I always wanted a dog, but my stepfather was allergic. My husband grew up with basenjis in the 50's in New Bedford MA. They never showed, just had them as pets. They did everything wrong– let them run loose, bred them without planning, but he had great stories about them, particularly one girl named Congo.
His family had a rescue B named Rusty, who was a great character (also loose, but luckily a homebody) when I met him in the 70's. I liked Rusty's aloof confidence, and got my first B in 85-- Kenji. He was backyard bred-charming but turned very dominant and difficult at adolescence, but we worked with and had him until he was 13.
We got our second dog from Matahari B's, and Caddie was a tricolor sweetheart for 15 years.
Now I've got the gentlest, most outgoing B I've ever met. Sol was raised by someone else, and they did a great job-- thanks Eldorado!
I adopted him at 5, and after a few weeks of thinking about it, he decided to stay (he jumped the fence twice, but came when I called the second time). He's my best friend, and even goes to work with me in the winter. And sometimes I wonder if he's really a basenji, because he wags his tail so much-- but only for me.
Basenji Mixes
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Who's got a mutt. If so, what kind.
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We have 2 mutts. Shelby is what we call a labrasenji, labrador retriever and besenji mix. Vince is anybody's guess. The shelter called him a basenji mix but he doesn't exactly act like one. He is at least 50% snugglebunny.:D
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Gypsy is a golden retriever mixed with….. something with long legs and lean waist. She used to be built for speed, but now as an old woman tends to have less of a waistline -- but then, who doesn't? LOL
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Hollie is a basenji/whippet mix. Lots of running FAST and hunting squirrels. The shelter had Hollie listed as a whippet mix, but it didn't take long to discover her personality is ALL basenji!!!
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The shelter listed goober as a Shepard/chow mix. Shepard I can see. But Chow?
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I would guess that goober is a some type of Terrier mix, like a Parson Russel…
I would never guess Chow...gggg....
Of course depends on how big he gets.... that might say more about what breeds he is... -
Duke is our 1st and we think he is Basenji-Parson (Jack) Russell
Dais is our 2nd and we think she is Basenji-Beagle -
The reason I said Parson Russell is because of the "ear" fold… that is pretty typical terrier, I think....
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The ear fold is gone. It was floppy only for a day or two when we got him.
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My Lucy is Basenji and Corgi. The shelter had her listed as just Corgi, but she doesn't really look like one at all except for the ears. But all her vet paperwork from when she was at the shelter has Corgi crossed out and Basenji put in it's place.
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I recently saw on TV there is now DNA testing that can tell us EXACTLY what mix of dog we own. I believe they are testing for 134 different breeds currently. This is a blood test. Saliva test is available, but doesn't test for as many breeds and if a re-test is necessary they would need additional salvia, blood can be used over for a re-test. This was on one of the early morning national news programs… I can't remember which. Long live the MUTT!
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I recently got a Basenji mix. I am not sure exactly what she is mixed with though. She is about 40lbs, but looks almost 100% Basenji. She is very powerful and a little broad chested. I am lucky with her though. She exhibits all the great characteristics of a Basenji, but almost none of the bad ones.
