We are a one breed household here. The basenjis do well together. My youngest, Sophie, adores whippets and would love a brindle whippet as a playmate. She definately has a color preference but I think that is because all of her whippet friends as a puppy were brindle.
And for sure a Whippet can keep up with a Basenji….
Which is an important factor! 
she met up with a Afghan hound the other day and just had the time of her life running from it . 
And with long haired dogs… you find that they (Basenjis) like to "pluck" the long hair... usually doesn't go over very well....
What qualities are you looking for in your next dog? That is really probably going to give you the most help in finding your next breed. What is it that has you looking outside of the basenji breed? What trait are you hoping to get or avoid in your next dog?
How about a Pharoah hound?
They are wonderful dogs as well.
How about a Pharoah hound?
They are wonderful dogs as well.
Pretty "barky".. unless "de" barked….
Pretty "barky".. unless "de" barked….
Oh gosh… pharaos are SOOO beautiful, and at the coursing trial last weekend I mentioned they are probably the only other breed I would ever consider... until I witnessed how they behave when they can see the lure but can't get to it. They just bark. Constantly. over and over and over and over and over at about the speed it takes to read the "over and over and over" part of this sentence. I changed my mind very quickly... I'm spoiled now by "barkless" dogs.
How can anyone go from a barkless Basenji to one that barks, I think Sahara has spoiled me and my family from any other breed, she is just so quiet and loveable!!!!!
I know someone who has a female B and a male puggle. The puggle seems to do very well with the b.
I recently wound up with a rescue baby boy beagle, 4-6months old?, Brady. I am SO OVER PUPPIES at this point. (I should have bought stock in puppy pads as I feel like the largest consumer…) Anyhow the beagle was being beaten up in his previous home so he was very timid at the begining and still is to some extent. Now Brady will play with Beegin. When I take them to the dog park, Brady only plays with Beegin and hides from other dogs and other people. I am hoping he'll get better with time.
He plays well with Beegin (my b) and has about the same energy but can't keep up with Beegin. Beegin loves to run and have him chase him but he will go too fast so he stops and waits for Brady to catch up. Then he takes off like a shot, turns, stops and waits etc. Brady may do better as he grows up.
The beagle is definitely more "barky" than the b but Beegin seems to rub off on him. Because Brady is younger and imitates everything Beegin does (including sneaking q tips) he doesn't bark probably as much as an older beagle would. I am also training him to "speak" and to "quiet" (i.e. quit speaking) to help with barking.
On the training side, he is SOOOO much more motivated by food and wants to please than Beegin. So if you can train a b, a beagle is no problem. They do tend to have ear problems though as a breed trait I guess.
Oh and the beagle is a much bigger chewer than Beegin ever was. This could be just a puppy thing but he chews on anything (furniture, shoes, moulding, my cabinets I swear I have caught him chewing on everything in my house that is below 3 feet tall.)
Hehe. I have to admit the "barkless" part does rub off. I mean, I have been on walks with Lycia and crossed Terriers and wondered "WHY??"
There really isn't much about the Basenji I don't like - or that I'm try to add on to. The desire to have a different breed just grew out of the appreciation for variety.
Which is why I'm flirting with the Saluki.. another ancient breed, who barely barks - doesn't have a enormous coat commitment or "doggie smell".. remains quite healthy and is as dismissive and independent as the Basenji. Ok so in essence I'm just looking at a big Basenji, huh? See what this breed DOES TO YOU?? It's like a infection! The thing that worries me is the size. Would it be ok with out running its' 30mph every single day? Living a more "urban" lifestyle. I mean we are an active family, hence I was really only looking at hounds or sporting dogs. Every weekend we are deep in the wilderness of the mountains or traversing some new part of Europe.
Perhaps something like a Vizsla? I was hoping to fall for a "more" common breed and perhaps adopt a older dog. It's next to impossible to find adoptable Basenjis here, and I can't convince BRAT to fly over and do a screening hehe.(I can't imagine why, with all the chocolate)
Oh oh! I JUST got a email from a Saluki breeder here in Switzerland- and guess what? She wants to add a Basenji to her pack! hehehehehe. She wants me to bring Lycia when I come and visit her dogs.. Love it.
We have a beagle as well. She is lazy and somewhat barky. Not to bad for a beagle really. I am not sure a beagle is the best match. At least my beagle anyway. They do keep each other company though.
Well I should put in my two cents here.
I think that Parson Russells are great compliments to Bs. THey have the same energy level and are always willing to play rough with the Bs to tire eachother out. However, that beeing said they are most definatly a different type of dog to deal with. They are just as stubborn as the Bs, but much louder when they want something or need to tell you about what is going on around the house. Since you are thinking about a dog that is not going to bark I know that a terrrier is NOT what you are looking for. Have you considered a Siba Inu? They are relativly barkless, though like Bs are NOT mute. They get along quite well with Bs as they both have about the same energy level. Zaire loves to play with the Sibas at the dog park, and they seem to love her as well. Many Siba owners I have talked with believe that Basenjis are just short haired Shibas. And I have spoken with B owners who swear that a Shiba is just a B with a nice fur coat. So just a thought if you want another dog about the same size and temperment. 
I love Shiba Inus! There was a pack of four at the dog park a couple months back. I don't think my allergies would tolerate their coat but they're lovely to look at. Funny story: Zippy took a liking to their "Mom" and jumped on her lap. While trying to figure out how to sit on a lap with a due-within-weeks pregnant belly Zip briefly ended up with her back feet on top of her baby bump and her bum in the woman's face. Haha! I guess Shibas are known to be aloof much like basenjis because when they left the park the shiba mom said it was an honor to have such a shy breed give her cuddlies. Thank goodness she didn't fart.
They named one of their Shiba Inus Sairi ("sigh-eerie") and they got it from Memoirs of a Geisha. Good name, I thought.
My 2 get along GREAT with their 2 Vizsla cousins. They seem to have the same energy level as my B's and after comparing notes with my sister, many of the playful/what kind of trouble can I cause attributes. Another "fun" dog IMO. Keeps you on your toes and off your butt!! The Vizslas love the camping and hiking as much as my B's, too.
Lol.
Does he come bubble wrapped??
Nope I just pay a lot of shipping fees - the exchange rate sucks - hope to come over next summer but who knows.
Good to know about the Vizslas.. really lovely dogs - I met one at my Vet office the other day and he was a truly stunning dog. The owner told me they are super up for hiking which was a major plus. Gotta love our dogs who keep our toes jumping, heheh!
Looove the Shiba-Inu story! I have been wary of the Shibas cause I have met more than a handful - and none of them turned out to be very nice with ppl out side of "their ppl". I was afraid they might be too sensitive for my lifestyle, but they are soooooo pretty!! With those coats!
–if you make it over you can bring your BW heheh!
This is just a random side comment - but in looking at a bunch of different breeders, I'm surprised that so many of them don't describe their dogs temperaments/behaviors etc. They talk about their breeding programs but not much about the dogs - seems like every real Basenji breeder's site has a page devoted to 'WARNING!' curious owners to be.. heheh!
although I read this on a Husky breeders site and I had to laugh: "Left unattended for long periods of time can lead them to seeking something to take the place of that lack of attention. They may even tear something up."
rephrased in Basenji terms: Left unattended for long or short periods of time will lead them to seeking something to take the place of that lack of attention..They will utterly destroy a variety of objects in your house, this is to be expected. Deal.
