@Victoria said in Does my dog look like he could be part Basenji?:
I've had three basenji's. Not one flea and never stinky. They have a hide like a horse. Not fur like a dog. That's what Basenji Rescue and my vets told me. Basenji's are my most favorite living thing on this earth!
I once had 2 black labs who were so loving but stunk, shed lots of fur and had lots of fleas.
Your dog is sooooo cute! I hope you both have a blessed life.
If a basenji rescue or your vet told you they don't get fleas, never smell and have "hide like a horse. Not fur like a dog." you are dealing with some impressively uninformed people. Basenjis TEND to not have as much "doggy"smell, but many do. As for the hide like a horse, I'm just shaking my head. Like any short coated dog, they still are "like a dog"... their coats don't get longer. Some breeds are double coated, some dogs are single coats. But they are still like dogs, not horse hide. As for the fleas... G-d help me, I cannot imagine the ignorance of someone telling you they don't get fleas. My dogs almost never get fleas either because we treat our yard and perimeter every several years and rarely get them. You can bet they'd pick up fleas if we took them to a place with fleas
Shedding? Of course they shed.
Basenjirescue.org
The short answer is that SOME Basenjis shed minimally, while others have a heavier undercoat and shed a LOT! The variation is primarily genetic, but the undercoat is also influenced by environmental factors, such as whether the dog lives where winters are cold and whether it spends a lot of time outdoors..<<
AKC BASENJI STANDARD: Coat and Color: Coat short and fine. Skin very pliant.
Basenji Club of America: >>Check your dog's coat. .. Look for any bald spots or evidence of fleas.<<
https://www.basenji.org/BasenjiU/Owner/Handbook/HandPDF/HealthOG.pdf
I am sorry that a rescue and your vet gave you misinformation and that you have taken your limited experience to assume it is true for all basenjis. The closest "true" one is odors.. but some have hormone/thyroid/skin disorders, and they do smell. Some aren't doggy smelling, but still not pleasant. The belief that they don't get fleas is a dangerous one. Dogs need to be protected from fleas.