How I became a Basenji mom

Basenji Talk
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  • C

    I have been a dog person my entire life. My parents have always had dogs. My mother has gone through many breeds in my time. About 14 yrs ago she got a basenji, I cannot even remember his name, but I do remember he did not stay long. Didn't really think about them as a breed much after that as I am generally a herding dog person. I have shown for many years off and on and done Obedience/ Confirmation/ Herding some. So smart and loyal was very importnat to me. I am the mother of 4 children and been married for 15 yrs. So as you can imagine I need my time to myself and have a bit of fun.
    It became hard to show dogs when my children were young cause I was always busy being mom/wife. And in the early stages of my marriage my husband did not understand why I wanted to spend so much time away at dog shows. So when my pet sheltie got old and became ill, I had to send him acoss the bridge.
    Well, about 4 years ago I decided my children were older and I could get back into the dog world and start living for me again. I went out and got myself a German shepherd, not realizing how difficult the GSD show ring was. But I was back and wasn't going to give up. Having knee surgery makes it hard to show this breed, so my daughter shows the dogs for me. Not really what I had in mind when I started this again. But I was having fun again.
    Anyway I am rambling, (SORRY) My daughter and I were at a local show with the shepherds and across the room I saw a very regal looking fellow and went over to talk to whom I thought was his mommy. A tri colored Basenji w/ his handler Erin Roberts. I had no idea whom I was talking to and she let me know right away they are not the dog for everyone. Told me a bit about them and then went off to show. I thought well maybe not.
    About a year later I had started a new job and as I was making new friends I met a very nice lady that just happened to have two litters of puppies, I asked what kind and she said Basenji's. I was like wow, do you have any that are tri colored. Thinking maybe she had one that I could show. She knew I showed dogs and said she would bring her two best females over to my home and I could choose. Well she showed up w/ two of the cutest puppies I have ever seen. I could not choose so I took both.
    Immediatly they stole my heart with the antics and comical behavior. These are my two girls "Chili" and "Pepper" better know as a pair of "chilipeppers". I know really stupid but they both come to it. I have shown both and have points on both of them AKC and UKC. Well I was hooked and my friend knew it. So last year when she had pups again she smoothed me again and two more came to be residence. Pumba red/wht boy and Ivy red/wht girl.
    My friend says they are like potato chips you cannot have just one.. I think she is right. I am hooked so I then started searching for a really nice show puppy, but I knew what I wanted more than anything. A male Black/white. I searched until I found a breeder that would part with one and to my suprise I did about three mo ago I became the proud mommy of "Cody" a beautiful boy black/white who is just the charmer I knew he would be. The first show out last month he took his first point over the open dogs and a major reserve, best puppy and a grp2.
    As I said before normally a herding breed person I am amazed as to how much I love this breed. So not anything like a herding breed, but they love to have me as the leader of the pack and are so much easier to handle than a shepherd. I can have them all around me and not have the amount of hair and SMELL that I get with the shepherds. I love that. I still have my shepherds and love them dearly but I think I have become a Senji MOM FOREVER…....
    That is my story. ;)

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  • dashD

    great story. Sounds like you have a pack. post lots of pics!

    Jennifer

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  • jys1011J

    What a great story!!

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • nala121498N

    What a great story…looking forward to more....and pictures too, of course!

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  • V

    I like it too! People who have never owned a basenji just don't get it!

    Vegas

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  • MantisM

    WE MUST SEE PICS, pleeeeeease!!!:D

    Caesar and Cairo….the boys

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  • annandaelA

    grins sounds like me…I have a Collie and two Basenjis...and one day I want a Belgian :) But I will always have Basenjis in my house...they are my heart breed! I love your story...can't wait to see pics!

    Haus Annandael Basenjis

    est.2004

    "Love, Wellness, and Quality"

    "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan."

    –Irving Townsend

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  • C

    IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z304/Redhawkgsd/Chili07.jpg
    IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z304/Redhawkgsd/cody1point-1.jpg

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  • DukeD

    @Catchme:


    Great story Catchme! How cool, and I can understand being a B mom for life. They are very addicting. (I added the brackets [ in front of the 2 IMG codes here). You have two beautiful B's! I'm guessing Cody is the blk/wht - what is the tri's name?

    Jill

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  • nala121498N

    Great pictures! They are beautiful!

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