Thinking about getting a basenji…

Basenji Talk
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  • khanisK

    @Quercus:

    Sometimes a mom with a lot of kids runs a much more structured home, and has more time for and is more prepared for a puppy than a single person, or childless couple. So I think you have to look at each situation individually.

    I completely agree with Andrea on this one. I have placed two girls (first one at 5 months old and the other 2 years later, at 10 weeks old) with a family that had 11 children. They now have 12 children and I have NEVER seen a more structured household… She has leash-trained these girls better than the majority of puppy owners I've had or seen in the past.

    I certainly would NOT discourage someone with children getting a basenji. That is absolutely hogwash. My three brothers and I were raised with Basenjis... many of them. The basenji temperament is also MUCH better today than it was in the 70s and earlier.

    Kathy Britton

    Khani's Basenjis

    Portland, Oregon

    ….."You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me!"

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  • JazzysMomJ

    I've had mothers with 4 little children (ages 3 to 7 or so) tell me that >>they're looking for a family dog and I've pretty much discouraged them as >>to not getting a basenji. I don't know how a mom of 4 small kids could >>possibly give a basenji (or any dog) the attention they need.

    Wow. That statement blows me away. And is bordering on being offensive.

    My house has been full of kids and dogs for 20 years and it works out beautifully. The kids get all the attention they could possibly want; the dogs get the attention and training they want and need.

    I've brought dogs into our home when we've had just one baby {adult Doberman}, two kids under the age of three corgi mix puppy}, three kids under the age of four {adult corgi mix} and four kids {ages 1, 3,5, and 7} - that's our Gypsy. And let me tell you, bringing HER into the home and making her into a family pet/house dog was WAY more challenging than bringing a Basenji in! Good Lord, she was big, wild and completely untrained.
    Jazzy came to live here when we had all six kids at home, but they were older {ages 6,8,12,14,15,17}, Keoki moved in this year when we had five kids at home {8,10,14,16,17}. And life for kids and dogs is pretty darned good.

    Granted, my kids are older now than the example in the quote above, but I can tell you without a doubt or a moment's hesitation, bringing a Basenji into the home at any stage of child-rearing would not have been a problem.

    I would hope that no breeder would refuse or even discourage a potential owner simply on the basis that they have young children at home.

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  • lvossL

    I know that there are breeders that create lists of "I will never adopt to …" or lists of "I will only adopt to ..." and often times these breeders will turn away good homes because they do not fit the list. I try to look at each home on a case by case basis. I have placed dogs into homes that fit on many of the "I will never adopt to..." lists that I have seen. These are all great homes but had young children active in extracurricular activities, wanted a second male basenji, owner is in college, first time owner and lives in the city, and no yard. One thing doesn't really describe a household. It really takes good screening to get the whole picture. The family with children has a great schedule because they have had to in order to keep up with their children's activities, the puppy fit right into their schedule and gets lots of attention and even has her own activity schedule.

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  • tanzaT

    Exactly Lisa, each person/home should be evaluted on their own merits, not just "lumped" into a big pot….. screening is the key

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • QuercusQ

    <_>

    Some do…and some BRAT screeners also do. At least, from what I have been told..._

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • tanzaT

    @Quercus:

    <_>

    Some do…and some BRAT screeners also do. At least, from what I have been told..._

    _
    I know that for pretty much a fact from some BRAT screeners_

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • lvossL

    @Quercus:

    <_>

    Some do…and some BRAT screeners also do. At least, from what I have been told..._

    _
    With BRAT it is not just discourage but flat out refuse on the basis of things like young children, no fenced yard, etc. They have very little flexibility when it comes to their criteria._

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  • dashD

    I have to agree. We have contacted BRAT for fostering and after a month of waiting I haven't gotten so much as a response. I have noticed to that on the website they say that if the dog has not been exposed to children they won't even be considered. I think that is crazy. It is discouraging for people looking.

    Jennifer

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  • JazzysMomJ

    Well, it's a good thing we went straight to a breeder! I'd considered BRAT, but decided to get a puppy instead. Good thing, because with six kids at home and lots of other kids in and out, we'd have never gotten a dog!

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  • tanzaT

    @JazzysMom:

    Well, it's a good thing we went straight to a breeder! I'd considered BRAT, but decided to get a puppy instead. Good thing, because with six kids at home and lots of other kids in and out, we'd have never gotten a dog!

    Sad isn't it….

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • J

    Looking at getting a Basenji.

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    tanzaT
    @jordandwilly - Thanks for clearing that up.... 9-5 is just fine, IMO.... I work and have always had to leave mine when I was at work, never an issue. That said, we were able to set up the house that access to the backyard (with 10 to 12' privacy fences) with a doggy door and a dog room in the house for them, Locks on the gates so there is NO access for anyone. Dogs sleep 90% of the day so being at work doesn't bother them... never have mine even when I had a litter in the house (And have been in the breed as owner/breeder for 35+ years). You can hire a dog walker to take them out mid day..which is a good solution. and give them a mid day meal depending on their age. I do not and never have used free feeding, period. Especially if you have more that one... you never know what/who is eating what. And you can set up camera's on line to watch them from "afar".... LOL. Keep in mind people that many of us need to work and have day jobs. The most important thing is the time you need to spend with them when you are home. Example would be, if you have young children and you work... when you get home you are going to spend your time with your human children... NO dog would be happy if left out... they need their time also because they are a family member and need as much time as a human child. Again in my opinion
  • H

    Thinking about getting a Basenji

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  • ?

    When to get another Basenji

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    Wow! Somehow, I never got emails letting me know I had responses to this thread and just assumed there weren't any. But now that I'm back in the loop, I did want to thank everyone for their feedback and provide some thoughts of my own. That makes me laugh about the rescue person who wouldn't let young families or lawyers adopt her dogs. :-D I can understand her rationale from both perspectives. It's a compelling argument on her part about lawyers, but not all lawyers are the same, of course. I know a lot of extremely busy lawyers in large firms who struggle to hit their billable hour requirement each month. They're machines instead of people, and I wouldn't even let them dogsit my babies for fear of neglect. That's not my situation, fortunately. The young family part will be, but I've been thinking really carefully on how I'll balance this when the time comes. My dogs are my first children, and I would hire as many trainers as needed and try as many alternatives as I could before I would give them up. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people have that mindset about their dogs. :( I would absolutely be open to the idea of having the breeder choose a puppy for us based on their experience and prediction as to personality. All basenjis are gorgeous to me, and as long as the markings aren't completely off-base and I can get a tightly-curled tail (I've seen that the Avongaras can be lacking in this area, and I need a cinnamon bun in my life), personality is the most important thing. I wouldn't nitpick it to death. I'll have to decide on a breeder at some point, and I'd love one who's relatively local so I could visit. The man I got Penny from had great pet Basenjis that he bred… I'd like to go with a more reputable breeder this time around. At the very least, he tested for Fanconi. I can be grateful for that, as all is well so far and I more than likely dodged a bullet when I ended up with such a fantastic dog. My plan would be to decide and get on a waiting list far enough in advance that if there were a couple litters that just didn't produce what my family and I were looking for, we wouldn't be waiting forever. In short, what I'm banking on is that the right pup with the right personality will fit in pretty flawlessly. I know what sets my basenji off in other dogs, and I'm hopeful that I could find one that would suit her and suit our home. Daisy certainly worked out well for her, and I'd love to have that same success again. I've done three puppies in my lifetime, and all of them have grown up to be well-adjusted adults. I know what it takes, and I know it's hard work. I would never go the route of having an infant and a puppy at the same time (isn't THAT actually the definition of insanity?? ;) ), but I am still trying to shoot somewhere in the next 3-4 year range so my two aren't past ten and too old to handle a puppy.
  • C

    Thinking of getting a Basenji

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    C
    I have a general question. Does anybody elses Basenji not like to be picked up. Ours sometimes loves it, and sometimes not. Also sometimes she runs up to dogs as quiet as can be and plays, and than other times she makes a squeeling noise, and people are afraid she is picking a fight with their dog. But I think shes just talking. She squeels at our new Whippet puppy, and loves to play with her and is as gentle as can be, considering the Whippet puppy is really rough on my poor Basenji baby girl. does anyone know what the squeeling means. The baroo I get she does that all the time. The squeeling is confusing.
  • eoyE

    Considering getting a Basenji

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    lvossL
    Yes, early socialization and positive experiences is the best way to go. I think the most important thing about puppy kindergarten is that it is positive based and focuses on socialization with both people and dogs. Some basenji don't necessarily do well with the small dogs and other love them. Sophie was always the best with the new pups of any size in her puppy class, she just had phenomenal dog language and would make herself as small as possible and go at their speed. What you want to be careful about is people who have already formed a preconceived notion of basenji behavior. My mom's first puppy class instructor always expected her boy to be aggressive even though he never showed any aggression and was always very appropriate in his interactions. I crate puppies next to the bed while housebreaking and it works fine. I have always used a large stuffed toy in the crate and this year used SnugglePuppies, they were wonderful. The pup snuggled right up to warmth and fell asleep, provided we did a good job of tiring him out for the night. I got my first basenji while I was in Grad school and lived in an apartment. It is doable as long as you are willing to make sure they get enough exercise and mental stimulation.
  • AlexA

    Poll: Where Did You Get Your Basenji?

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    Well, it started when I was out with my 22yr. old son at the mall. He said, "Hey, Mom lets look at the dogs in the petstore ", I replied, "I don't have time besides your Dad has too many ideas what a dog has to be like for us to get one", I'll never find a dog like he wants". That was 3 yrs. ago this Jan., and I had never heard of a Basenji. I called DH about 3 times the night I found Sahara to persuade him we needed this dog, but she was very expensive so it took some work talking him into me buying her. She is owned by my son, me and my husband, she lives with my husband and I. She is the best dog I have ever owned, and I have had many through my lifetime. I would never get another dog from a pet store (didn't know about puppy mills)but I would have not known of this breed if I hadn't stopped and looked that night. My husband loves this dog so very much, he buys her whatever she wants or needs. I love her also, she is my joy and I can't stand to be from her for very long, we just got back from a trip and it was so hard missing her. My son said that she didn't eat very good while we were gone and was very destructive in the house. Guess she missed us as well!