My boy Duke

[yodels]

Wow, Duke is really a handsome boy!!! Love the picture of him on top of his crate!!!!!!!!

[nala121498]

He is just beautiful!

[Duke]

Thank you for the compliments. Yes he is loved - gets loads of attention. Duke and my son are so good together - like brothers. Though he was a very cute puppy, I was worried because he was a major handful, unlike any other sweet puppy I've ever had. He is the perfect fit now that training and maturity have taken hold.

Does Duke look like he is all Basenji? You may remember reading that I didn't know what he was until he was 6 mos old. He hasn't ever been seen, except in pics I sent to the Basenji Companions Club and here. He looks like the other black/white Basenjis. I don't know if it matters unless I decide to go further with lure or agility competitions. What do I need to do to get him registered Basenji? Any advice you may offer is appreciated. Thanks.

[noobie]

Very nice pics! Glad ya'll found one another. So sad his tail got bobbed. good to see you've learned sme more bout these infernal puters too! Thanks for the smile

[Ambered]

how old is duke now? what is his height and weight? he looks all b to me. lots of white on him, just no curly tail..maybe a little bit chunky? they go through so many awkward stages as pups. probably letting him meet a reputable breeder would be the only way to ever know for sure. he always looks so sweet in his pics. i love duke's story, its so heartwarming.

[Duke]

He is 10 mos old - 24 lbs and about 15-16" top of shoulder. That last pic does make him look pudgy - he isn't starving for sure. He is a begger for treats of which hubby ignores my system to use for teaching/crating. It would be nice to know if he's all Basenji. An entire tail, might have made it easier for vet to decipher his breed. Did you see the white spot on his back where it looks like the tip of B tail might lay? I doubt I'll ever know if he is full-blooded - it's not terribly important because we sure are lucky that he is ours.:)

[Duke]

Went to Pet Expo today - saw (2) Basenji Breeders and their Bs today 1st time ever! Their B's were much thinner and not as muscular as Duke. Also the base of their cinnamon roll tail was much thinner than Dukes bobbed end. Their muzzle was shorter than Dukes and fur is much shorter. (I don't think Duke is full-blooded compared to these Bs.) I was so very excited to get to their booth! They are Michigan breeders. They had red/white and black/white. Although they mentioned Basenji features can differ?? I saw 7 or 8 and related. Breeders think if I send pics they might recognize his parents because he is black/white - more rare. Also inquired of location he was found abandoned - thinking of breeders in area.

ANYWAY - these Basenjis were so-so sweet. Very socialized with all the people mulling, petting, oohing & ahhing - especially me. One looked right at me the way Duke does. I had to look away - because I know, only I can look Duke in the eye and be licked. Don't know what this one was thinking.

I will certainly pursue finding out if Duke is full or mixed. For health reasons -

[Duke]

@Duke:

I will certainly pursue finding out if Duke is full or mixed. For health reasons -

I finally found out - Duke is determined to be Basenji mix. I contacted a gal from the Basenji Club here in Michigan. Her professional opinion was that he also has terrier. What kind of terrier - possibly Toy Fox - I need to scope out the terriers at a couple dog shows. In all though, Duke's weight and height is typical of full grown male basenji. However his fur is thicker and longer than Basenji. Also, she didn't see any facial wrinkles - and he barks. I think his muzzle is a bit longer than the Basenji's I saw at Pet Expo.

I am satisfied knowing that he is a mix. Because he was abandoned, I was worried about health problems down the road if he was irresponsibly bred by the irresponsible people that cut their tails off and dumped him and his brother.

I have to say though, he looks alot like Basenji. He has all the quirks that I totally enjoy. I look forward to getting a Basenji - when the time is right for us. I bet Duke would love to have a sister!

[Basenji_Boy]

He's a handsome Basenji Boy mix and it's really great that he's found such a dedicated loving owner as you. I hope you do get a mate for Duke when the time is right.

[nala121498]

IMO, it's the quirks that make him a Basenji and he's just perfect, mix or no mix, as you know! And I agree with BB - he couldn't have asked for a better Mom. Let me know when you're ready for a "sister"…Nala got into the garbage yesterday...

[Basenji_Boy]

@nala121498:

Let me know when you're ready for a "sister"…Nala got into the garbage yesterday...

Or maybe a young Brindle Brother with a passion for pillow fuzz.:D

[Duke]

@nala121498:

IMO, it's the quirks that make him a Basenji and he's just perfect, mix or no mix, as you know! And I agree with BB - he couldn't have asked for a better Mom. Let me know when you're ready for a "sister"…Nala got into the garbage yesterday...

Aww thank you!! I fall deeply for my 4-legged babies. They have a way of jumping right into my heart. Duke lives in a lap of luxury compared to where he came from, (if he'd only stop destroying his privileges) as will his "sister or brother" (live-in playmate).
@Basenji:

Or maybe a young Brindle Brother with a passion for pillow fuzz.

The brindle brother and he have the same passion. Have you heard I need a new sofa?

[JoeyQ]

Oh no! I am just cringing thinking about the day I have to say that I need a new sofa!!! Just recently, Joey has been much more mischievous! I think that he is not getting enough exercise with the cold weather and lazy kids that are supposed to take him out (in addition to my walks). Jill, I actually have a cream colored sofa and chair that I might be willing to part with. (I hesitate as I think I may need it as soon as I'd sell it!!!) Oh nevermind, I have a spare sofa and loveseat too! ( have too much furniture from consolidating households…long story.) Hope the damage to your sofa can be covered by a pillow!!

[Basenji_Boy]

@JoeyQ:

Hope the damage to your sofa can be covered by a pillow!!

A couch cover seems to hide all of the Basenji "handy work" in our house.

When Max was a pup, he destroyed a love seat, I think he thought he was digging a tunnel somewhere….....a cover couldn't even help that mess.:mad:

[jys1011]

BBOY maybe he was digging to China?!! LOL

C3 & TOPAZ love to scratch the couches (no ripping) & it looks like they're digging a whole….maybe they all meet up in China for a B meeting ha!

[Duke]

@Basenji_Boy:

A couch cover seems to hide all of the Basenji "handy work" in our house.

When Max was a pup, he destroyed a love seat, I think he thought he was digging a tunnel somewhere….....a cover couldn't even help that mess.:mad:

I bought a cover - It changes the look I was trying to achieve , but . . . I'll hold off buying a new one for another year in case Duke's playmate comes to live with us this year.

I have to giggle thinking about what your love seat must have looked like. I bet you were more than :mad:! Guess you had to take alot of deep breaths while looking at Max, the cute little puppy! :rolleyes:

Duke hasn't been seen digging the sofa since then, but when I caught him, it did look like he was in a big hurry - late for the Basenji Convention in "China" LOL.

[Basenji_Boy]

@Duke:

I bet you were more than :mad:! Guess you had to take alot of deep breaths while looking at Max, the cute little puppy! :rolleyes:

Duke hasn't been seen digging the sofa since then, but when I caught him, it did look like he was in a big hurry - late for the Basenji Convention in "China" LOL.

LOL:D

I wasn't near as mad as my wife was:D …......we had to carry that thing out to the trash, it was history. Even with a cover, if you sat in that thing you where on the floor. It was an old item that was about finished anyway, he just finished it off.

That's when we started thinking, well, maybe he needs a playmate to keep him busy. Right about then everyone that knows us thought we had really lost it. "He did that to a couch and you want another one"?????:eek: :rolleyes:

Special breed, special people.:D

[Duke]

@Basenji_Boy:

LOL:D
That's when we started thinking, well, maybe he needs a playmate to keep him busy. Right about then everyone that knows us thought we had really lost it. "He did that to a couch and you want another one"?????:eek: :rolleyes:

Special breed, special people.:D

LOL!! Now you have 6? Are you hinting that a playmate for Duke could snowball? :eek: Seriously - was Max your 1st B? Too funny!

[Basenji_Boy]

@Duke:

LOL!! Now you have 6? Are you hinting that a playmate for Duke could snowball? :eek: Seriously - was Max your 1st B? Too funny!

If you have the Basenji weakness like we do…....Senji fever:D

Yes, Max was the first, then we got Cleo to wear him down a little and take the edge off....that worked out good. Then we thought well Cleo is missing out on raising puppies so we bought Penny.....and Cleo was the perfect Mother.

The wife wanted to get involved in showing dogs so we brought in Raven..........it just snowballed from there. Raven doesn't show anymore she never finished, she hated it, ears back and tail down the whole time she was anywhere near a ring. Enter Willy, he's the next show project, and Jasper..........he was given to me as a gift by a friend........the only freebie. Willy doesn't like to go to shows by himself so Jasper and he are traveling buddies.:D It's just a hobby for my wife, she has a goal of finishing a Basenji......I support her in her goal.

I won't even go into how we ended up with all the fish and reptiles......that's another story in itself........that's not my department, I blame the kids for those.:D

[JoeyQ]

Yikes! I wonder if once you start with a basenji, you never end with just one!! I guess we become "special" people once our B bolts throught the door. I'm just not sure what kind of accent you put on "special" and if I want that title…you know, the Saturday Night Live "Special"!