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Chi-Rat....Basenji??

Basenji Talk
  • We adopted Stella a month ago and they guessed she was possibly Rat Terrier and Chihuahua. Since we’ve had her I’ve had a couple strangers stop me and ask if she’s part Basenji. I hadn’t even heard of that breed until now! She’s 22lbs and about 16.5 inches tall. She stretches out like a frog CONSTANTLY throughout the day and never barks. We’ve only heard a couple single barks from her and that was only when provoked by other dogs aggressively barking at her. alt textHer tail doesn’t curl, but has a weird bump at the base...it would look more normal if it did curl! She doesn’t really play at all with us, but is HIGHLY obsessed with any type of rodent (which could also just be Rat Terrier in her!), animal or other dog she sees, hears or smells!

    I’ve researched and saw articles talking about how rare Basenji mixes are, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she has none in her! Just curious for now. I’d like to eventually get a DNA test done.

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  • Face, ears, stance - look Basenji. You need to get a DNA test to verify. The dog is an absolute adorable baby!

  • Sorry but Basenji doesn't appear there to me. I'd go along with Chihuahua and something terrier-like. That said, she's a cute little number ! Enjoy her as an enigma but have a DNA test done if it matters what she is (other than adorable !)

  • ! I'm not a breeder or show person but I have to say.....Basenji or not she is adorable!
    I wouldn't worry that she doesn't play a lot with the humans yet. I got my almost all my Basenji's from reputable breeders so they were well socialized. It just takes them time to ascertain if you are worth playing with! Just love her and give her lots of attention and she'll come around in time. As with any of the high prey drive pups keep her securely in the house (take care with opening the door for any reason..... they can beat Houdini when it comes to getting out of a house or car) and never leave her in a fenced back yard without supervision. I have a solid 6 vinyl fence but when my pup is on the yard I'm at the patio door. I treat like I would a kid if I had a swimming pool..... it my eyes aren't on her when she's in the yard, she has to come in. No answering the door bell, no taking a minute just to grab the phone from the cradle. It only takes a second for them to squeeze through an opening and be gone and that high prey drive means they will dart into the street. Good luck with the little princess!!

  • @njdeb thanks so much for the advice!! 🙂

  • Our Basenji-Mix (only 2 vets verified, haven't DNA tested yet so bear with me..) has the same weird tail bump and I can't find evidence of it on any other dogs! So cool. She also does the frog pose alllll day long.

  • The ears say Basenji. I have never replied but felt I had to this time. I have a Basenji-Pitbull mix named Daisy. It was Daisy's ears (and behavior) that I discovered her to be part Basenji. I have not found another breed with the ears such as Basenji's have. I'm sure I will get "crap" because I have not had DNA or other testing done but there is no mistaking, Daisy is part Basenji. I think its important to know if your dog is part Basenji because in Daisy's case she is 98% Basenji and 2% pitbull concerning her behaviors and personality. Daisy is 2 years old and it has been quite a learning experience owning such a smart, stubborn, loving, mind of her own, amazing dog! Daisy is a mix but I have to train, teach, go outside to yell out frustrations cause of her (and no I'm not kidding, but never in front of her) and all that goes with a pure Basenji because trying to train her like a normal dog does not work.

7/7

15 Sept 2019, 12:33

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    @zande I know that I’m lucky to have found him! I hope he feels that he lucked out, too. Actually, I don’t care very much what “mix” he is. I had just never heard of basenjis before my Vet mentioned it. He doesn’t have a long tail - it seems to have been clipped. The barking is only when he hears someone approach my apartment door or if someone comes in that he doesn’t know. I’m working on desensitizing him to the latter. He DOES make noises like the dog in the videos below make & he grooms himself quite a bit. He DOES NOT play with toys. Don’t know if that’s breed specific or just Jack! He also isn’t too active; he’d be happy to sit on my lap or with his face in my arm pit all day!
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    Basenji Talk 7 Mar 2018, 03:36
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    @debradownsouth Thanks you so much. We'll give it a try.
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    Oh Barklessdog, you are a brave person. I must now stand with you in insane-solidarity and admit I bought it too. It is awful but when you get the line "we couldn't say goodbye so we took him home" part, you know you got to help support the woman. lol
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    Basenji Talk 27 Nov 2010, 13:29
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    lol usually when you breed a bigger dog to a smaller dog the Male is the tiny one. Its just dangerous to do it the other way around. As far as DNA breed testing I would go for it if I could. But i am just interested in those kinds of tests. We offer them at our clinic but i haven't ever seen results for them.
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    Basenji Talk 24 Apr 2009, 13:31
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    ooohhh…so true!!! Good observation!
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    My Rue is pretty perfect. She is mixed with something (I don't know what) so she doesn't look like a real B… and she isn't interested in anything in our house (chewing wise), doesn't bolt out the door, and licks like CRAZY! She also doesn't really like to play with other dogs at the dog park, she just smells them, occasionally chases them, then comes back and lays down by me (EXERCISE DANG IT!). The only normal B behaviors that I see in her are the little noises that she makes (she makes a lot of them for different reasons) and her BAROOOOOOO (which is fitting because we named her Rue before we even knew she was a Basenji) and it seems like she is stubborn about sitting. It's like she is saying, "yeah I know you want me to sit, but first I'm gonna spin around in a circle. Then maybe I'll sit if I feel like it." Haha! She is a character!