We got our first basenji this year, after researching, going to dog shows, meeting breeders and being well aware of this wonderful breed and all of their characteristics. We continue to learn every day, now that we have an active puppy who is almost 10 months old. At this age, he is testing his boundaries, so we start our 2nd set of training classes the beginning of August. Consistancy in training is so important with this breed. Our goal is to have Kipawa work as a therapy dog - which means we would be taking him to a rehab hospital that works with people rehabilitating with spinal cord injuries.
We love Kipawa like there is no tomorrow. We knew 'the challenges' of owning a basenji and decided we could accept all of them. Both my husband and I are home all day, which makes it easy to set up a great schedule for walks, training, meal times, potty times, etc. You will read that a good basenji is a tired basenji. This is very true. Therefore, IMO, if you think your basenji would be crated for 8+ hours a day and also at night, this breed might not be the best for you.
As basenjis often only breed once a year, with pups ready to go to their new homes in January, now is the time to learn as much as you can. As there might not be many Canadian breeders close to you, you might want to be in touch with those in the U.S. who are listed on the Basenji Club of America website and are within a reasonable driving distance away. We are in the Vancouver, British Columbia area, and we got Kipawa from a wonderful breeder in Washington state.
Do not hesitate to ask questions. There are so many knowledgeable breeders and basenji lovers on this forum who are more than happy to help you make an informed decision. Oh, and did I say 'welcome'? ![:) 🙂](https://basenjiforums.com/assets/plugins/nodebb-plugin-emoji/emoji/emoji-one/1f642.png?v=dd0ek6p7usa)