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? Perhaps if they had not been in a hurry up to get it filmed the info could have been a bit better/realistic.
Best part? Laura saying "down, stay" which lasted less than a nano second just as the narrator said they were independent and aloof. Cracked me up.
I found it rather amusing how the basenji in the training section took his merry old time doing the sit…it was almost in slow motion.
Hm, "hunt lions?" In all my books it states they where used to hunt antelopes, not lions!
Maybe they got confused with Ridgebacks.
Well, in any case, I'll take it!
I can picture my next Q&A about Gizmo.
"So what breed is that?"
"A Basenji."
"What are they used for?"
"Hunting LIONS!!"
"…."
To Tanza…When you said Laura's dog would be in the video, I didn't know that Laura was actually going to be IN the video, lol...
I didn't either! I love it when she says stay, and the dog immediately pops up…so basenji!
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? Perhaps if they had not been in a hurry up to get it filmed the info could have been a bit better/realistic.
Best part? Laura saying "down, stay" which lasted less than a nano second just as the narrator said they were independent and aloof. Cracked me up.
Ha, ha…my thoughts EXACTLY! I was screaming at the computer...OMG...still used by pygmys to hunt lions eh? and good apartment dogs...well...that isn't really the take home message...
Not only did/do they not hunt lions now, or ever…they aren't even in the same geographical location on the continent of Africa!!! That is a huge error on the part of Animal Planet, and whoever they got their info from.
I found it rather amusing how the basenji in the training section took his merry old time doing the sit…it was almost in slow motion.
The dog's body language was clearly "I will not, I will not"…oh, o....kay.....
I actually didn't like that part. Gizmo too will instantly walk away if I PUSH him down to sit and lay like they did on the video. But if I I give a command he will sit there happily.
The whole bit seemed staged, just to use the "aloof" line. Still funny though.
I am so glad I wasn't the only one to balk at the "hunt lion" part..I just knew they got that wrong.
The only thing that worries me about these types of shows is how the more unknowledgeable of people will start looking for these breeds, which will encourage more BYB's and puppymills once again..
Wow… they miss the boat on that one... someone now needs to tell my C-Me she can't bark...gggg
And they are Calm?... not if you watch my two... like please they should have had the B-500 on there...
And I agree, they make the Basenji out to be the perfect dog... for any family...NOT
I didn't either! I love it when she says stay, and the dog immediately pops up…so basenji!
That was my favorite part too. 
I have no idea where we first heard it, but I have heard the "hunt lions" thing for years. We think that a pack of basenjis might keep nipping and annoying a lion till it just gave up! Maybe a lion CUB, haha!
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?
