Basenji or...not?

[HeidiAce]

Hi. We just adopted a 8 month old "shepherd mix" puppy about a month ago from our local animal shelter. Addie, (short for "needs Adderall") settled in right away and is VERY quick to learn. After listening to her howl and make all sorts of sounds we've never heard a creature make before, I did some research and am now convinced we have a Basenji mix instead. She is approximately 29 pounds and 18 inches to her shoulder so definitely a MIX. After a few weeks of sleepless nights from the wierd noises, we decided to forgo the night crate and she now sleeps through the night in bed with us...under the covers. She's faster than a speeding bullet but extremely graceful at the same time. Trots like a horse, looks like a deer, cleans like a cat. She was found in the woods so we joke that her momma was a deer and her daddy a fox. I discovered today she has webbed feet. She does a quick single bark but LOVES water. Please tell me what you think. Thank you! I'm trying to figure out how to post pictures and not sure if it's working...

[eeeefarm]

Sure looks and sounds like a Basenji mix to me! Welcome to the forum. Enjoy her, she looks wonderful.

[HeidiAce]

Thank you very much.

[tanza]

Very Cute, not sure I see Basenji however

[DebraDownSouth]

Try the Wisdom DNA test if you want to have a more certain idea. With mixes it is so hard to know. But she is cute!

[Dagodingo]

Looks Basenji mix to me, a DNA test is a good idea especially as knowing the breeds help look for health problems later.

[YodelMa]

She's adorable! Her behaviour/movement sure sounds basenji, her weight Isn't that far off either...she also has white on all 4 legs, and her color is right--I'd say mix! Don't listen to Tanza, She's a breeder so she can't admit a mix can be the best of both worlds : D

[HeidiAce]

Thank you for that. It made me smile.

[DebraDownSouth]

@yodelma said in Basenji or...not?:

Don't listen to Tanza, She's a breeder so she can't admit a mix can be the best of both worlds : D<<

That's an insult, however jokingly said, to Tanza and all breeders. Yes, breeders can see a mix as being a superb dog. That doesn't mean we don't look at them sadly knowing the irresponsible owners that created them. Tanza has seen a basenji mix at times I didn't and vice versa. Sometimes an opinion is just an opinion.

[tanza]

@yodelma - Seriously? This could certainly be a mix with lots of different breeds.. Portuguese Podengo comes to mind, http://www.podengos.com, especially the smooth Medio. This is a hound just like Basenjis and a sighthound... so behaviors would certainly be simular

[HeidiAce]

Hi. I truly appreciate your input and I never intended my inquiry to cause a fuss. As I said before, we adopted Addie from our local animal shelter and know full well she isn't full bred anything, but a big bundle of joy. She just has so many Basenji type quirks, I wanted to ask. I will check into the possibility of a DNA test just to cure my curiosity as well as check out the other breed you mentioned. She's only my second dog ever and our 8 year old son who has mild Asperger's with severe ADHD picked her out. They've been a perfect match for each other and in the end, for our purposes, she's perfect no matter how many breeds may be mixed in there. Thank you everyone, truly. This is a wonderfully helpful site with terrific people.

[tanza]

@heidiace Glad to hear that she has worked out so well for your son and your entire family. That is what matters most

[YodelMa]

@debradownsouth I apologize, but as a rescue advocate I've never once met a breeder who didn't treat "poor-bred' rescues and mixes with polite but palpable disdain. In my old age, I'm becoming less willing to watch breeders be curt and dismissive to newcomers. @ Tanza's comment says it all: She doesn't "see" basenji. Basenjis--and this forum--are about a lot more than looks.

[tanza]

@yodelma - Guess you have been meeting the wrong breeders, sad

[YodelMa]

@tanza Yes, she could be. Then again, she could also be part basenji. The OP wasn't looking for your Holy Basenji-Breeder Annointment of her dog as a purebred! She merely asked if, based on her dog's appearance and behaviour, she might have basenji blood. Is your self-image as a basenji breeder so fragile that you have to shoot down every newbie who wants info? This is a basenji forum--I thought all basenji lovers were welcome. You, ma'am, are a basenji snob!

[DebraDownSouth]

@yodelma said in Basenji or...not?:

@tanza Yes, she could be. Then again, she could also be part basenji. The OP wasn't looking for your Holy Basenji-Breeder Annointment of her dog as a purebred! She merely asked if, based on her dog's appearance and behaviour, she might have basenji blood. Is your self-image as a basenji breeder so fragile that you have to shoot down every newbie who wants info? This is a basenji forum--I thought all basenji lovers were welcome. You, ma'am, are a basenji snob!<<<

You are abusive and certainly the one with a massive ego. Your entire spewing venom above and your sick attack on breeders indicate we've got an animal rights lunatic or simply someone so full of hate they are incapable of seeing how totally unacceptable their behavior is.

1. She gave her freaking opinion. How condescending you are to suggest the poster needs people to lie to her. "Shoot down?" She asked for opinions. She wants honest opinions, and how dare you make her sound like some mentally unstable person who will be crushed by someone saying they don't see basenji.

2. Talk about someone making a mt out of a mole hill! You and your blatant abuse and attacks on Pat and breeders is what is sickening . You don't give a rats rear end about the original poster! You just wanted the chance to twist anything into an excuse for your tirade.

3. You are one of the most willfully ignorant people ever to come here. Many breeders are the foundation of their breed rescues. Many of them provide funds to help rescue...even though they are not part of the problem. Responsible breeders will take their puppies back no matter how old they are. We had a local breeder offer to take back or totally fund the care for a grand puppy she didn't own that hit rescue. (The breeder was out of the country.) Get you blinders off. There are many good breeders who help rescues...and there are many rescues that are hoarders or scammers or abusive.

I am reporting you for harassment. 3 messages make it clear you are violating forum policy

[Dagodingo]

@yodelma As a rescue advocate you should be very glad that there are so many caring and responsible breeders. My first B came from a pet shop, developed diabetes and had a very hard life health wise. He died of cancer at eleven years. My second and third are from a reputable breeder and the eldest is now eleven with very few health issues. If there were more responsible breeders and owners, the shelters would not be full of suffering animals who are caged.

[Dagodingo]

@heidiace Sounds like your son is very smart and a basenji is the perfect match. The saying that in order to own a basenji you need to be at least half as smart as the dog is very true. Which is why people either love them or hate them.

[DebraDownSouth]

@HeidiAce

Please don't think you have anything to do with the drama. Some people just wait for an excuse to pet their peeves.

We have some wonderful breeders here, many who do help rescue and none that look down on mixes. While those who rescue and/or breed hate the irresponsible folks who create badly bred dogs or mixed, that has nothing to do with the dogs or with the wonderful people who adopt them. It sounds like you found a wonderful addition to your family. If I can help in any way, let me know. I have friends who train therapy dogs and if there are things your dog could do that would help your son, let me know and I'll ask or put you in touch. My daughter got her Samoyed with a goal of teaching him to be a therapy dog to visit with the elderly or programs for special needs kids. Right now he's a wild year old boy but we hope he'll soon mellow. He already is very gentle with children.

[Rugosa]

With that description, and that photo, I'd say definitely a BASENJI mix.
Addie is very fortunate she gets to live with you!

Does she smell like a dog when wet? If not, that's some basenji DNA making its appearance.