Hi all…sorry it's taken so long. I did not end up getting a Basenji - though I really really still want one. I did get a Jack Russell. As I said before, my mother breeds them and like any good breeder, when the people who bought her found out they were pregnant, they no longer wanted the puppy. So she was in need of a home and we were looking for a dog.

Anyway, anyone know how a Basenji might get a long with a Jack?

I'd like to thank the last few people that responded. I had been completely dissuaded from this idea. I really want a small dog, and I'd love to have one with all the qualities that I see the basenji has, good and bad. As far as being a stubborn breed, you weren't married to my ex husband…ok, bad joke..

But seriously, I have had raised a blue jay, Isha, and he was as stubborn and probably the most aggressive animal I've had. And I've had Savannah Monitors and iguanas over the past ten years or so. 15 for the ig's.

I also have a traditional siamese. I don't know if anyone has had interactions with these highly intelligent, vocal, and perverse cats, but - well - my Mikey Cat and I actually have arguments. Yes, he talks back...lmao. and I would have said before that I'm NOT a cat person!

At any rate, you've restored my faith in this breed and those who love them. I was beginning to think I had to be part of the "cool kids club" or something.
As far as having the whatever it is to have/raise/love these dogs...I think I just might. I know that my boyfriend is very interested in them after I had showed him all the information I'd gathered.

Now onto the next question...does anyone know of any breeders in PA, MD, VA, or W.VA?

Thanks all!

Trai

ANd why? I'm looking into getting one…but honestly have not heard of them before. Everyething I'm researching makes them sound like the perfect dog for me...

Thanks!
C.E.

heh…I know. I've stumbled across Basenji's because recently I was going to get a jack russell. My mother breeds them and my boyfriend wants one. HOWEVER, I have small children, don't like overly agressive dogs, and he is busy a lot...so. I did some research and found the Basenji to be more suitable to our life. He/she would live with me.

My lifestyle honed down to points..(Lmao)

I have two kids, a 3.5 year old boy and an 8 year old girl.
I work a regular day time job...but can have the pet sitter come and walk/play with the dog twice a day.
I ahve a pet sitter because I have an older traditional siamese (different personality than a classic, and much larger) who is 23 lbs with his claws. No worries about a puppy harming him.

What I'd like are some suggestions from experience.

A puppy would mean my cat would be able to train him...so to speak...to respect his space hopefully. AND my kids would be better with a puppy I think than a rescue or older dog.

An older dog may be better for me becuase of my schedule - as a puppy requires much training and it will be more expensive to have a pet sitter once a day (my boyfriend gets off of work early afternoon, I leave later in the morning so it would prpbably only be 4 hours alone time)

I have a 2 bedroom house, not huge, but not tiny with lots of park and area to roam.

I like to walk dogs and used to be a big part of my mother's maltese breeding program...

I hear they are good for dog allergy people.

They look closely enough like a jack russell that I think he will be found appealing to my boyfriend but he generally likes dogs anyway, especially the smaller ones.

They seem to be incredibly intelligent and with proper guidance, trainable.

Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions/comments?

I would be incredibly thankful to hear them...

Thanks so much
C.E.