I recently went the same route and added a boy (Brando - also a retired show dog) as playmate to Ruby. If it goes anything like it has gone at my house, you are in for a blast and so is Ziggy.
Everyday between 5 and 6am the Basenji alarm clock named Zoe goes off. Some mornings she has a squeaky yawn and then looks surprised when the noise come out.
I still get alot of people who ask what breed zoe is. At least at 8 months no one asks if she is a chi anymore. Some start out asking what kind of mix she is. Every once in awhile someone recognizes that she is a basenji. Just yesterday we were waiting outside a sheetz gas station when a woman looked up and saw zoe at the window with me and had to come over to ask if she was a B.
I get people who uncurl her tail all the time luckily she doesnt mind in the least you can touch her all over no problem. And most of the time she loves the attention. I swear if someone passes by her without petting and adoring her she will look at them like they are idiots.
Sahara has pawed my hand if wanting attention, pawed at my face, but smack, never. My cat has smacked me before, is the smack like a cat's? Describe it in more detail please.