Skip to content

Nina - our Basenji/Shepherd mix

Member Introductions
  • <>
    Well, if it makes you feel any better, it is nothing personal. Lots of people come here to ask if we think their dog might be part Basenji. Those of us that see hundreds of Basenjis per year, and those that have been students of the breed for decades give our best educated guess. There are breed traits that stand out for every breed to give us an indication what is in there in a mix...but it certainly isn't a science. Lots of us, dog-people, just love to speculate on mixes, and lots of us are probably wrong, as much as we are right.
    With Basenji-like mixes, it is possible that a dog that is several generations of mixed dogs will eventually go back to looking like what is called a 'pariah dog' shape. Although domesticated, Basenjis are considered a pariah dog in some classificiations.
    So if someone says or asks if their dog is a Basenji mix...the usual answer from us is either maybe, or I don't know. Particularly if the traits that we usually use to ID Basenjis (ear shape, eye shape, wrinkle, tail curl, lack of barking) are off or not present, then it is possible that although the dog kinda looks like a Basenji, it isn't really.
    Not that that matters AT ALL to you, or me, or the forum. You are welcome here :)

  • @Jylly18:

    Hey, Lovemybaroo, do I notice a tatoo on the underside of your B? The reason I ask, is my B Tosca (who we got from a shelter in Iowa) has one almost identical to it, but smaller and darker on her stomach. I am not sure if it is a tatoo or not (or am I looking at a um…male part? The pic was hard to tell :) ) but if it is I was wondering how he got it. I am asking because even though we got Tosca from a shelter she is originally from California, so I didn't know if it was a common breeder symbol or anything. And if its not a tatoo, just consider me dumb, but like I said the shape (Cross with circle) is almost identical to Tosca's tatoo. I have just always been trying to figure out why she was tatoo'ed, since the vet said a breeder would usually just tatoo a number on her, not a picture. Thanks!

    Breeders/owners that tatoo Basenji typically use their AKC reg #, not typically shapes/pictures. Mine have tatoos, inside hind leg. However now with the Chips for ID, tatoo's are not that common even with breeders any longer. When my person that used to do tatoo's local retired… I went to the chip

  • Hi Andrea-
    I really appreciate your thoughtful answer. Makes a lot of sense to me. Many thanks for taking the time to share it. I'm sure it will help other owner's as well.
    Al

  • @Jylly18:

    Hey, Lovemybaroo, do I notice a tatoo on the underside of your B? The reason I ask, is my B Tosca (who we got from a shelter in Iowa) has one almost identical to it, but smaller and darker on her stomach. I am not sure if it is a tatoo or not (or am I looking at a um…male part? The pic was hard to tell :) ) but if it is I was wondering how he got it. I am asking because even though we got Tosca from a shelter she is originally from California, so I didn't know if it was a common breeder symbol or anything. And if its not a tatoo, just consider me dumb, but like I said the shape (Cross with circle) is almost identical to Tosca's tatoo. I have just always been trying to figure out why she was tatoo'ed, since the vet said a breeder would usually just tatoo a number on her, not a picture. Thanks!

    lol! no, he doesn't have a tattoo. Thats his "male parts" you are looking at! And although I don't know much about his breeder, I do know he didn't come from this state. Interesting that your dog has a tattoo though…

  • @Jylly18:

    And if its not a tatoo, just consider me dumb, but like I said the shape (Cross with circle) is almost identical to Tosca's tatoo. I have just always been trying to figure out why she was tatoo'ed, since the vet said a breeder would usually just tatoo a number on her, not a picture. Thanks!

    My guess is that it is a tattoo to indicate she has been spayed. I've seen it before in other shelter dogs.

  • These comments about tattoos have nothing to do with my dog Nina. They relate to another dog's picture sent to a post of mine.

  • Here's our mixed boy!

  • Hi there-
    Great looking dog…we found our Nina is most likely a mix of Aussie Kelpie and Aussie Cattle Dog, maybe! After two inconclusive DNA tests, because they can't yet test Kelpies/Cattledogs, we do know she's not Basenji. We recently had her do a herding test and she drove the sheep all over the pen! I think we now have a clue! Best of luck-
    Al

  • That's interesting. When we adopted him, the shelter said he was Kelpie and Shepherd, but our vet said Basenji and Shepherd. We gave some thought to the DNA testing, but we weren't curious enough for the cost. :)

  • I don't see the Kelpie, but Vets, god love 'em, don't seem to be experts about breeds…being in Colorado, you might have Kelpies or Australian Shepards or even Cattle dog mixes as they have in the Kingman, AZ area where Nina came from.

  • Welcome and what a cute girl.. she has a great face!!!

Suggested Topics

  • Basenji mix?

    Member Introductions
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    3k Views
    M
    Hi there. I would do some DNA testing on him. However, if you go to the Colorado Basenji Rescue website, there is a mix at the bottom of the page. There appears to be some similarities. You could also email Peggy of CBR with your photos and ask her. She has been working with Basenji and Basenji mixes for a long, long time.
  • Basenji mix

    Member Introductions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    WOHOOOO, that is really great news!
  • BOXER/BASENJI

    Member Introductions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    8k Views
    wizardW
    Be aware if you do decide on the DNA testing (which could be very informative) that it doesn't necessarily tell you the parents just what's in the lineage.
  • New owners, Basenji/American Bulldog mix?

    Member Introductions
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • Basenji mix?

    Member Introductions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    Welcome to the forum, he is purky cute..I can't really tell one way or the other..
  • My Basenji Mix, Knuckles

    Member Introductions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    nala121498N
    Beautiful pup! Welcome!