Who has the largest basenji?

[Guest]

Does being the biggest pup of the litter and just getting a lot more food than the rest also add up to being bigger in size as an adult rather than just genetics, not sure what size Kaisers litter mates ended up being but am curious now. He is carrying a little fat but then it's winter and that's normal isn't it. Also can early neutering affect growth, he was neutered at 8 mths, I thought I had read somewhere it did.
He isn't a show dog but is perfect to me and that's all that matters.

Jolanda and Kaiser

[eeeefarm]

I believe early neutering can result in a taller dog. Certainly it is true with horses. Geldings will generally end up taller than stallions, all other factors being equal. Genetics should be the determining factor, but lots of food early can result in faster growth, not necessarily a larger animal at maturity. OTOH, inadequate nutrition can stunt growth. Line breeding, overdone, can result in smaller animals, (I know someone who is turning a large breed into something approaching dwarfs because her stock is so inbred…..not on purpose, I should add), and outcrossing can buy you "hybrid vigour", where the offspring are larger than their parents.

I think the "perfect dog" is the one that suits you. Bonus if others also think he is perfect. :)

[DebraDownSouth]

I have seen many dog far more than 24 pounds win, and the african ones I saw were much bigger. That said, Arwen is easily 27 pounds at ideal weight, maybe 26. Cara, on the other hand, is a giant at over 40 pounds as are many of the Wimauma feral pack. Obviously they are not things of beauty or form, lol.

[Barklessdog]

Do you have pictures?

As an pet owner, personally I love the look of big muscular basenjis. Still their something to be said of thin graceful girl basenjis. It might be a guy thing?

[ownedbyspencer]

LOL– Ava looks like a jock. She's 20.5 lbs at 8 months, but she's muscular and very strong and beats up on the boys. She's like Pigpen -- she doesn't care how dirty she gets and will wrestle around in the mud if you let her. She stomps through puddles and thinks it's great fun to splash muck on anybody around.

By contrast, Spencer was tall and lean and as graceful as a gazelle. He was neutered young and his growth plates took longer to close, so his legs were long and coltish. He was fastidious and dainty and HATED to get dirty. No way he would step in a puddle and get his feet wet!

[Barklessdog]

Both boys we have owned have been the same way, very clean. They clean their paws before they come in. The girl never cares.

[ownedbyspencer]

LOL– the boys are neatniks and the girls are messy. I thought it would be just the opposite!

[Timesthemyth]

Just so no one feels bad - Beo weighs in at 37 lbs… and that's without a speck of fat on him; I don't want to know what he'd be if he were overweight. He was expected to turn out on the big side, like a lot of the half africans. Interesting thing is that he topped out at about 8 months.. here's him next to a female basenji.

[Barklessdog]

Wow what a great looking brindle boy.

He really is big!

[Congo]

Congo is 28lbs when he is at his fittest weight and sometimes gets to 30Lbs. If he gets below 28lbs, the vet says he is too skinny. Congo is definitely one of the bigger basenjis I have seen. He is about 18 inches tall.

[Alleycat]

Mine is right at 20lbs and I feel he is a little runt. He is already 10 months so I doubt he will be getting any bigger

[Timesthemyth]

awww, but the good thing about that size is that you could take him on a plane with you if need be.

[creambasenji]

@barklessdog my basenji is 9 months and is 8 pounds

[Zande]

@eeeefarm If it is a breeding trend, we are getting far too far away from the standard.