Do you think part basenji?

[jlrice1986]

Hi!!! I have a new puppy. I did not get him from a great breeder or rescue. I work at Walmart and some customers came in with a tiny puppy. I had been wanting a chihuahua mix for a very long time. They told me it was a Jack russell/chihuahua mix and that he was 8 weeks old. Of course I had to have him because I lost my soul dog who sas a Jack Russell 6 years ago and I think about him every day. I thought that it was fate to have this puppy come into my store and have it be part Jack and part chihuahua. Impulse driven, I got their number and got the puppy the next day. These people were not knowledgeable about dogs at all. They did not breed them. They said their friend's dog had puppies and they were finding them homes for them. I took him to the vet and they thought he was only 5 weeks old! Ugh! He weighed 1.2 pounds. Now at 13 weeks old he weighs 5lbs. He is growing quick. He doesn't really do a single bark often. Have maybe heard a single bark twice since the 2 months I have had him. He kind of bays like a hound all the time. I don't think he is part Jack anymore. I'm really thinking he is part basenji. The markings, the head shape, the very curly tail, the "bark" is just leading me towards basenji mix. I looked up the basenji yodel and it sounds so much like him!! But what doesnt fit chihuahuas, Jack's, or basenjis are his eyes. Unless some basenjis have his colored eyes?? What do you think!?!?!

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[jlrice1986]

This post is deleted!

[elbrant]

It's difficult to tell what he may be (in terms of breed/mix). A photo of him standing from the side, which shows his profile, would be helpful. Basenji's are square... as tall as they are long -- shoulders to tail, shoulders to toes. The eye's in your pictures are blue... most babies have blue eyes, so watch for the eye color to change as this little one grows up. That said, I am not a breeder and so, I am not as familiar with Basenji pups as a breeder would be.

A DNA test could tell you for sure. Ask whichever Veteranarian you choose what they think.
Congrats on your new little guy... he sure is cute!

[jlrice1986]

Pictures taken today. His ears are standing more and more each day. I thought about DNA testing, but sooo expensive. He is definitely a little longer in the back, but chihuahuas can be that way too. So hard to say. His eyes are yellow, green and blue around pupil. Have been that way the whole time and hasn't changed. I asked the vet if they would and she said hard to tell for sure, but she does not think so.

[jlrice1986]

@elbrant Pictures taken today. His ears are standing more and more each day. I thought about DNA testing, but sooo expensive. He is definitely a little longer in the back, but chihuahuas can be that way too. So hard to say. His eyes are yellow, green and blue around pupil. Have been that way the whole time and hasn't changed. I asked the vet if they would and she said hard to tell for sure, but she does not think so.

[Bumblebpete]

I would definitely say that he has Basenji in him. We have a Basenji mix and without a doubt, he's the smartest, stubbornest and most loving dog we have ever had. He is three years old now, and when he was a puppy, my wife and I would joke about returning him for warranty work.
Your puppy is adorable and I'm sure you will love and enjoy him, as much as we do ours.

[Dagodingo]

Basenji mix, the ears are too floppy for pure basenji. The stance, nails, tail all look very basenji. Congratulations lol you have yourself a real handful!

[Zande]

Whatever he is, he has such an appealing wee face, I can quite understand why you couldn't resist him ! Who could ? An enchanting looking young man.

[Bumblebpete]

@dagodingo It's normal for the ears of pups to be floppy. My Basenji mix was the same. In fact one ear came straight earlier than the other and it looked so cute. Now they are both up.

[Dagodingo]

@bumblebpete My three always had the ears straight, but that was from 8-10 weeks old. It’s possible then that he is full basenji.

[elbrant]

@dagodingo I don't think "full basenji" is likely here.
a) a backyard breeder cringe is not going to give purebred pups to a neighbor to try to find homes for them,
b) a responsible breeder is not going to give purebred pups to a neighbor to try to find homes for them,
c) even rescue groups have better ways to find pups new homes.
It just doesn't make sense.

@jlrice1986 As adorbs as this little man is, (IMHO) he is mixed with "something". Maybe Basenji/Chihuahua? He is awfully cute though.

[Dagodingo]

@elbrant It’s unlikely, given that usually people post and you can say for sure a mix. However it is possible. Could be a byb sold to someone and it didn’t work out.

[jlrice1986]

I definitely think mixed with chihuahua whatever her is whether basenji or Jack like they originally said

[NancySS]

Oh my gosh, whatever he is, he is a charmer! Congratulations on this handsome part Basenji (read as part devil) he will give you years of love, laughter, and teach you patience!!!!!

[DebraDownSouth]

What ever he is he is totally darling.

[elbrant]

@dagodingo said in Do you think part basenji?:

Could be a byb sold to someone and it didn’t work out.

Think it through... if you paid for a puppy and it didn't work out -- would you walk around trying to give the puppy away? Or, try to get your money back? Or, try to find someone to buy the puppy so you could, at least, recoup the money invested?

[Dagodingo]

@elbrant I have seen it happen. Plus, some people are literally desperate to get rid of the dog if they have problems. Not everyone loves dogs as we do.

My breeder told me that she volunteered at an animal shelter and once had a guy return a dog after a few weeks. He said he didn’t realize it would poop so much and he didn’t want to deal with it. The mentality of some people is beyond me.

[jlrice1986]

Hey guys, my dog is now 9 months old. Bigger than we thought he would be at about 15lbs. His ears have gone from both down to one up one down to the other up and the one that was down is up and then to both up and now I think he has settled on one folded and one completely erect. I'm still not sure if he is part basenji or not, but I still think there is a strong possibility. Here are updated photos

[jlrice1986]


[jlrice1986]