I'm a professional dog groomer, and though my basenji's tail isn't bushy I can give you 2 different options. 1. Go to a petsmart and get a pair of Martha Stewart Thinning Shears, essentially you will just scissor repeatedly in the same spot until all the hair is uniformly trimmed, (You can use a pair of small straight or curved shears, but it would be blunt and to unnatural looking). Or 2. go to a reputable groomer, get your baby a lovely bath, and ask her to do the trimming, if the groomer wants to shave it, tell her to do it with a "3 blade" or "5/8ths blade". that would leave the hair longer and not shaved looking.
Trimmed tail
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There is so much in this thread that I want to respond to. I guess I will start with the double curled tail thing. I really hate how people equate a double curl to the an inability to uncurl the tail. This is not true. I have dogs with tightly curled tails and I have one with a loose single curl. All my dogs can readily uncurl their tails and I have never had problems with them even when out hiking. I do uncurl my dogs' tails regularly as part of their handling training because so many people are drawn to those tail and seem compelled to uncurl them. My loose curled tail girl is probably the most tail sensitive of all of mine.
Next the thing about color. Though the standard only mentions four colors, as has been pointed out there are no DQs in our breed. This is one area where the US is in much better shape though than other countries. Even though there are some judges, breeders, and exhibitors with color prejudices here for the most part color is not nearly as controversial as it has been in other countries. There are finished trindle champions and many breeding programs that have used dogs with colors or markings that may not be considered to fit the standard like trindles, fula blacks, blues, and pintos. This becomes more an issue of whether a breeder is willing to look beyond the surface of a dog. As for the historic reasoning for breeding away from creams and blues, it was based on what was known at the time which was in many other breeds these colors are associated with health problems so the founders decided it would be best for the breed to breed away from those colors. Now, with new information, we know that health issues are not always related to these colors.
The bottomline, breeders need to keep the whole dog in mind, health, temperament, conformation, and performance. Each will put different amounts of weight on each category or even subcategories but that is why it is important for people looking for a dog to do their homework and really get out there and talk with several people in the breed not just 1 or 2.
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Just to add on the "uncurl" tail comments from lvoss, I too as a regular course of handling my B's uncurl their tails… that said, Kristii has a "kink" at the very end of her tail that doesn't uncurl... nor do I attempt to ... Maggii who had a fairly loose double curl (because it was not well set on her butt) had the same kink as her daughter, Kristii.
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Yes, mine also have some permanent kinks but these are small and would not hinder them freeing themselves of dense brush.
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Yes, mine also have some permanent kinks but these are small and would not hinder them freeing themselves of dense brush.
I totally agree
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What I meant was that AKC only accepts four colors, at least that is what is stated on their website. Why is that? I mean since clearly they came in more colors then 4.
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What I meant was that AKC only accepts four colors, at least that is what is stated on their website. Why is that? I mean since clearly they came in more colors then 4.
That isn't correct. If you look at the breed standard on AKC, there would be disqualifications listed under colour for colours not allowed. Like Pat says, they can't list every colour combo that is acceptable…instead they would list disqualification colours if they existed.
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sWhat do you mean by "accepts", they are registrable, breedable, showable, coursable, so to me that would seem to be accepted. They are not in our standard but that is written by BCOA not AKC and the membership is quite split in their feelings about color and the standard so it is unlikely that we will see a change anytime soon but nothing is preventing these dogs from participating in AKC events and being used in breeding programs.
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What colors are there?
Like the American standard says, there are four accepted Basenji
colors– black, red, brindle, and tri (black and tan). All four colors
have white feet, tail tip and chest. Most Basenjis have more white
than that. There were other reported colors before the recent African
imports--creams, blue and whites (tri marked dogs with cream instead
of tan), saddle marked tris (like beagles) and tricolors without some
of the standard tan markings (often called "Fula" tris). These colors
have been bred away from and don't usually show up in today's U.S.
breeding stock. With the addition of the African Imports of 1987 and
1988, the tiger-striped brindle color (in reality, a pattern) was
added to the AKC standard as an accepted color. While brindle had been
seen and actually brought into England in 1959, the color was frowned
upon, and lost to the Western world until now. As with the original
basenji imports of the 1930's, the unusual colors have returned, and
are again being bred away from due to the preference of breeders. The
only "new" variation that appeared with the new African imports is the
brindle-pointed tricolor; this is a classic tricolor with black
stripes in the fields of tan.Ch Bushbabies' Avatar of Voyuz, photo by Cook PhoDOGraphy
As it is with many things, the color of basenjis is mostly due to the
preference and whim of the breeders. The most common color for
basenjis is red and white; and most you will see are, in fact, red and
white. Blacks and Tricolors tend to be seen less frequently; but they
too can be found if that is what you are looking for. The current
"fad" color is brindle, with more and more being bred shown, and sold.
There should be no difference in purchase price based on color. People
that charge more just because of the coat color are doing so to make a
quick buck and should be avoided.There are many dogs whose coat color varies from the four recognized
colors; but that should not sway you from a decision if you are
looking for a companion to love. The coat color of a basenji has no
effect on its ability to wriggle its way under the bed covers; or beg
for food at the kitchen table. Let your own preference be your guide.All Basenjis should have dark brown eyes and deep liver to black
pigment. A basenji with lighter-colored eyes (such as yellow or gold)
would have difficulty seeing in the bright equatorial sun of Zaire and
would suffer sunburns from pale pigment.This was found when Basenji colors was googled...I guess I shouldn't believe what I read.
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On a whole different but more accurate note(since this is the tail thread). I trimmed Otis tail, per Tanza's tips and it looks great. The thinning shears make it so easy..pending him standing still.
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Here are excerpts from the Basenji standard regarding faults and color.
_Faults–Any departure from the following points must be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded is to be in exact proportion to its degree.
Coat and Color
Coat short and fine. Skin very pliant. Color--Chestnut red; pure black; tricolor (pure black and chestnut red); or brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red); all with white feet, chest and tail tip. White legs, blaze and collar optional. The amount of white should never predominate over primary color. Color and markings should be rich, clear and well-defined, with a distinct line of demarcation between the black and red of tricolors and the stripes of brindles._It is perhaps better to say "standard" colors instead of "accepted" colors. AKC has told BCOA that the above description also covers Brindle pointed Tris, some feel that it does not. So depending on who you talk to there are actually 5 colors that fit the standard. This just goes to show that there is alot left to interpretation and (no pun intended) the issue is of color is not black and white.
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I totally disagree that "Brindle" is the current "fad" color, maybe 15 yrs ago. And out here in California, there are more Tris, Blacks and Brindles showing then Reds… Color is what it is, color.. it has nothing to do with conformation, ability to perform, temperament (ok.. Tris are Tri-ing...ggg) or ability to reproduce. And as already stated there are no colors that would not be accepted. Sure, in the show ring you have have preference by a judge.. but like anything else, they have an opinion .... that is what you are paying for, their opinion on that given day
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Interestingly we used to have cream Basenjis born in the early litters and the then sole Basenji club rules stated that breeders could not register nor breed from creams. Indeed Veronica used to say that they should be put down at birth or sold as pets. Some breeders ignored this edict and were ostracised as a result. It was thought that the creams were albinoid and that the colour was linked to various undesirable ailments. The creams that I actually saw had fairly dark pigmented noses and lighter (but not very light eyes). They seemed very attractive to me. I know that in recent years creams have been born in the USA but have only seen one picture - as far as I know creams have not appeared in the UK for many, many years but the clause still exists in the rules!.
Basenjimamma - re the google statement about eye colour I tend to agree about light coloured eyes and the reaction to the sun but I do know that some of the peoples of the Congo forests actually have blue eyes!!! Personally I feel that very light eyes give Basenjis an alien look.
As this started as a post about trimmed tails, I suppose that it could make them more attractive in the show ring but there are one or two people in the UK who also trim hair from their bottoms and that looks quite obscene IMO!
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Interestingly we used to have cream Basenjis born in the early litters and the then sole Basenji club rules stated that breeders could not register nor breed from creams. Indeed Veronica used to say that they should be put down at birth or sold as pets. Some breeders ignored this edict and were ostracised as a result. It was thought that the creams were albinoid and that the colour was linked to various undesirable ailments. The creams that I actually saw had fairly dark pigmented noses and lighter (but not very light eyes). They seemed very attractive to me. I know that in recent years creams have been born in the USA but have only seen one picture - as far as I know creams have not appeared in the UK for many, many years but the clause still exists in the rules!.
Basenjimamma - re the google statement about eye colour I tend to agree about light coloured eyes and the reaction to the sun but I do know that some of the peoples of the Congo forests actually have blue eyes!!! Personally I feel that very light eyes give Basenjis an alien look.
As this started as a post about trimmed tails, I suppose that it could make them more attractive in the show ring but there are one or two people in the UK who also trim hair from their bottoms and that looks quite obscene IMO!
Do you mean the people trim hair from their OWN bottoms??? j/k
thanks for the giggle! -
Do you mean the people trim hair from their OWN bottoms??? j/k
thanks for the giggle!:D:D:D:D:D:D That has made me giggle!!!!!! :D:D
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I was mereky confused as well as curious, sorry if I ruffled feathers. I has seen in various readings online that there were/are other colorings around, though rare. I would loveto see a cream in real life, or a mahogany, it sounds very pretty. Although if I could favor, I would say brindle boy (wonder why..LOL) and red girl. One day I just might have that little red girl in our house..for now we will settle with fostering a red girl..
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Quercus - you never know, they may well do!!!! - I've never asked!!!!!and I'm still laughing. I hope I don't remember this the next time I see the people!!!!!LOL
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Here's a letter from Veronica Tudor-Williams and picture of a cream Basenji.
