I have had the pleasure of owning both breeds. There is another forum member here who also has a basenji and a Shiba. Lol, they are both very stubborn breeds. Depending on what you want they are very different though. Shibas need a lot of care for grooming, they blow a lot of coat and can get matted fur, on the other hand they make a very good watch dog. Basenjis don't bark but make a multitude of other noises. Their coat is nice and short for less grooming, though they too blow coat, just not as bad as a Shiba. They both maintain puppy characteristics their whole lives and live long lives. I think our Shiba was 16 when we lost her. Both need a lot of socialization, with both people and dogs. This is a must. Good luck with whatever breed you choose. Look at parents for temperament and do your reading on health problems and make sure you adopt from a reputable breeder.
Hello, from the uk =)
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Pat, you're absolutely right about Sally.
As in the USA I think that most responsible breeders here have contracts which can include endorsements. When we talk about endorsements here we usually mean those placed on the puppies at initial Kennel club registration. These typically are 'Not to be bred From'. these endorsements can be removed at any time later in the dog's life. I don't know if you have that system there?
Archaft, I can't see any reason to object to a puppy having it's papers endorsed. Its usually a sign of responsible breeders after all. Its no reflection on the prospective purchaser.
I reiterate all that Kipawa has advised too. I would always advise prospective first time Basenji purchasers to visit Basenjis in their own homes where you can. Derbyshire is not all that far away from me and I welcome you to visit at any time to see Basenjis at home. I no longer breed so have no agenda only to ensure that people know what to expect from typical Basenjis.