Skip to content

Jumping up and down dog

Basenji Talk
  • I read on Wikipedia that one of the basenji's names in Africa is "mbwa mkube mbwa wamwitu," which means "jumping up and down dog." The name has to do with their tendency to jump up to spot prey when they lose sight of it in the high grass. Today Abbey and I were walking past a thick hedge when she heard sort of a twittering sound on the other side. A bird maybe? First she went up on her hind legs and was sort of dancing back and forth. No luck. So she started bouncing up and down like she was on a pogo stick and every time she came she made a quick sweep with her head to try to spot it. I know she has a very high prey drive, but I've never seen her do this before. It was something to behold, a basenji in action. Don't we have the coolest dogs in the world? They like being pampered and we get lots of love and laughs from them. They will never have to hunt any farther than the bowl for supper but yet they still have traits passed down from thousands of years of basenji ancestors.

  • Yea, I love this breed, everyday is a new adventure. They are the coolest dogs, always amazing their humans. haha:)

Suggested Topics

  • Dog Tales

    Basenji Talk
    17
    2 Votes
    17 Posts
    6k Views
    sanjibasenjiS
    I found the transcript from the documentary. If the age part is true, the rest is not (unless there's difference between our European bred Basenjis and those in Africa): NARRATOR: Sharing the same curly-tailed trait [as the Akita] is the venerable African Basenji. DEBBYE TURNER: Basenji is the granddad of ancient dogs. However, they’re not that trainable. They will not do obedience tricks like other breeds. Come back here. And here’s an example! NARRATOR: There is something else very wolf-like about a Basenji… SOUND OF DOGS HOWLING NARRATOR: …its yodel. These breeds reveal much about how dogs may have appeared and acted after they first transitioned from pack hunters to scavengers and provide clues as to why they may have first appealed to humans. DEBBYE TURNER: You won’t see Basenjis doing tricks, but because of their closeness to their wolf ancestors, they are considered very adept hunters. Here's the video link. Basenjis mentioned 25 min. into it. https://www.pbs.org/video/dog-tales-vskr2y/
  • 0 Votes
    8 Posts
    7k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    In your position, where you really have to take her out a lot, I understand. And I hope her comfort continues. My point was it is situational need, not dog need to be that social. :) I have a slim chance of that having worked with my current 2, but with my incredibly dog aggressive first one, I'd have been out in a basket muzzle and warning everyone to keep their dogs away.
  • Dogs in Elk

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    4k Views
    R
    Oh God, I remember the first time I read this, way back in 1999, when this was a listserv. I printed it off, so I could show it to people. I have it saved and still laugh uncontrollably when I read it! Thank god there are no elk in Iowa. It's hard enough to wrestle a piece of pizza away from my two, let alone a carcass.
  • In Defence of Dogs

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    4k Views
    dmeyD
    Great article thanks!!! Will look into other books by Bradshaw. I have since finished it and thought it was great. There's some basenji info in there'd too. I pretty much agree with everything he says… And I though it was very entertaining!!
  • Dog Beds

    Basenji Talk
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    15k Views
    snorky998S
    Thanks Humanoid. I L'dMAO. Great idea with the home made wood bed. I still can't praise the Duluth Trading Company beds enough. Katie proof (a bed digger), and Tyler proof (exposed stuffing of any kind is fair game). 6 years and the bed is still in use. Washable outside and re-stuffable inside pillow (inside only replaced once due to a basenji/skunk incident) After 5 or 6 dog beds, this one is a keeper for me.
  • Smelly Dogs!!

    Basenji Talk
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    9k Views
    GoobyG
    The only sweat glands on a dog are on the feet. They keep their foot pads supple, but also sent mark the trail. I actually like the way goober smells. Probably because I grew up with a dish called Frito and Chili pie. My old dog Missy had the standard stinky dog smell which I wasn't too fond of, but I didn't hate it enough to give her a bath more than once a month. I wonder if th