Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Talk
  3. Advice on Basenjis

Advice on Basenjis

Basenji Talk
  • M

    Hey all,

    My wife and I have decided we'd like to get a puppy and have filled in every form of breed quiz available and have watched enough youtube dog videos to last a lifetime in order to try and find the right breed. Basenjis look like an amazing breed, but I wanted to get some advice from existing owners before comitting.

    My wife and I live in a 2 bed apartment in the heart of London, no garden. We do have a big park right next to us, like literally a 1 minute walk.

    I own a small design studio of about 10 people and I would take the dog with me to work each day (20 min single journey). At the office we would have plent of people to give him attention, but people would need to be able to get on with their jobs without the little guy being too needy... Otherwise I would have to leave him at home, which I dont really want to do. At lunch we could walk him as well as there is a park right next to the studio as well.

    My main concerns are, is it possible to have a basenji as an office dog and that he can entertain himself for the full day in a 1600 sq ft office, without being to distracting / mental.

    Also will the Basenji cope in our gardenless apartment?

    Thanks guys,
    All advice is gladly accepted!

    Marvin

    0
  • 2baroos2

    Hello!
    Basenjis are not needy dogs. Some would call them cold. They like their pack (family) and are cordial to others. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. We had Basenjis in a 1 bedroom Condo in the heart of the city. 3 good walks a day and they were fine.
    I think if you crate train your dog and take some time during office hours for a walk and play time you should have no problems. Special toys and chewies that are only used at the office would be a good idea.

    0
  • eeeefarmE

    I think a Basenji would be much happier at the office with you than home alone. That said, a puppy of any breed will be a bit needy and possibly disruptive until they learn the rules and adjust to settling down at "work". A mature Basenji would likely enjoy the arrangement, but you need to have a strategy to get through the puppy stage. You also have to take precautions to ensure your pup doesn't get out the door at the office, so people would have to be clued in and careful. Some Basenjis are escape artists!

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    0
  • K

    An apartment would not be a problem if you give your B plenty of exercise and nose time. Also, the office would be great, but do realise that dogs need a lot of sleep, not only puppies. Our 2 sisters (7 and 6) sleep all night and most of the day. So your B would need a quiet space in the office to retreat and sleep. Agree with eeeefarm: puppy time is extra intensive, but so much fun. Try to be with your B as much as possible. Enjoy!

    0

Suggested Topics

  • P

    Basenji for me or not ?

    Moved Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    7k Views
    ZandeZ
    @planetsaver said in Basenji for me or not ?: Will be a problem to leave him alone, let's say 10 days / month an average of 9 hours a day. Also I do not want to have to much trouble with the neighbours, but I understand he can make some noise sometimes, maybe he can be trained to stay alone and not to bark that much. Why would you even think about training a hunting hound to stay home alone ? I would never let my Basenjis alone for more than 4 hours, and even that is very rare. 3 hours is absolute maximum. Like @tanza, I have sold puppies into apartment environments as long as all other boxes ticked positive. Someone there all the time, proper attention to training, not just leaving the dog alone, especially not as a puppy. btw, he won't bark at all. As you would know if you had really researched the breed. He will cry and scream but not bark ! No. At least you are asking questions but I really think you should find another breed.
  • B

    Introducing our Basenji to our brand new baby girl in a few days, looking for advice!

    Basenji Talk
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    4k Views
    I
    When my daughter was pregnant she would stop by once a week and Izzy would always sniff her all over , most of all her stomach and around that area, her husband was afraid of Izzy being around the baby when he came , because Izzy is not a real friendly basenji especially to my son in law. Izzy has never had any aggression toward my grandson, my grandson is 7 now and Izzy is always there to protect him, when the grandson goes down the stairs Izzy is just one step in front of him like he is protecting him from falling. I don't know about other basenjis but Izzy loves kids, but not a lot of adults.
  • canerC

    Need advice for newborn basenji

    Moved Basenji Talk
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    18k Views
    canerC
    @donc Hi, I decide to have girl. But not yet find right one! I am trying to be careful for choose breeders. I think December is best time for new puppy.
  • S

    Any advice on getting another Basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    7k Views
    M
    I got 2 females, looks like already they get well along, but sometimes not so well. Be safe and get the opposite..
  • J

    Need Advice on Introducing a new Basenji Puppy!

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    9k Views
    I
    Thanks everyone for sharing your experience! Saturday Feb. 14th 2015, we brought home an 8 weeks old puppy: Pix. Alf who is 2 years old was really great at introducing himself to the puppy. 4 days later, he litteraly is educating Pix, teaching him good manners and snipping him gently from time to time. I wasn't sure if all the noise was normal, but I for sure know that Alf never really hurts the puppy. He never had any troubles with any dogs, and I think Pix is probably a really good actor :)
  • J

    Any advice???

    Basenji Talk
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    13k Views
    tanzaT
    @Vegas: I don't think electric collars are cruel. I've worn one. I've shocked the crap out of myself. I've even taken some jolts with a cattle prod. There is only the "shock", no after pain. That being said, I would never use an electric fence for a basenji. Their prey drive is much stronger than their fear of being shocked. Negative punishment does not work very often with basenjis. It's about brains, not brawn when it comes to training them. Vegas Well I disagree with your comment about not being cruel… to a point... but I agree that negative punishment is not the best way to train a Basenji.... In regards to a regular electric fence, not the IF type, they do come in useful especially for fence climbers... or diggers for that matter.... and I know in one case the neighbors young male dog kept "eating" through the wooden fence to get to the Basenjis on the other side, especially when the bitch was in season... and electric fence (hot wire)... was a god sent