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Basenji in The February issue of National Geographic

Basenji Talk
  • There is an article about Dogs and mapping human genomes in the National Geographic Magazine for February that has a basenji in it.

  • Uh oh! Another magazine I am going to have to buy.

  • I believe that was the Best of Breed winner at last Westminster last year.

  • The article seems to be pretty much old news, a rehash of the DNA study by Ostrander in 2004. I haven't actually seen the article but from what was sent to me, it really is just that info. (I was not nice– went to the Pharoah hounds when the dna study came out to gloat as the study said really NEW breed that simply looks like old one that died out.)
    I can't find the study, though I have it saved somewhere so here is blurb: http://work.colum.edu/~amiller/dogs.htm

    That said, someone emailed me to post it and I forgot to. ..

    The mail said:

    Pass it along. Everyone needs to see this month's new NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
    with the DOG on the cover (one of those Weimerhiners with a POODLE cut glued
    on!).

    The topic inside is the GENETICS of dogs and it has some AMAZING stuff about
    BASENJIS…including a beautiful head photo, a surprising genetic analysis
    (YES, our dogs are REALLY ancient, and SURPRISE, they are closer to CHOWS
    then they are to Pharaoh Hounds!!!! AND....OOOPS....Pharaoh Hounds and other
    "ancient breeds".. REALLY AREN'T!!! They are MODERN DNA dogs, created to
    LOOK like ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs!!!

    OURS..however, DO have VERY ancient genes (to the point where our B's are
    basically strange looking GRAY WOLVES if you look at the gene breakdown.
    WOW.

    There is also an amazing side bar full page story about the FOREVER dog and
    while they call them "no breed at all" (the dogs in African
    Villages)...well, look at the photo for yourself!!! Seems these dogs are NOT
    FERAL, but actually
    just "wild dogs" that have existed on the fringe of human society for Eons
    now. Part domestic, part wild...(all nuts, as we know) and indeed ancient.

    This is one edition we ALL need to own.<<<<

    For a cute interactive map :
    http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/dogs-that-changed-the-world/interactive-map-discover-ancient-breeds/1282/

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    Basenji Talk 31 May 2018, 17:40
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    Where I am it costs about $2K+ for a dog from a breeder for just about any breed. Goldens may be less because the litters are so large. That may seem like a lot, but, as Debra mentions, dogs cost money to care for. After vet bills and boarding fees and food, it matters little what the dog cost to acquire. Leaving true puppy mills out of the discussion, given the costs of being a responsible breeder -- testing, vet bills, feeding -- and how much work breeding is, I can't imagine anyone doing it for the money. That leads to two problems for people looking for dogs. One is that since breeding isn't really lucrative, there aren't a ton of breeders, which means the supply of pups is low. Second is that most Basenji breeders want to place their pups in the best possible homes -- remember they aren't doing it for the money -- which means they're looking for people who have had Basenjis before. Something of a Catch-22.
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    It's a very well-written article and I think it accurately describes the basenji's idiosyncrasies that we all know and love and that the average person would find frustrating. I think the take-home message for those who don't know basenjis is that they should educate themselves more before taking the "plunge". Personally, I was thrilled to see a b/w pictured. My only complaint is that the main cover dog wasn't a basenji!
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    Basenji Talk 27 Nov 2010, 13:29
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    lol usually when you breed a bigger dog to a smaller dog the Male is the tiny one. Its just dangerous to do it the other way around. As far as DNA breed testing I would go for it if I could. But i am just interested in those kinds of tests. We offer them at our clinic but i haven't ever seen results for them.
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    My Rue is pretty perfect. She is mixed with something (I don't know what) so she doesn't look like a real B… and she isn't interested in anything in our house (chewing wise), doesn't bolt out the door, and licks like CRAZY! She also doesn't really like to play with other dogs at the dog park, she just smells them, occasionally chases them, then comes back and lays down by me (EXERCISE DANG IT!). The only normal B behaviors that I see in her are the little noises that she makes (she makes a lot of them for different reasons) and her BAROOOOOOO (which is fitting because we named her Rue before we even knew she was a Basenji) and it seems like she is stubborn about sitting. It's like she is saying, "yeah I know you want me to sit, but first I'm gonna spin around in a circle. Then maybe I'll sit if I feel like it." Haha! She is a character!
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    I have found that if I take my B to doggie daycare (even if it's only for half a day), she is ehausted when I bring her home. She will let me do the dishes without any basenji help! She also tends to treat our doggie friends a little nicer when they come around. Having a worn out basenji is deifinitely worth the $15!!