I am interested in possibly getting a basenji, but am having trouble convincing my wife it would be the right choice. My main reasons for wanting the dog are first and foremost because I think they are beautiful dogs, and also because they don't shed. My wife's main reason for NOT wanting one is the "no barking" thing. We recently had to put our dog of 12 years to sleep, and my wife wants a dog that will alert us to people coming around the house the way our old dog would. I probably made a mistake by showing her a few basenji videos on Youtube where they're showing them howling, etc, and now she thinks that's all they do. My questions, then, are as follows:
Are basenjis good watch dogs?
Do they 'yodel'/howl all the time, (give or take more than the average dog)?
Are they, generally speaking, good with children?
Are they known for having any specific health issues?
Just to educate myself, what can I expect to pay, on average, from a reputable breeder?
Does anyone know of any breeders in Northern CA?