Dolce is now 9 months old, she's my first B def not my last. I was super terrified yet super excited and anxious when I was getting her. I had a million questions and concerns and was driving some people nuts. I wasn't sure what to expect but she is the BEST THING that has EVER happened to me in my LIFE, for real. She makes me laugh everyday with how unusual she is not like any other kind of dog I have ever met. She is def half cat half dog which its so cool. Dolce is super loving and needs to cuddle and sleep only with me every night and my bf is super jealous! She can be very stubborn and pretends she can't hear me and is very clever. She knows how to climb fences and jump in my cousin/neighbors yard and go through their doggy door, she knows how to open her last crate which was a wire one, she decided to eat the bottom plastic part and rip up the carpet below it now she has a different crate where she can't do that. She has been very destructive but since she is getting older I am able to trust her more and more but still I am very careful for her to not do anything too crazy. When my friends hear the stories they are like "I am never getting a Basenji" but when they meet her they are in LOVE with how different and interesting and funny she is.. My father has 6 other children who range from 3 to 16 and she lovesss them I brought her there as soon as possible, she loves everyone. I know every dog is different I think it's just the way she was raised but she does not have a mean bone in her body she has never growled even as much as we messed with her and the kids messed with her, taking her toys, putting our fingers in her mouth, playing with her food, pinning her down on her back, she has never bit anyone or another dog. I love the fact I got a puppy and raised it to be apart of me and I understand there are dogs who are homeless out there and can be made into great dogs and I just haven't been there yet so I have no opinion or statement on that. All I know is the Basenji is the best dog out there for me and many others, maybe not everyone though, that's why I am great full for the people on this forum to guide me to the right breeder/s and show me what is important in getting a quality pet. My opinion on the popularity factor is that most people would not be able to understand that the Basenji isn't a Lab or a ****zu as what experience I have with B's but again every dog and every B has their own story and personality so its hard to say.
I think basenji's are more unique than any other dogs. They are special. After reading your post I believe that even more now. My basenji mix acts like a cat too; I really notice it in the way he stretches his back like a cat would. The only time I've heard my guy growl is at other dogs, he has never growled at me even when we are playing tug of war with his rope, I've tried to get him to, he is just too nice. He's never bit anyone either. The only problem I have with my basenji is that he doesn't get along with stranger dogs. When he was a puppy he loved to chew on shoes, but he outgrew that habit as he got older.