okay, so what is the function of a shelf and a high tail set in our very natural breed?
I know what the breed standard says, so that's not an answer 
I'd like to know why this is. In looking at wild canids, i see neither a high tail set nor a prominent shelf but the most efficient, beautiful moving canid I've ever seen was a coyote that trotted accross my yard. And his (her?) jumping skill were amazing.
Could a high tail set be related to the domestication genes much like the white markings (Belyaev fox study)?
Interesting read. I haven't done any agility yet. Do you find limitations on your basenjis performance based on conformation? I've yet to see a clumsy basenji;)
As for shelf, I think the four poodles in the example show a nice variety. I think it's partly high tailset and partly the angle of the pelvis that create the "shelf." I find it very attractive, but haven't ever owned a dog with a particularly obvious shelf.
i'm not sure i find limitations on my basenjis based on their conformations. (i'm on my 3rd competitive agility basenji) and certainly my oldest dogs (14 and 13 years) are still sound. the 13 year old has to have his back adjusted every so often, but the doc said it was probably due to an old injury. i asked b/c i was wondering if something in his structure caused it. my 14 year old is as sound as he's always been, but has lost some muscle mass in his thigh. he started to loose it shortly after he was neutered around age 10. BUT he's also a bit long in the loin, and has a shorter pelvis. Shorter pelvis means less area for the muscles to attach. So is this a contributing factor for muscle loss??? the 13 year old (still intact and more pelvis, i think) has good thigh muscles, but has never been as graceful a jumper. Both dogs still enjoy practicing a little agility when the weather is nice.
Of course my basenjis don't seem to turn very quickly on the agility courses. But is that training, motivation, structure??? a combo of those??? that's part of what i'm trying to figure out.
If you have the years of the American Basenji, most of the early pictures of Basenjis had a moderate shelf, so I do not think it is domestication genes, but certainly breeding for the qualities one wants in their dog would lead to it being more prolific in the gene pool.
I believe that a moderate shelf is part of the entire hip structure leads to the second thigh. I know that my first boy, OJ has little to no shelf and was pretty straight in the rear, he could not turn at speed to save his life. I believe that the hip/shelf leads to a stronger drive from the rear.
meaning straighter in the rear or ???
sorry, here's the link with the red bc. he has, IMO, moderate angles and not so much shelf.
i think i gave a different link.
her seminars are worth going to. i wish i could find the link with pics of her poodles. her poo's are nekkid, so you can see everything. the poo's had lots of shelf. the ewe neck thing on her page is also interesting.
the question is, is the shelf functional or do we just like the look?
is it fair to look at wolves for comparison?
http://www.maxwaugh.com/zoo02/wolf2.html
here's a pic of a wolf "stacked" not much shelf.is the shelf related to a high tail set? i guess it would have to be. More shelf = higher tail set = more tilt to the pelvic bones?
just asking, trying to learn/think
thanks
However these dogs (and wolf) in the pictures have a totally different structure then a Basenji. They are not square and their rears trend to slope down, obviously setting the tail in a different position. Here is the standard for the BC, Topline: "Back is level from behind the withers to the slightly arched, muscular loins, falling to a gently sloping croup". Goes on to say "The tail is set on low"
In that the shelf does contribute to a nice high tail set, it appears the shelf is a good attribute for the basenji to have. When looking through the various pictures at the sites referred to, the basenjis with a good shelf look more elegant in comparison. Of course, I do not breed or show - just sayin.
i'm not sure i find limitations on my basenjis based on their conformations. (i'm on my 3rd competitive agility basenji) and certainly my oldest dogs (14 and 13 years) are still sound. the 13 year old has to have his back adjusted every so often, but the doc said it was probably due to an old injury. i asked b/c i was wondering if something in his structure caused it. my 14 year old is as sound as he's always been, but has lost some muscle mass in his thigh. he started to loose it shortly after he was neutered around age 10. BUT he's also a bit long in the loin, and has a shorter pelvis. Shorter pelvis means less area for the muscles to attach. So is this a contributing factor for muscle loss??? the 13 year old (still intact and more pelvis, i think) has good thigh muscles, but has never been as graceful a jumper. Both dogs still enjoy practicing a little agility when the weather is nice.
Of course my basenjis don't seem to turn very quickly on the agility courses. But is that training, motivation, structure??? a combo of those??? that's part of what i'm trying to figure out.
It is well documented in horses and most performance animals that correct conformation is crucial to maintain soundness over time (crooked legs would wear out joints prematurely). Also important for performance itself, correct conformation leads to longer stride, speed and athletic ability. However, most basenjis are not expected to perform that much and over a long period of time.
I used to do endurance riding on horses and I had to have an expert eye for correct conformation. You HAD to have it to stay sound over time. But for a basenji, even if it does lure coursing often for example, usually the basenji would have time to heal anything perhaps prematurely worn a little, in between races.
So basenji owners have not had to worry about it as much as endurance riders for example. African tribesmen might have seen worn out parts back in the day, however they usually let nature take its course and only the toughest basenjis survived.
I am certain correct conformation would have a huge impact on soundness if you expected high strenuous performance of basenjis on a daily basis. But for now, many breeders are mostly motivated by the advantage of correct movement and the attractiveness of muscles in the show ring. Proper conformation and movement contributes to better results.
Could you post a picture of a basenji with an obvious shelf and one without so I could see what you ladies are describing? I red everything and still I am not sure exactly what the shelf is. I know my dogs have high tail sets so i would like to find out how much shelf they have.
Isn't the shelf the curvature of the rear? If you stack a B, you should definitely notice the shelf or lack thereof. I notice the shelf just by looking at Bs. Does the shelf have any thing to do with the tail set?
My Arnie has a decent tail set but has no shelf at all. I joke that one could turn him over and use his rear as a table as it is so straight! He should be used as a study for a B with no shelf. He is out of commercial breeding dogs.
Jennifer
This link that was already post is a good example of a good shelf
Isn't the shelf the curvature of the rear? If you stack a B, you should definitely notice the shelf or lack thereof. I notice the shelf just by looking at Bs. Does the shelf have any thing to do with the tail set?
My Arnie has a decent tail set but has no shelf at all. I joke that one could turn him over and use his rear as a table as it is so straight! He should be used as a study for a B with no shelf. He is out of commercial breeding dogs.
Jennifer
i'd love to see a pic if you have one handy.
Here is a picture of one of my boys (bred by me)… note that he doesn't have much shelf and is straight behind... his movement was OK and had other parts that were very good, however on the lure field he could not turn to save his life... he would lose his rear on a tight turn so had to always go wide... he could not "lay" it down and use the rear to turn.
http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Tego_for_web.jpg
By contrast, his litter sister who could stop and turn on a dime at any speed…
http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Fatia_35__Show__format_change_to_JPEG_High_Quality_.jpg
And yes, both are a bit long in the back…..
Here is a picture of one of my boys (bred by me)… note that he doesn't have much shelf and is straight behind... his movement was OK and had other parts that were very good, however on the lure field he could not turn to save his life... he would lose his rear on a tight turn so had to always go wide... he could not "lay" it down and use the rear to turn.
http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Tego_for_web.jpg
By contrast, his litter sister who could stop and turn on a dime at any speed…
http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Fatia_35__Show__format_change_to_JPEG_High_Quality_.jpg
I was just trying to describe what you posted in the first picture (I'm glad you posted it first 
). I think that means the angle of his pelvis is too flat and as a result there isn't enough surface area to attach muscle too. The proper angles (requiring a shelf, I believe) allow more muscle attachment and are generally more forgiving to the joints. If the tail set is low that means the angle of the pelvis is too steep.
Yes, Clay…. I think that is a good description and I have no problem posting links of my own dogs.... the only thing that I would say is that I have seen Basenjis is a low tail set, but with a decent shelf and second thigh..... not many.
Personal Note: Sorry for just posting links to pictures, but the rules of the forum are that pictures posted become owned by the forum owner... I don't totally agree with that... so I will not post that many pictures directly, since I believe that these are my pictures and my ownership
Interesting to see that the picture of Leeloo, from Afrikenji Kennels in Australia, was used by someone, ?agilebasenji? to illistrate the correct shelf… Her owner and breeder, Helen, and I have had discussions about the shelf a few times now, and she is of the belief that we are beginning to lost the correct shelf in dogs all over the world. It is something that she is justifiably proud of, in her dogs :).
This link that was already post is a good example of a good shelf
Wow is all I can say…...
Here is a picture of one of my boys (bred by me)… note that he doesn't have much shelf and is straight behind... his movement was OK and had other parts that were very good, however on the lure field he could not turn to save his life... he would lose his rear on a tight turn so had to always go wide... he could not "lay" it down and use the rear to turn.
http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Tego_for_web.jpg
By contrast, his litter sister who could stop and turn on a dime at any speed…
http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Fatia_35__Show__format_change_to_JPEG_High_Quality_.jpg
And yes, both are a bit long in the back…..
I could understand what you were talking about when seeing the pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Her owner and breeder, Helen, and I have had discussions about the shelf a few times now, and she is of the belief that we are beginning to lost the correct shelf in dogs all over the world. It is something that she is justifiably proud of, in her dogs
This is why I feel we need cooperation between all the breeders worldwide. The breed needs cooperation to strive, grow and improve (while keeping the desired positive characteristics) .
Absolutely spot on Sandra :)…
