Considering a Basenji. Thoughts?

[eeeefarm]

None of my five were door dashers, although we were seldom careless around the door. Occasionally someone would get out, and at the farm the usual action was to run to the barn to snack on horse turds! Basenjis are all individuals, and some will be easier than others, but if you raise them from pups you can influence their behaviour a great deal. Getting a mature dog leaves you with the good or bad habits they have already acquired, and it can be difficult to erase the really objectionable ones, but it can be a huge bonus if the person before you has instilled good manners, e.g. my Perry was the only Basenji I have had that I didn't have to hide used tissues from, he never bothered my garbage cans, never chewed inedible objects, and the only damage he ever did in the house was to my blinds when they obscured his view, and one lamp shade which I suspect had a fly buzzing inside it. OTOH, none of the ones I raised destroyed furniture, or anything important, although a couple of table legs got gnawed on when Tamu was a puppy, but eating the crotch out of underwear, oh yes.....

[Daureen]

I am a first timer with an almost one year old male. He has been a challenge and a GREAT reward. He does not train like a lab or traditional puppy. He does not love like one either. He is totally UNIQUE in all areas and for me definitely worth it. It took me 10 months to realize this...I had to learn to train and deal with him on his terms and with his breed in mind and handle him in that way to have success and it definitely is worth it. He is not a cuddle puppy in my arms, however, multiple times during the day, he will come with on my sofa and sit so close to me, nothing can come between us...did you catch that...nothing can come between us...and that that tells me everything. He will usually rest his head on my thigh and we will sit like this for a long time, until he is done I never leave him off leash because I think of a greyhound that will bolt, but we have a fenced yard that has plenty of room for play. Our breeder told me he would run away, not because he doesn't love me, but because that is his breed. Stubborn, strong-willed, determined, thy name is Basenji...no matter what you read, it does not fully prepare you for the Basenji experience. It us like none other. They bond with their human for life at THEIR choice and this is remarkable. Like no other experience. It is very humbling and exciting at the same time. I am his...he is mine. We are joined at the heart. If you are destined to be a Basenji parent, you are truly blessed.

[JKent]

I have a 6 month old so not very experienced yet, but therefore have recent experience of difficulty adjusting! I haven't owned a dog as an adult and grew up with labradors, so was used to dopey and eager to please.

I found the first few months very hard, partly because I hadn't owned a dog for a long time (it's like being given a baby and a toddler at the same time) and partly because of the unique and tricky Basenji traits.
It was hard seeing other puppies so eager to please their owners and not growling when they were picked up or refusing to wee in the rain!

Over time I have adjusted my expectations, worked out how to get to to do what I need her to do (she is very food driven fortunately) and have bonded with her which I think has been the key to adjusting.

Our lives have changed permanently and she hates being left alone so for the time being we take her everywhere or someone stays home. I can't imagine going on holiday and feeling happy leaving her with anyone else. I have to constantly watch my children's (and other people's children) interactions with her to make sure they are not over handling her but they are learning.

As others have said there is a lot of character and fun that is given back in exchange for the stress, but you do need to make sure you have enough time and energy for a dog and specifically a Basenji in your life. There will be a period of adjustment with possible fleeting feelings of regret but with time and patience that should pass if you thought it through in the first place like you are now

[italeigha]

@slents Thanks for this. Did you get him as a puppy?

[italeigha]

@adina Thanks so much for this. The breeders we are looking at seem to have all those boxes checked and we found them through AKC. We are hoping this is surely a trusted source...

[italeigha]

@tanza suppose it is running, on lead of course, with my husband and it sees a squirrel. Will it try to run after it or will it be ok to continue on course? We live on a greenway with plenty of wildlife.

[italeigha]

@pawla I appreciate these questions and while I am sure you asked them for my own benefit to think through, I will go ahead and answer: Our children are 11 and 14. The 11 year old desperately wants a dog and has studied about them endlessly as well as doing a good bit of dog-sitting for neighbors. While we wanted to find a rescue, we need a hypoallergenic and have not been successful finding one thus far. Of course we are all home right now, but I do not work outside the house (I run a non-profit but do that from home and only on part-time hours). My husband plans for the dog to run with him daily, and I and the girls are happy to walk it daily, too. We shouldn't have any trouble exercising it. We have a fenced backyard (8 foot privacy) not huge and it does have a non-enclosed vegetable garden I am worried about but it does back to a greenway (that leads to a dog park) with many walkers, bikers and leashed dogs going by. We don't mind the dog sleeping with any of us (I'd really rather not crate it at night) but I definitely have things in the house I don't want destroyed. We are on the minimalist side and buy little, but what we do purchase are quality brands that take great consideration of the environment, fair trade, etc (ie, our furniture is not cheap and I would not want it chewed on). We have plenty of friends/family who tell us the will pet-sit, but we would hope to be able to take it with us on family visits or week-long vacations to the beach or mountains. I already have two kids that don't listen to me half the time, lol, not sure how I feel about adding a dog that has no intention of listening to me either!

[italeigha]

@basenjimom2 Very helpful and honest; thank you.

[italeigha]

@zande So lovely. We hope to have a large property in Colorado one day. Letting the dog run sounds in a place like that sounds beautiful.

[italeigha]

@eeeefarm That is encouraging. I find myself wondering what is the best way to train when you are a family of four. Should one member of the family take the lead? Or should we all share it equally? I need to look into this. We do intend to do doggie school and just researching that.

[Zande]

@italeigha Well done to the husband if he can run as fast as a Basenji after a squirrel ! Let the dog chase on its own, untethered, and let your husband enjoy the scene !

You're getting a puppy, and the best time to start training re-call is the day after he arrives with you !

[italeigha]

@daureen Beautiful. I have worried about the non-cuddling as far as the kids are concerned. The other dog we were considering is a Portuguese Water Dog which seems to be much more cuddly (and different in many other ways.) I had a a Basset Hound as a young child, then it was a cat for the rest of my childhood through college. She let me (only me) snuggle with her and hold her, and I credit her with getting me through those typical struggles of childhood.

[italeigha]

@jkent Very helpful, thank you.

[italeigha]

@zande I guess what I am asking is if he is running on lead with my husband, will he try to dart after anything he sees thereby disrupting the run, do you think? Or will he be able to maintain a steady course/pace for a 3 mile or so run without trying to dart off in different directions?

[tanza]

@italeigha - Yes, if running and they sight a "critter" they will want to chase after, you just need to "sight" as much as they do. They will settle into a running routine but in the beginning can be a challenge! Need to keep your eyes open like they do.

[Zande]

@italeigha I know what you were asking - I was just imagining any husband keeping up with a Basenji ! It makes a lovely imaginary picture !

To be entirely honest, no. I do not think he will keep up a steady pace alongside your husband. He will feel constrained, but he will follow his natural instincts inspite of the lead. He will dart here, there, cross in front, behind, trip the man up. He will want to be on the left side, and then the right, and suddenly he will STOP. Dead. For no reason that your husband can fathom.

He has seen or sensed something which is beyond the ken of man.

Three miles ? I do three on a good day when my knee isn't playing me up and Mku, my current tri-angel, does at least 8 or even 12. Assessments vary. A dog does 3, 4, even 5 times the distance over a three mile stretch. I would say Mku does a good 3.5 times what I do !

I think, if you want a steady trotting dog, docile, running along at your husband's pace for 3 miles, get another breed. If he is prepared to teach recall and has a sense of humour, or he is prepared to fit in with the Basenji's idea of how to cover those three miles, then by all means, there is no breed more satisfying to have in your life as a Basenji. Or two, or even eight.

[tanza]

@zande said in Considering a Basenji. Thoughts?:

@italeigha Well done to the husband if he can run as fast as a Basenji after a squirrel ! Let the dog chase on its own, untethered, and let your husband enjoy the scene !

You're getting a puppy, and the best time to start training re-call is the day after he arrives with you !

But make sure you have a safe place to let them run.... no cars.... In the US these days there is not much opportunity to find secure places to let them run loose. At least in my opinion. All depends on where you live...

[tanza]

@italeigha said in Considering a Basenji. Thoughts?:

@daureen Beautiful. I have worried about the non-cuddling as far as the kids are concerned. The other dog we were considering is a Portuguese Water Dog which seems to be much more cuddly (and different in many other ways.) I had a a Basset Hound as a young child, then it was a cat for the rest of my childhood through college. She let me (only me) snuggle with her and hold her, and I credit her with getting me through those typical struggles of childhood.

Remember that Basenjis are a thinking dog, if they want to cuddle with you they will, if they don't want to they will resist. If the kids are respectful of the dog, they will do just fine, but you can't force them to want to be in your lap... only on their terms.

[Zande]

@tanza said in Considering a Basenji. Thoughts?:

only on their terms.

That about sums it up beautifully.

'only on their terms' applies to just about every aspect of life with a Basenji. Life is a compormise (on their terms !) the moment a B steps into the house.

[eeeefarm]

@italeigha said in Considering a Basenji. Thoughts?:

@eeeefarm That is encouraging. I find myself wondering what is the best way to train when you are a family of four. Should one member of the family take the lead? Or should we all share it equally? I need to look into this. We do intend to do doggie school and just researching that.

Dogs usually do better with one person doing the training and making sure once the dog understands that the other family members are familiar with the commands when asking the dog to do something. It's very important not to send mixed messages when the dog is learning something new, and with just one person it's more likely the method will remain consistent, without the potentially confusing variations that might occur with multiple trainers.

As to the many cautions on this thread about Basenjis being difficult, they are all so individual it's hard to generalize. Although there are many common traits, each dog may have quite different reactions to people, other animals, situations, etc. Of my five, my first absolutely adored children while being aloof with adults. My second was good with young kids, but less tolerant as they got older, and she would challenge adults who wanted to move her from a comfy chair. My third was a more "bitchy" bitch, not nasty but definitely wanted her own way, and had "attitude" in abundance. She hated all dogs except for my other Basenji. My fourth was an absolute sweetheart, good with both children and adults and fine with other dogs. My fifth was leery of children but O.K. with most adults until he got older and I couldn't trust him with strangers. Much depends on their early socialization. If you have kids or expect to have them, try to find a breeder that socializes the pups with children if you can. It does make a difference. And temperament, IMO, is extremely important, so if you can meet sire and dam, or at least the dam, and see how they react to you and your children that may be a good indicator of how easily your pup may adjust to your family.