What reactions do you get?

[crystalncody]

LOL, too funny!

You're right about the tail thing. My roommate also had to unravel his tail. It was a game to her to see how long it would stay semi-straight, which was not very long at all unless he was tired. And people are always fascinated when I tell them they don't bark, and then I have to explain that while Cody doesn't make much noise (he mostly grunts but also yodels a little and screams when he's upset), other basenjis make lots of different noises, and can bark a little. Shaye's Mom, I always end up doing the same thing, it's like a little lesson on basenjis as well as their history (I'm an anthropology/archaeology major trying to go to graduate school for archaeology, so I think their ancient history is cool).

I forgot about the Dingo comments! My cousin actually calls him Dingo instead of Cody, to which Cody just wrinkles his forehead and walks away .

Basenjimama, it was a little scary/funny that the vet didn't know what he was, but she had never actually seen one. Fortunately, I only went to her for his shots and initial check up when I first got him. My vet here has a little experience with basenjis, but said that he hadn't treated one in quite a while.

[Basenjimamma]

I have a friend who lived in Ghana last year for about 7 months (she ended up not liking it, because she was the only red headed person they had ever seen, so they constantly had to touch her..lol) and when I told her that I was getting a Basenji she was like "what is that, never head of it?" I told her it was a dog breed from Africa and maybe you saw some when you were there, "she said, nope, never seen a Basenji".

A few weeks later we got Otis and when I showed him to her and her kids, they were screaming in delight…" he looks like an african dog mom, here in houston, just like they look in africa". I thought that was interesting. Apperantly the Basenji look is very common on dogs roaming the dirt roads in Ghana. Just alittle side note.

On the tail, yes I have lots of people try to unravel Otis' tail, and it makes me mad...if there is any reason for a dog to get upset with strangers, unraveling their tail would be one. We don't come up and play with strange people's hair, that would be a little weird, right?

[lvoss]

People can't help but unwind the tails. I unwind tail starting as pups because I know people will do it and I tell all my puppy buyers to do it so they get used to being touched that way. Nicky's reaction is the best though. When some unwinds his tail he just drops it like he is saying, "Oh look, your toy broke. Now you can leave me alone."

[Basenjimamma]

Your right. Otis will let people touch him anywhere but I always feel as though his space is violated. He is a champ though. His tail won't go straight, it has a slight permanent bend to it towards the tip, at least I haven't tried, I don't want to break the toy.

[renaultf1]

@lvoss:

People can't help but unwind the tails. I unwind tail starting as pups because I know people will do it and I tell all my puppy buyers to do it so they get used to being touched that way. Nicky's reaction is the best though. When some unwinds his tail he just drops it like he is saying, "Oh look, your toy broke. Now you can leave me alone."

Such good advice. I remember you writing this a while ago (before I had Liyah), and since I brought Liyah home as a baby I've been unrolling her tail. Both Ruby and Brando turn around and look right at you if you as much as touch their tails…they let you unroll them, but they look at you as if to say, "really, must you?"

[crystalncody]

Cody doesn't mind people uncurling his tail, mostly because he just likes to be petted by people he knows, but after a few minutes he gets grumbly.

He was so cute yesterday, though. I took him for a walk to the river, and there was a man with two kids there. The little boy had to be about 2 years old and the girl was about 6, and since I've had Cody, he hasn't been around kids, so I wasn't sure how he'd react to them, and I was a little worried. After his initial sniff, he let the little boy pet him, hug him, and play with his tail, and he did the same with the little girl. He didn't even grmuble once. They were very gentle with him though. When it was time for them to leave, he wanted to follow the little girl into their car, lol.

[lvoss]

Mine have some permanent kinks in them but people don't try to force those they just unwind the majority of the curl.

What is really funny is what people will believe if you can tell it with a straight face about why their tails are curly. My husband convinced one lady that Nicky was a genetically engineered dog with a pig gene inserted to curl his tail. Usually he just tells people we have to use curlers every morning to make sure they stay curly all day.

[ibi_n_sane]

i hate it when people try to uncurl the tail!! and my basenjis dont like it either, I always have to watch out when strangers touch my basenjis and ask them stricktly not to touch the tail!

about the african stories: we had this refugee camp here in our village and there were some refugees from africa, I only had my oldest basenji and my oldest ibizan at that time, and these africans recognized my basenji!! and they were so exited about it!
that was something different then the people here thinking it is a boerenfox ( by now you know what that is hahahaha ), but actually when I think about it the basenji IS the boerenfox from africa…..

[Maya]

I've noticed a lot of people uncurl Maya's tail as well.. to be honest, its never bothered me as Maya doesnt mind in the slightest, i never even thought about it being an issue. I LOVE curly tails, and just like i do with my pugs, if we're on the sofa watching a movie in the evening with Maya on my lap i do tend to sit there uncurling her tail, i must be weird… I find it very relaxing lol!!

[Basenjimamma]

We like to "play" with Otis' tail as well, it just strikes me as weird when strangers go up and uncurl it before they even accknowledged Otis with a pat..I too, find uncurling the tail or scratching him above the tail very relaxing..

[Maya]

@Basenjimamma:

We like to "play" with Otis' tail as well, it just strikes me as weird when strangers go up and uncurl it before they even accknowledged Otis with a pat..I too, find uncurling the tail or scratching him above the tail very relaxing..

Oh, yeah, i wouldnt like someone just coming up and doing that, would probably scare Maya But most people in the course of making a fuss of her do uncurl the tail, usually if they're stroking her back or something and i dont mind that

Glad im not the only weird tail uncurler :o :p

[irena]

Usually people ask me "What kind of dog is that?" but more often people think that they are sibs :), it is really funny when I go for a walk with Geasy and Masai (Geasy over 8yrs and Masai 8mon) and someone stay and ask me "Are they brothers?". They didnt mind that every one of dogs were differently old and large But this folks are nonspecialist and I comprehend them :).

PS: At this situation you can see how good Geasy looks at his age

[Basenjimamma]

I have to admit, the tail curl is one of the very many things I love about basenjis…it is so cool.

[Buana]

Buana is a Jack Hussel (that's how we Dutch people call a non-pure bred Jack Russel)
Even a mix Jack Russel x Shar pei, is asked a lot..

Chafuko, is a pitbull mix… or a (american or English) Stafford puppy
We hear that way too often.. It's because of his colour (many staffs are Brindle) with the combination of his mascular cheek..

Look for yourselfe: We set them up for a photo shoot

Woof!

Is this really happening?!?! I'm not a Jack Hussel!!!!

Staff puppy?

You're crazy… really...

Sigh:(

[thunderbird8588]

Once the window cleaner told me that they thought i had a fox in the house when they saw Benji.
I have to confess that i like to stick my finger through the middle of their curled tails, but only once we're friends, lol.

[Dwaf]

Shelley,
Tell me you don't mean the window cleaner????

Alan

[Jylly18]

I don't get a lot of people thinking they know what breed Tosca is, but if people do attempt a guess it's usually some kind of terrier. They are definitely conversation starters, however, I've been asked about her many times! It's funny, though, cause even though she is 4 yrs old, everyone think she is a puppy, and don't believe it when I tell them otherwise. They are like, "Are you sure she is full grown?" I've had her for over two years, I think I am pretty certain
I live in a small town of only about 4000 people, though, so I am impressed that two people have actually stopped me and known she was a basenji. That was funny, too, cause they didn't even really stop me…they kinda ran out of their houses freaking out asking "IS THAT A BASENJI!!?!?" They were so excited to see one One person had one whe he was younger, the other one had a late sister/friend/someone (I forgot) that used to breed them around here years ago. Either way, it's fun to watch people's reactions!

[thunderbird8588]

Well Alan, we do have very friendly window cleaners around here

[Shaye's Mom]

The only time Shaye's tail is uncurled is when she's asleep and when she's scared. I don't play with it, and don't encourage others to do it - I know they won't "break" it, but I just feel like it shouldn't be messed with. No reason, just a feeling.

[lvoss]

Like anything if your dog is not used to having their tail uncurled then they will think it is something "odd" when it is done. If the first time it is done by a stranger and the dog overreacts it can end up being a bad situation. I don't encourage people to do it but people seem compelled to do it. I don't mean just people we meet on the street, I mean vets, vet techs, and even AKC judges have all uncurled my dogs tails. So I uncurl tails as part of their socialization so when it happens they think "whatever, people are weird." So it is no big deal.