Hello from Canada

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  • B

    Hi everybody,

    We have been lurking on this site for the last few days, reading stories and learning a lot.

    We are two thirty-somethings who live in Ontario, Canada and would love to adopt a basenji.

    My partner has had a dog his entire life but has been sans pet for several years now. Growing up I was only allowed to have pet fish (my brother is allergic to dogs/cats/dust/nuts/everything).

    I agreed that our pet would be a dog, as long as I could pick the breed. Since I am a planner I read up on a million and one dogs (too many to mention). Although they have a reputation of being mischievous, the basenji was my favourite. Winning qualities were looks (it is so cute), size, shedding characteristics, and the yoddel. I also like the fact that it is somewhat rare (too rare, as I am having difficulty obtainning one).

    I will continue reading your posts as they provide so much insight.

    Bernice (and sometimes Cory)

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  • nobarkusN

    Welcome to the forum. Study this breed good my young friend. Look at all the posts in behavior and health. Always look beyond the looks. The Fanconi disease is the big one. They're a fun high energy breed that needs loads of exercise.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • BasenjimammaB
    Houston

    Welcome Bernice and Cory..
    Good for you for doing your research before diving in. I am new to the breed, only had Otis for 5 mo. and I am head over heals in love with this breed..

    Yes, they are very intriguing, mischievious and funny..mine doesn't yodel, others yodel a lot, they do shed although not a lot and usually only once or so a year..they are clean, smell good (no dog smell, at least I don't think so..), and are every bit as stubborn as you might have read..
    I know that you can locate responsible breeders through BCOA..
    http://www.basenji.org/PUBLIC/BreederDirectory.htm,
    and through basenji club of Canada…
    http://www.basenjiclubofcanada.com/BCOC-BreedersDirectory.html

    If you would like to go the rescue route..BRAT is wonderful..
    http://www.basenjirescue.org/

    Good luck in finding your wonderful basenji, let us know how your search is going..and welcome again to our wonderful world.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • nomrbddgsN

    Hi Bernice and Cory, there are a number of breeders in Ontario. Go to the BCOC website and look for breeders.

    Here's the link
    http://www.basenjiclubofcanada.com/BCOC-BreedersDirectory.html
    I know myself and two other breeders for sure are having puppies this year.

    Arlene, the Basenji Brats with the Boxenji![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

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  • AJs HumanA

    Some say they are like a cat wearing dog pajamas. Welcome to the community. You will get lots of great information (and some really funny stories) here.

    Cheers

    AJ's Ride:

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  • Rita JeanR

    Welcome and good luck. Great reading and learning about the B they are great little dogs very strong mind and body. We got our first one in March 2009 it's been lots of fun a blast the least to say. We love her great baby.

    Rita Jean

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  • B

    Thanks for the advice/warnings.

    We did complete an application for BRAT and I contacted a few breeders in the area. I know it may be awhile before we get one of our own, but it will be worth the wait.

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  • BuanaB

    Welcome to the forum

    Kim and my Basenji pack, Buana, Chafuko and Enya

    http://www.kwabandurus.com

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  • thunderbird8588T

    Welcome Bernice and Cory.
    I wish this forum had been available when i got my first Basenji 15 years ago.
    Like you i did my homework or rather thought i had. Trouble is i read the wrong books and thought oh great a nice looking dog, doesnt shed much, no doggy smell, cute cat like traits and a yodel.
    When i got Benji it was like being hit with a sledge hammer between the eyes :O
    In those days there was no one to ask advice from and we learned to manage him :D
    That being said we have fell in love with the breed and i feel much better informed for when we get our pup.
    Good luck in your search

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

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  • S

    Glad you found us.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • snorky998S

    Welcome Bernice and Cory. Sounds like you're doing all the "homework". Like thunderbird, I wish this forum was here when I was researching the breed 13+ years ago.

    My two don't normally have a doggie smell, even when wet. They can however, acquire that dirty doggie smell depending on what's readily available to roll in.:) BTW..most agree here, their feet smell like Fritos!!

    Shedding….my female (Kate) totally blows coat in late Feb. and again in May/June depending on the weather. My male (Tyler) seems to be a gradual dropper of coat. Slips off the white hairs when you least expect it, but not all at once like Katie does, and not the same quantity.

    Good luck on your Basenji hunt and research:) Keep reading, there's a lot of info here!!

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  • V

    Say "out" for me - or is that just the Western Canadians that say it so cute?

    Welcome - my dad and his family were from Hanna, Alberta, Canada.

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  • wizardW

    Welcome to our pack. If you've contacted some breeders then ask to visit a few more times so you can get a sense of basenji behavior. You've obviously done some research and talked with people and read our discussions here.
    Just keep in mind Fanconi disease (which can be tested for) and be prepared to have toilet paper strewn all over the house, some choice (and expensive) lingerie torn up, chew marks on the furniture, and dead animals dragged into the house. If you can get past all that, then be prepared to lose your hearts to these beasties.

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  • V

    @wizard:

    …prepared to have toilet paper strewn all over the house, some choice (and expensive) lingerie torn up, chew marks on the furniture, and dead animals dragged into the house.

    And, that's just the beginning! :D

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  • B

    Just an update: Cory and I got our basenji pup yesterday. I will post more information very soon.

    bernice

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  • Tayda_LennyT

    congratulations! and post PICTURES! :)

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

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  • Rita JeanR

    So happy to hear you got your new baby enjoy and when you have time tell us name and color, pictures. Good luck and best.

    Rita Jean

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  • renaultf1R

    Congrats!! Can't wait to see pics. :)

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  • BasenjimammaB
    Houston

    Ok, so I can't wait to see those puppy picture..

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • crystalncodyC
    First Basenji's

    Congratulations!!!

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    Hello from Sorel-Tracy QUEBEC Canada

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    eeeefarmE
    @ElfinSailor: eeeefarm I assume you went tilt at my opening statement and were unable to read anything else I said fallowing that. No, I read everything you wrote. Most people I know consider a dog that follows directions and obeys commands a trained animal. The definition of biddable, if not playing cards, is following directions or obeying commands. Something you agree is is not particularly Basenji like. With which I totally agree. However, saying they are untrainable is a different thing. Positive Punishment? Now that is a curious phrase. I am certain if you try using it on my very Alpha partner JaBok You would be unable to be in the same county with him unless you kept him tied up. Positive punishment, in the Operant vocabulary, simply means something added that tends to diminish the unwanted behaviour. It doesn't have to be severe to be effective, and definitely will work with Basenjis if…...and it is an important "if"......they are absolutely convinced that this consequence will occur every single time they perform the unwanted action. Think horses and electric fence, and you get the picture. I do agree with the cat in a dogs body analogy. Cats are also pretty much un-trainable. There are videos on line of cats doing agility obstacles on command. Again, this is using positive reinforcement and will work well for cats…..and Basenjis......if the reinforcement is salient enough. Most people seem seem to think that a dog that learns to do everything you tell it is smart. I have always felt that dogs that do everything you tell it are kinda dumb and are unable to think for themselves. There is "smart" (intelligent) and there is "biddable", and it doesn't have to be one or the other. Some dogs…...Border Collies would be a good example......are definitely both. Eager to work with the handler, but capable of working on their own. A good sheepdog is amazing to watch, particularly in a "silent gather', where no help is offered by the handler and the dog must make his own decisions. Basenjis, while not usually biddable, can certainly demonstrate they are intelligent, often while outsmarting their owners! :) When JaBok and I go out to move the horses from one pasture to another He is right there and knows just what to do. He once saw what I was doing and because of his bond with me he wants to engage and assist. I never taught him any of it. He sounds like an unusual Basenji. None of mine have been the least bit interested in herding, although I believe we have another member on here who does have Basenjis with such an inclination. Than I am unable to stop him when he sees a deer and he will chase it until it disappears That is instinct and he does not understand why I don't help him catch it. I would really like it if I could train him not to chase them. It has been ten years now and I have had no success. Doable but not easy, and would definitely involve consistent positive punishment. If chasing them doesn't put him at risk, why bother? I am 70 And have worked with lots of dogs and horses with a reasonable degree of success. JaBok is a different story. We do everything together he comes when I call him he usually gets into the truck when I tell him. If he does not want to go he won't get in. I am completely unable to catch him if he really does not want to be caught. He will run to the house though and that tells me he wants to stay home so I let him in. Does he have me trained? If you re-read my previous statement I think you will see that I was attempting to explain how to get that which is Basenji to live in co-existence with you. Yes, I do understand that. I am not a lot younger than you, and have had 5 Basenjis over a span of 40 plus years. My first was the most like your JaBok. She was the most biddable Basenji I have owned. She would come when called quite reliably, and seemed to care about pleasing me. I wrote about her here: http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?11775-quot-You-can-t-do-that-with-a-Basenji!-quot&highlight=
  • A

    Hello

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    Ahmet, welcome to the forum - I do hope you'll get your pup.
  • S

    Hello

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    Bungwa has a very dry mouth and I only managed to get a very tiny white patch on the test card but it was still sufficient to do the test with that. It only turns white when it's dry - the instructions are quite explicit. Of course as Pat says it could be a bad test form.
  • D

    Hello

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    Ninabeana26N
    Welcome! :)