We got our girl in January this year and loved her and the breed so much we got her a boy companion 2 months later, and love them both unconditionally. We did research on the breed from many websites and had committed to buying her but were a little nervous cuz of the stories we read about them being little loony hounds. But, they work for us.
New and future basenji owner
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Its good your here to ask questions and learn.
Then, when your ready, folks can suggest good breeders who do the work for the pups they place. Or if your thinking of a basenji who is not a puppy, we can help you get to good rescue place.
Remember, folks who are good breeders often charge less or the same as byb or puppymillers, who you see selling b's on the internet. Get out your credit card, get a puppy…a bad way to go usually!We have a lot of folks who have had b's for years.
All of us are still learning as this dog is one tricky breed.
They have the BEST sense of humor of any dog I have ever had.
BUT they can be stubborn and distructive if your not set up properly.
However, you can learn here...
Welcome.Destructive?? Nooooooooo! Is that why my house looks like a tornado hit it sideways??
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My husband always says that basenji owners are twisted…other dog owners would be quiet about the "stuff" their dogs destroy...but basenji folks reach for the camera and the computer and SHARE it all with their b' owning friends.
Laugh.
He is soooooooo right! -
Oh, yes Sharron-that describes us to a T!
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Laugh, I really think most basenji owners have to have a good sense of humor.
I mean, we live with such "interesting" dogs!
Otherwise, they would drive you crazy.
laugh -
Believe me Basenjis are so intelligent, it is scary sometimes. My B, Sahara has chewed up more than her share of stuff. Two years ago before I had her I would have thought someone "CRAZY" to just shrug off the chewing ordeal with her, or the things she has just destroyed. Personally I don't think a B is a good dog to have for jogging, you would have to have it on a leash at all times. If these dogs see a squirrel, cat, rabbit or anything that looks like a prey they will go after it, forget you and not even hear you when you call them. Sahara goes no where with me that she does not have a leash and tags just in case she gets the urge to run! Basenjis are easy to love and that is why we always forgive them for what they do, they give so much love back. I don't think I will ever have another dog that is more loving than my Sahara, she clearly loves her family and shows us everyday.:D
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I plan on getting one come August so I have plenty of time to learn. As fo getting one, I plan on rescuing one.
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I've had dogs my whole life, and have never experienced anything quite like a Basenji. They are definitely different in every possible way except that they eat and poop. That's where the similarities end. LOL
I love them and couldn't imagine my life without them now. Dh loves them and probably wishes we'd brought home a cockapoo! LOL
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Welcome to the forum - it would be nice if more people did research like you are about breeds before they acquired a dog.
Basenjis are also fantastic escape artists - if you'll be renting a house while going to school be sure to check for enclosed yards. -
Frankly I think you would be better off with a different breed.
It takes a lot of training on your part and why bother with your situation?
Get an "easy" dog that is easier to train.
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Sean, I'll give you an example of how intelligent these dogs can be. When I first moved back out to the country, I only had Shadow. Since he was such a good boy (or so we thought) we tied him out the back when we were outside on a chain with a latch. I told my DH never, NEVER show Shadow where the chickens were kept. Well, my SmartA took him out the back to the barn and showed him where the chickens were. When he came back with him I told him he was going to regret it. Shadow waited two weeks, sitting there thinking, licking his lips, staring at the chickens. Then, BAM. He undid the latch on his leash, ran out to the chicken pen, got inside the chicken pen and attacked the chickens. He only hurt one sortof badly, but this is what they are like. Single minded. At least IMO!
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I think you should think about an older basenji, perhaps retired from a breeder or from a known home- ie not an unknown origin. The BRAT site has some great friendly b's that are a bit older, and as I have learned from Sol, it is great to get an older dog whose personality is set and known. For example, you need a basenji that will get along with your other dogs– and even with socialization some b's are not great with other dogs.
Kris
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Basenjis don't make the greatest jogging companions either. Unless you don't mind stopping every 50 feet or so when they decide they "urgently" need to sniff/pee on something.
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Actually, I run w/Ruby and ride my bike w/Ruby (on a leash of course) and she has never tried to stop to sniff or change course to chase something. She's great to exercise with and runs great on a leash and loves the exercise as much as I do. She runs about 14mph when I'm on the bike…any slower and she's pulling. She's even taken me up a pretty good hill at 11mph. If I'm running her (or biking her), even if she sees wildlife (deer, dogs, cats), she has never attempted to stop or alter her course for them. She has looked at me, but knows the drill and knows that I'm not stopping and keeps on running.
And even when I only walk her, she doesn't stop all the time, because I don't allow it and she is handsomely rewarded for good behavior. She's allowed to stop in one spot (halfway thru the walk, run or biking) to sniff, pee, poop, they we are off again. Her exercise outings are just that, for exercise. There are other walks throughout the day that she is allowed to investigate her surroundings more.
So as far as exercise--running, walking & biking, I say basenjis are great companions!
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we have a guy near us who runs with two basenji's regularly, although I did see them jerk him around once while he was running.
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Basenjis don't make the greatest jogging companions either. Unless you don't mind stopping every 50 feet or so when they decide they "urgently" need to sniff/pee on something.
Mine would both be great for that. If we are walking, it's stop and start; if we start moving with any real speed, they really focus and go!
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Sean, as a new member of the Forum but an old doggy daddy I have had a lot of experience with many breeds. Reading about your requirements for a dog I have to suggest that you consider getting a rescue greyhound, it will be a great companion for when you run and the rest of the time they are very laidback. Basenji's are very intelligent and require a good deal of intellectual stimulation, otherwise they get bored and a bored B is a mischievious B.
