Greetings all My name is Ocean, and I live in San Diego, CA. I've been in love with the Basenji breed ever since I laid my eyes on them in 2009. I've always wanted to have one of my own, but could never find a breeder or rescue in time enough to have one. I have a son of 3 years who is so excited to have a little brother in our residence. I've definitely done my fair share of research over the years of the breed, and I think I am finally ready to take on the challenge. We've already picked out a name for our boy, and it will be Zell. He is a energetic free willed character from Final Fantasy 7 a video I once loved to play during childhood. I just can't wait until our puppy is here. Im taking a week and a half off work to help with the seperation and to learn him of his crate. He'll be crated for 3 hours in the morning with an xpen, and then 3 1/2 more after lunch in the afternoon. I think I'll be starting out with a 30 minute walk in the morning before work, and another 30 minute walk after work, and then another 30 minute walk before bedtime. We go on hikes weekly so, and there are three dog parks within a 15 minute walk of my residence. Needless to say Zell with get enough exercise. I'll be using this whole month of february to prepare for Zell's arrival. We are just too excited.

This is Zell on the far right.

Very exciting time for you! Love the name Zell.

They are absolutely a joy; the puppy stage can be a bit rough [same as any baby], but they more than make up for it in the long run. A three year old more than qualifies you for the fun ahead.

welcome! everything sounds great, but make sure you have a top for your xpen.

Who are you getting your Basenji from? Many of us are related by our Basenjis.

oh yes. I've got the top to the xpen wrote down on my list as well.

Zell is coming from Sandra Cyrus-Mountain Springs Ranch

At the risk of getting slammed, I am going to say the following. This is not a responsible breeder. Are the sire and dam DNA tested for Fanconi and PRA? Did you check it out for yourself at www.offa.org? She has produced Fanconi affected dogs and some of her Basenjis have shown up in Basenji Rescue in Southern California, known as Medfly, Karen Jones. If you contact her, she can fill you in with information about this breeder. Their website has nothing about health testing…....

Here are a couple of threads about this breeder from years past and if you contact any responsible breeders in Southern California, they can fill you in about this breeder also.

http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?9189-Rescue-With-Special-Needs-Medfly&highlight=mountain+springs+ranch
http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?8094-New-BABY-B-girl!&highlight=sandy+cyrus

How exciting for you, can't wait for more photos. Advice I can give is stick to your rules and don't give in, once you let them on the sofa forget keeping them off, same as sleeping in bed with you and everyone has to help with training and train the same way, it just stops the confusion like when mum lets me sleep in bed but dad doesn't, hard to expect dog to stay out. They are very smart dogs and I find our boy Kaiser learns fast but decides when and if it suits him to obey. Oh and start training from day one, you will be rewarded with the time you put in. Give the little boy lots of cuddles and touch time(feet/ears/mouth/tail etc) so when it comes to grooming/vet visit/nail clipping it makes life easier for you. Boy I sound like an expert and I'm not but I have learnt soooo much that has helped me that I like to share, sounds like you are prepared so good luck.

Jolanda and Kaiser

Oh and Tanza is giving you the best advice please research your Breeder to prevent heartache for you later.

@tanza:

At the risk of getting slammed, I am going to say the following. This is not a responsible breeder. Are the sire and dam DNA tested for Fanconi and PRA? Did you check it out for yourself at www.offa.org? She has produced Fanconi affected dogs and some of her Basenjis have shown up in Basenji Rescue in Southern California, known as Medfly, Karen Jones. If you contact her, she can fill you in with information about this breeder. Their website has nothing about health testing…....

Here are a couple of threads about this breeder from years past and if you contact any responsible breeders in Southern California, they can fill you in about this breeder also.

http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?9189-Rescue-With-Special-Needs-Medfly&highlight=mountain+springs+ranch
http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?8094-New-BABY-B-girl!&highlight=sandy+cyrus

Wow I did a search for this breeder a few days back and could not find anything. After reading all that information I find myself confused as to what to do next. Sandra has stated that both the mother and father of this litter has been Fanconi tested. The sire is a carrier, and the mother is normal. The history and length of her breeding is rather long. I am not saying I will not purchase Zell from this breeder, but I am going to further investigate. Those last two posts are from years ago, and I think the breeder has made some changes. I meet with the breeder, and saw everything. We talked for hours, and I felt very welcomed, and safe. Maybe that was just a sales pitch, but I felt as if she was very honest. She even stated in the past she has made mistakes with litters, and some dogs have hit home with fanconi. I will acknowledge that she is a person, and we as people do make mistakes. However my research will continue, and I will make the final decision later. Thanks again for the information.

@oceanthewolf:

Sandra has stated that both the mother and father of this litter has been Fanconi tested. The sire is a carrier, and the mother is normal. .

This is a matter of public record. You can check the status of tested dogs on line. So go to this site and input the registered names of the sire and dam. http://www.offa.org/index.html

Please check it out for yourself, regardless of the breeder, check the OFA (www.offa.org) site for test results, never take someone telling you that there is not a problem… in fact, responsible breeders will give you the link to health testing. but then it is alway good to get the registered name/AKC number and check it out yourself. I do not have any puppies this year, I am planning a litter for the Fall/Winter of 2014, you can find the OFA link for all health testing for the sire and dam of the litter we are considering on my website. All Fanconi testing is open knowledge and there is no possibility of not having the results published regardless of results. Also in the last year, there is a test for PRA, 50%+ for the gene that causes PRA (blindness).. and there are other health concerns... hips, thyroid, and regular eye exams that cover things that the PRA DNA test doesn't cover. The fact... that one of the rescue groups in So. California was not comfortable sending one back to this breeder is telling (IMO)..... However, that said, I have no idea if the owner of this particular pup contacted the breeder first or contacted rescue when he/she started spilling and was determined to have Fanconi. I do know that in one case that they said they give a 1yr health to a prospective buyer was not worth the words written since health issues in our breed, Fanconi and PRA are late onset (over the age of 3yrs) would have no use to a buyer... and while things like hip problems crop up in our breed ... at least if the sire and dam are tested, you have a reasonable ability is this could be a problem... And does their contract state that they will take a pup back at anytime of its lifetime regardless of the reason???? From what I have seen in So. California... this is not the case... again I would urge you to contact Karen Jones from Medfly (So California Basenji rescue)... and or talk to other breeders in So. California.. you can find them at www.basenji.org and go to About Basenjis and Breeder Referral.

In the end… it is Buyer beware....

I am one of the lucky ones who is getting to adopt one of these adorable Colorado rescue puppies this Thursday. We already have a female rescue , Tessie, approximately 8/9 years old. We haven't had a basenji pup since we got our Lance, who passed away at age10 . So I am very excited and may be requesting help on the forums., I am new here, so hopefully I did this correctly.

@gloriajean53:

I am one of the lucky ones who is getting to adopt one of these adorable Colorado rescue puppies this Thursday. We already have a female rescue , Tessie, approximately 8/9 years old. We haven't had a basenji pup since we got our Lance, who passed away at age10 . So I am very excited and may be requesting help on the forums., I am new here, so hopefully I did this correctly.

Go back to the Member Introductions page and click on "post new thread" Congrats on adopting.

This is an obvious response, but I thought I'd throw my two cents in:

An adult can make their own decisions when choosing how they wish to proceed…. However, I am so grateful that my breeder had done all the health testing...because when something like sudden, unexplained incontinence pops up, or you think you see a cloud in their eye....that health testing automatically rules out anything that might be "scary". It gave me huge piece of mind at times....when I just being a little neurotic. I can go online, to this day and physically see [even after I had already seen the OFFA health tests before getting him] the results from the parents, yes…it would be impossible for this dog to have PPM, Fanconi, etc.

Everyone deserves a second chance though....if they're willing to change.

So I've done my research, and checked out on both parents health of my newest member of the family Zell. Everything has checked out perfect. This is Zell again at 6 1/2 weeks.

Oh, very cute! I think I'm in love!

Don't think I've seen a puppy so young look so regal!

That is a very pretty pup!

Did you check out the health results on OFFA.com?… Hope so. Pleas do not take any breeders word that health testing was done when you can see for yourself.... There is nothing so horrible than Fanconi for Basenjis and/or blindness....

@tanza:

Did you check out the health results on OFFA.com?… Hope so. Pleas do not take any breeders word that health testing was done when you can see for yourself.... There is nothing so horrible than Fanconi for Basenjis and/or blindness....

Yes Pat. I sure did check out everything. I've been doing research on this specific breeder ever since my first post of this thread.