HERE is our most "scientific" answer: "Hair growth is cyclical: there is a growing period, a period of transition, and a resting period. The length of each period of each hair depends on the age of the dog, the location on its body, the dog's breed and gender, and environmental and pathological factors. In other words, the cycle is determined by light, temperature, genetics, nutrition, hormones, and overall health." author-Bill VanWyck

You may read more here:
http://www.basenjirescue.org/Chey_Miller/Shedding/Do_basenjis_shed.htm

I remember reading about why different races are prone to obesity from the history of the race dealing with nomadic starvation (certain Indian tribes, Eskimos etc) The body over multi-generations learns that it is expected to live through hard times of low caloric intake. Now society can supply them with high calories on a permanent basis and they have horrible cases of obesity.

This is why I mention the dogs in some southern United States being in an environment closer to their natural one in Africa. It might be one reason we experience different shedding/dander/even skin problems than others in colder ones like Canada. I know that Huskies, Samoyeds, and other thick furred northern pups suffer horribly down here and often have skin conditions develop from it. Certainly, we can understand it could work the other way, too. I have spent many summers with over 30 days in a row over 100 degrees. Nights cool down to the mid 90s by midnight. And dry… Very much like African plains! Could be very good for Basenji skin and fur?

No matter- we must acknowledge dog breeds are physically different. THAT is a visible (therefore scientific) fact we have to all agree on so why would someone deny there could be other differences WE are not able to easily measure outside of doing a controlled study of many dog breeds? If the vocals can be different, the breeding habits can be different, why not fur and skin?

Lastly, dictionary .com defines it this way:
hypoallergenic hy?po?al?ler?gen?ic (hī'pō-āl'ər-jěn'ĭk)
adj.
Having a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic reaction.

My pup fits in there, therefore is "hypoallergenic."

I agree with the smart person that gave instructions how to "try it before you buy it" with the breed. Ingenious to rub the t-shirt and sleep with it! Too bad you cannot try out future spouses like that!

My two highly allergic children can go with my to anyone's home - my mother's with one cat (sneezing, watery eyes in seconds), my sister that has a cattery (kaboom! we have to leave right away!), my friend with 2 small mongrel adult dogs, anywhere. They experience bad reactions. They are fine with my sister-in-laws home that has horses, over 200 cattle, hogs, etc. but no indoor pets. They are fine with my basenji puppy now less than 4 months old. They were also fine with the two basenjis we owned for years but have not had since 2003. SO: we are not "used to the dog" being here (and we are in a new home now), they have reactions in a short period of time with other short-haired dogs, and do not have any problem with sleeping with our pup. Since he is half grown already - I do not expect any difference in the future.

As far as basenjis shedding/not shedding… we live in a (usually) very warm area of Texas very similar to Africa plains- my other two dogs never showed any shedding. NEVER! I had them for over 4 years with never needing to clean a single hair on a t-shirt or from my couch. Do they shed when they are in an area of the country dissimilar from their origins? Who knows...

Both my sons have allergies diagnosed by a professional allergist and do fine with Basenjis. We have just got our 3rd B two weeks ago and no sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes. I think for you that it MUST be something the dog is bringing in or perhaps your dog is one that performs one particular way and my family lucked out with 3 of the other way. Maybe someday they will have a test like the Fanconi that shows the DNA of this family tree has more dander and the DNA of that heritage has less dander to near none.

I do agree with the smart person that has posted on this site the best idea I have ever heard: rub a t-shirt all over the possible family addition, sleep with the t-shirt, and THEN decide. I know it is too late for you but a good thing to repost for readers.

Good luck with your situation.

I hear you all but I will say my two highly pet allergic boys do perfectly with our new Basenji pup as they did with the two dogs we have for years. I guess the word hypoallergenic is incorrect as they cannot be sterile but the minimal shedding and dander (by cleanliness) certainly makes for an animal we all can live with. No sneezing, coughing, watery eyes…

And who is going to tell the President of the USA that his dog is a fraud? :)

Hello from Azle, Texas USA! I have a new baby in the family named MAX. Had 2 basenjis over 8 years ago and very very unfortunate circumstances that forced us to rehome them through BRAT. In spite of being a "hypoallergenic" dog - my human son showed severe allergic reactions that put him in the hospital 2ce. He was treated daily for over 2 years after this. We have no idea to this day exactly what it really was but he has been proven clear of animal allergies.

We are very grateful to have this new addition. I have waited a long time to get him and love him already. He is very smart and paper trained with treated pads in less than 20 hours. (WOW!) I am uncertain about much of his background but he is in good hands here. We bought him from a breeder near Houston and have had him for 5 days now.