While I loved the dogs featured I have to ask - where DO they get their information? Lion hunters? Wiped out by fanconi? Bond to only two members? Perhaps if they had not been in a hurry up to get it filmed the info could have been a bit better/realistic.
Best part? Laura saying "down, stay" which lasted less than a nano second just as the narrator said they were independent and aloof. Cracked me up.
Ha, ha…my thoughts EXACTLY! I was screaming at the computer...OMG...still used by pygmys to hunt lions eh? and good apartment dogs...well...that isn't really the take home message...
Not only did/do they not hunt lions now, or ever…they aren't even in the same geographical location on the continent of Africa!!! That is a huge error on the part of Animal Planet, and whoever they got their info from.
I found it rather amusing how the basenji in the training section took his merry old time doing the sit…it was almost in slow motion.
The dog's body language was clearly "I will not, I will not"…oh, o....kay.....
I actually didn't like that part. Gizmo too will instantly walk away if I PUSH him down to sit and lay like they did on the video. But if I I give a command he will sit there happily.
The whole bit seemed staged, just to use the "aloof" line. Still funny though.
I am so glad I wasn't the only one to balk at the "hunt lion" part..I just knew they got that wrong.
The only thing that worries me about these types of shows is how the more unknowledgeable of people will start looking for these breeds, which will encourage more BYB's and puppymills once again..
Wow… they miss the boat on that one... someone now needs to tell my C-Me she can't bark...gggg
And they are Calm?... not if you watch my two... like please they should have had the B-500 on there...
And I agree, they make the Basenji out to be the perfect dog... for any family...NOT
I didn't either! I love it when she says stay, and the dog immediately pops up…so basenji!
That was my favorite part too. 
I have no idea where we first heard it, but I have heard the "hunt lions" thing for years. We think that a pack of basenjis might keep nipping and annoying a lion till it just gave up! Maybe a lion CUB, haha!
They actually specifically say that a basenji is good for any family if well-trained…I just don't think "any" basenji is good for any family. Their personalities range so much from what I've heard!
Last night we were at a puppy social and someone asked about Paco's breed, and Chris used the "lions" line, lol. I smacked my forehead and was like "I'm sure that at most, having a pack of them in a village might have discouraged lions from coming near. Everything I've researched says 'helped chase small game into nets'."
edit: found at least one source for the "lion" story: http://www.basenji.org/african/macd6709.htm
check the fourth and fifth paragraphs
And they are Calm?… not if you watch my two... like please they should have had the B-500 on there...
LOL, I had the same thought - neither pack that I have would be considered calm - not even my 5 year olds…
Oh, and did they even mention the Congo? I don't remember hearing that...
edit: found at least one source for the "lion" story: http://www.basenji.org/african/macd6709.htm
check the fourth and fifth paragraphs
Interesting article. I really like the bottom section - perhaps the precursor to our brindles? At least maybe we could put the wandering, lustful brindle whippet to rest. :O) Would love to see what it looked like.
"We also have a cat-dog animal that looks somewhat like a tiger stripe. It is called "Safando," It is a separate wild animal of its own kind. When young, it can be domesticated and can be mixed bred with dogs. As a separate animal, it is so ferocious and strong, it can kill a hyena. When catch-ing the young, we wait until night for the adult animals to go hunting, then we can take the cubs. They can be trained and make a good pet. We don't like them too much, but the Europeans like to have them for pets. There are so many free dogs about in Gambia we do not think so much of them as you do in Canada. "
Interesting article. I really like the bottom section - perhaps the precursor to our brindles? At least maybe we could put the wandering, lustful brindle whippet to rest. :O) Would love to see what it looked like.
"We also have a cat-dog animal that looks somewhat like a tiger stripe. It is called "Safando," It is a separate wild animal of its own kind. When young, it can be domesticated and can be mixed bred with dogs. As a separate animal, it is so ferocious and strong, it can kill a hyena. When catch-ing the young, we wait until night for the adult animals to go hunting, then we can take the cubs. They can be trained and make a good pet. We don't like them too much, but the Europeans like to have them for pets. There are so many free dogs about in Gambia we do not think so much of them as you do in Canada. "
I loved that paragraph, too. I went looking for more info but haven't found much yet. Roamed around the cape dog sites a bit, which distracted me from any real work all morning 
Very intersted article for sure..I had no idea about some of the things stated in there.
Thanks for sharing Shannanigan.
They actually specifically say that a basenji is good for any family if well-trained
My question is…the basenji or the family? Which needs to be well-trained?
My question is…the basenji or the family? Which needs to be well-trained?
Bahahahahah…good point!
I enjoyed the video but thought that they ought to check many of their facts. The trouble is that people who don't know take these programmes for gospel and things get repeated - that's how urban myths arise. I wonder where in the world there are pygmies and lions together with Basenjsi!!
Is the "Safando" related to the wild haggis that roams the remote areas of Scotland? I can't find anything about it on the 'net. Googling Safando, I got lots of pics of jeans.
Is the "Safando" related to the wild haggis that roams the remote areas of Scotland? I can't find anything about it on the 'net. Googling Safando, I got lots of pics of jeans.
Hmmm, Basenjis like Jeans!!!!
Know I know the meaning of using basenjis to hunt lions-
Masai" use them for hunting lions in the
forests of the Kenya. The "Masai" hunters use the fast, silent dogs as bait to taunt the lions out of
their dens.
As bait!
Was very pleased when I saw that video on Dogs 101 - glad you posted it here! It's very rare to see anything concerning Basenjis on TV, and it would be great to see one showing all their idiosyncrasies so people would know to really really know the breed before getting one - their looks and their quiet sell them right off, to some who don't understand them. We spoke with a woman just the other day who had gotten one from the Humane Society - this poor dog had been adopted out AND RETURNED three times before she finally found him and saved him.
