Catch treats, Play keep away, Play, Chase, Tracking, Eating Snacks, Walking, Mischif, Hiking, Lounging, Mountain biking, Off-leash, Fetch-ish, Trail running, Long hikes

Basenjis are high-energy dogs. They need mental as well as physical exercise. These dogs require a lot of your involvement and without it they can, and will, become problematic dogs.

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For Basenji, it's at least 15 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

In general most Basenjis usually need at least 90 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

The Basenji is a breed of dog that does not require extensive grooming.

Basenji should be brushed at least once a week. Of course you can give them more frequent brushes if you find that they are still shedding a lot

Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Nail Clipper

For an average 22-26 pound (10 - 12 kg) Basenji feed 2.5 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

The average cost of a Basenji is somewhere $1.70 - $2.00 per day.

The average per month expenses of a Basenji is between $48 - $63. This makes an average of $576 - $756 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

The Basenji have the lowest degree of obedience intelligence. This breed is an independent "freethinker" and gets on the dumbest dog breeds list since they can also be stubborn — training a Basenji is an exercise in patience.

Basenji dogs have average emotions and are adaptable to different situations, not requiring extra care like sensitive breeds do.

It's not recommended to keep the Basenji in an apartment, but this breed make good apartment dogs as long as they get to spend a good amount of time outside of the apartment. Basenjis living in apartments will need plenty of physical exercise and stimulation throughout the day to remain happy and well-behaved.

Basenjis are kid-friendly dogs. They are good with children and excellent dogs with children if they are socialized and trained at a young age.

Basenjis are below average friendly toward cats. But with the right training and socialization, Basenjis can be good with cats,

Basenjis are below average dog friendly dogs. Basenji dogs may not always get along well with other dogs they have not been raised with,

Basenjis are below average friendly around strangers. Keen of eye and sharp of tongue, most Basenjis are very quick to announce strangers at the door. Once the visitor comes in, some Basenjis will be friendly and outgoing. But many others have the standoffish or suspicious towards strangers.

Basenjis have an average level of playfulness. The Basenjis, like other dogs, like to play. But they are not the most playful dog breed.

Basenji dogs are known for their ease of training and ability to learn quickly, making them a popular choice for pet owners and trainers alike.