Sparkle is a special holiday treat that’ll warm your heart and instill confidence in all; challenge your ideas of what a warm home should be; and a taste that will delight all who bask in her self-fulfilling glow. Sparkle is warm nuzzle, a rolling joy in your lap, an eager appetite for your love, a gentle stretch for attention, a confident stroll through all of your world, and a welcome companion of likeminded souls. Yet, Sparkle is exceptionally difficult to create and one should consider leaning on an expert to ensure a perfect experience. If you are smitten and feel the need to add Sparkle to your holiday, here’s what you’ll need…

• Wait till Fall
• Preheat your world to about 74° F
• Add a few parts of Astarte Brazen Beauty
• Add a few more parts of dLucks Svengali Zindika’s Overnight Sensation
• Gently stir for 55 to 63 days
• Add lots of special diet stuff for Momma. Don’t underestimate this. You’ll need more.
• Visits the Vet with Momma to make sure everything is baking nicely
• Make absolutely certain that you (deleted because proprietary)
• Add one Rhodesian Ridgeback (Must be named Biz)
• Add several Basenjis. Some older, some younger, most female and maybe a male.
• Add LOTS of love. More love. Then when you think you’ve added enough… add even more.
• Allow to age for about two years

Once you’ve replicated this you will have created “Sparkle Perfect”. A most unexpected holiday treat that anyone might be served. ...And, now we have her! Yes, we have added a second Basenji to our family. She’s perfect, her name is Sparkle, Logan loves her and so do we.

Have you considered chain mail or armor?

I honestly don't know. We do have sweaters and jackets for ours, but they only work for walking. If they're in the house and we leave them on... they remove them. Then chew them. Then destroy them. Them play with all the bits.

@ashleyalanej Great looking and what an eclectic pack! Beautiful regal looking Basenji girl you have. Love the other two too. You must live in a world of sometimes turmoil sprinkled with bouts of tons of competition for your attentive affection. Thanks so much for sharing the picture. 👊😁👍

So... here's my take on the whole Basenji/Basenji Mix/Faux-Senji thing...

I tend to be an optimist. A half full kinda guy, who seeks out the silver lining. I subscribe to the notion that happiness... is a choice.

I love that people pop in to ask if their dog might be part Basenji. Why? Because they've made themselves aware of a Basenji in the first dog gone place! My god, people... it's no secret that Basenjis are NOT popular. They're NOT. I see them everyday because I have two. I have NEVER seen another Basenji in my town of 45,000. EVER! That someone who has a Basenjieque mutt wants to know what it is; has stumbled upon our beloved Basenji and our forum; and has educated themselves about it's gifts, characteristics, behaviors, and health issues when compared to most other popular breeds... why on Earth would would we ever say anything to discourage them?

Most people out-live their dogs. And, they get another one. If a person thought that they had a Basenji mix, or were able to prove that they had a Basenji mix through DNA testing... so what? They loved that dog regardless. It's possible that they might decide to seek out a purebred Basenji for their next dog based on that casual research or DNA evidence.

After losing Jengo my research road led me to a Basenji breeder, who I absolutely adore. She's taught me so much about Basenjis, and she's introduced me to other legendary Basenji breeders. She's became a good friend and an expert that I can lean on. That road led to me being able to become the custodian of two pure bred Basenji Confirmation Champions; a male and a female. This was, in my opinion, in no small part based upon our knowledge and enthusiasm about Basenjis. An owner of a Basenji mix or a Faux-Senji could have achieved the same. The love of the breed is so much more important than any label. I once had an Ausie/mix. He was an Ausie/Border Collie mix. The label helped me appreciate the characteristics, behaviors, and health issues of the this dog... who I loved so very very much.

Most purebred Basenji puppies will not be show dogs. They won't. Most will be pets, companions, which means breeders need pet owners because not all puppies are show quality. Breeders need interested, educated, enthusiastic, responsible, loving homes for puppies. And if that enthusiasm was sparked from a wanabe Basenji, a Faux-Basenji, a Basenji mix, or a rescue Basenji... I don't care. I care that people love a Basenji. If someone "thinks" they have a Basenji, or want to call it a Basenji even if it's not... I don't care. Chances are they have an idea of what a Basenji is. That's what's most important to me. We should be encouraging people to consider Basenjis. Not discouraging them through exclusivity.

@GN_Besenji No. Mango is not a Basenji. It is a fruit! I like it best in Civeche myself. Just kidding. She's definitely a cute one!

Ya know, anything we say is pure conjecture. The only real way to know for sure is to have her DNA tested for breed. We get people stopping by every now and again to ask the same. Guessing is always fun, but it's even more fun when people with a mix pup pop back in with the DNA test results and share them with us.

You can Google "Dog Breed DNA Test" and a whole pack of services will pop up. Usually you order the kit, use the swab to get a saliva sample, seal it, send it back to the company and wait. I'm speculating, but I seem to recall they cost someplace between $50 and $100...

Anyway, she's still cute. I will say this. Her coloring and markings look like Basenji. Eyes and forehead definitely do, to me. Ears not so much. Tail in the bottom picture... hmmmm... could be. I think she's a perfect candidate to have DNA tested, but you have to promise to come back and let us know!!!

The AKC National Championship is being broadcast today. I watched the Hound Group. They split the Group in half and the Basenji was in Group 2. A really beautiful Tri male. His name was displayed as GCHS CH Dark Moon's Black Tri Affair. I looked him up and I think his other name is Zoro. I don't want to violate any Copyrights, so rather than copy and paste a picture here, click this link which will take you to the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club site where they have a great picture of him.

Looks like the breeder is Veronica Nagy and you can see more about Zoro here.

Congratulations Zoro and Veronica! I think the Basenji should have won Best in Show. I smell a plot! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

@caaaitlinann Cool looking pup whatever she turns out to be!

@MrsCastro Fauxsenji... AWESOME! :oncoming_fist: :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing: :thumbs_up:

@kris Another cutie!

@senjisilly had mentioned in another thread...

If you decide on a DNA test use Embark instead of Wisdom. I think Embark's breed data base is supposed to be more accurate. There is a Reddit group where people post DNA results on their dogs. Sometimes the results are hilarious. Occasionally someone will get results from both Embark and Wisdom with wildly different breeds listed. You can search by breed within the group, r/DoggyDNA.

I thought that was useful info! :winking_face: :thumbs_up:

@macattack and Charlie, WELCOME!!! What a cute lil' dude! Pretty soon he's gonna be chewin' up ALL yer best stuff. I'm tellin' ya. Look around. He may be fine though. It's been a while since I've had a pup, but I've always used redirection. When ya see him chewin' up somethin' he shouldn't, walk up and gently get his attention. Talk to him. Yer his human. He loves ya. Ya feed him and make him happy. He loves yer voice. With yer left hand show him a fun fun toy he CAN chew on and make it as fun as ya can! With yer right hand, reach around 'im and slip the thing away that ya don't want him chewin' on. Kinda hard though if he's chewin' on yer couch. :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing: Haha. You got a Basenji! :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

Ya could try Sour Apple. You can get it online. We use it. Another possibility is... the dreaded squirt bottle. :astonished_face: Many Basenjis hate water. My first go to is always redirection though.

Charlie is awesome! He has a sleeve and a sock.

Let's see your Basenji tails!!!

This is Sparkle's. I could open a wine bottle with this little corkscrew...

And, Logan's...

A Basenji
After we lost our Jengo I began toying with the idea of rescuing another Basenji. I wasn't convinced I was ready, but I miss him, missed having a dog and wanted to just see what might be available. Kinda dip my toe in. I spoke with Karen at MedFly and she said she was winding things down, but that she hadn't had a call for rescue for quite some time. I started checking in with several other rescue sites regularly, but not much there either. This was bit concerning. Would there be one once I was ready? Maybe not. This drove me to reach out to a few breeders. Initially I didn't get any response despite more than one inquiry. But, eventually a few others either responded or gave me a referral. I began trading emails with one particular breeder. I won't mention the name until I have permission. Coordinating a time to meet took some time. I was really hoping to work with this breeder, so I decided to wait. Plus, articulating what I was looking for was awkward. I didn't know. A puppy, a mature dog, or a dog needing to retire? Yes, yes, and yes. Male or female? Yes, that would be nice. Chestnut, Tri, Brindle, or black? Sure, I'd take one of those. I'd heard that breeders had lengthy reservation lists, so I was prepared to wait a year or two, and I was in no position to make any demands. Was just looking for a nose. I did make a few other contacts as backup, but was honest with them that I was speaking with this particular breeder and wanted to see where those discussions might lead before moving forward with them.

Well, after several more weeks, emails, and waiting; the stars finally aligned and we were invited to meet the breeder and the Basenjis. We drove down last Friday and were able to visit with the breeder Saturday, Sunday, Monday and again on Tuesday. We got to know one another and all the dogs!

A Volcano
Several years ago my wife, son and I visited the Big Island in Hawaii. One of the things my son and I wanted to do was see real lava. We drove to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and found our way to the Jagger Museum at the edge of the Kilauea Caldera. Way off in the distance, about 6 to 10 miles away, in the far back left corner of the caldera was a pit. We could occasionally make out a bit of boiling lava as the steam cleared every few minutes. A binocular really made it easier to see. It was still breath taking, but my son said "Dad, I can't really see the lava that good. Is this as close as we can get?" Didn't need to ask me twice. I was thinking the same thing. I asked the Rangers if there was anything happening elsewhere on the island where we might be able to get a bit closer and was informed that we needed to go to the Leilani Estates area along highway 137. We headed there, got parked, and walked to the observation area. We could catch glimpses of lava oozing through the trees about a quarter mile away. It was about dusk, so the red aura lighting up the sky above the lava field was impressive. But, once again my son said "Dad, I can't really see the lava that good. Is this as close as we can get?" Didn't need to ask me twice. We'd passed a few popup canopies between the parking and observation areas. They were offering close up lava tours on private land. So, we walked back there and asked how close to the lava we might be able to get. They assured us that it would be close. Really close. Okay. When our group was called up we followed the guide to a property about a quarter mile up a side road. Once there we were given some history, science and rules. Then we were led to a split rail fence at the back of the property where we were told to grab a stick. I asked, "Do we need a stick if we feel comfortable hiking the lava field without one? The guide responded, "No, but what are you going to poke the lava with, your finger?" :face_screaming_in_fear: We all grabbed one and were led across the lava field to an active area with flowing steaming lava where we began probing it with the sticks. There we were standing in what had become the blackness of night, the lava lighting our way and 360 degrees all around us were dark clouds occasionally erupting in lightening strikes. This was the most primordial thing I'd ever done. So, by now you're asking yourself, "Great story, Monkey, but what the heck does this possibly have to with a dog gone Basenji?" Hang on, gimme a minute, I'm gettin' there. In life, there are things that make an indelible impression on us. Things we look back on like it was yesterday and say to ourselves, "I am SO fortunate to have experienced that."

A Clown Car
Getting to the breeder's house was one of those indelible moments... that will live in my mind forever. We pulled up on the driveway and called. We were met and invited through a gate into a side yard where we encountered another gate. I could hear all kinds of Basenji noises coming from behind the gate. My excitement and eyes grew in anticipation. Now this next part is no big deal for breeders cause you've seen this everyday for decades, but for me... I've never seen this. Always wanted to and this was finally... my moment. The gate was opened and all of the sudden here comes a pack of yacking Basenjis climbing over top of one another and spilling through the gate like a parade of clowns exiting a Volkswagen. It was adorable and hilarious at the same time. There were a few standing on their hind legs with necks and noses outstretched as if to ask, "Do I know you?" It was glorious! We'd parked the RV at a park not far, so it was easy to visit while we were there. Each of the next four days we were met with the same basenji clown car gag. It never gets old. We were treated with oodles of affection, a bit of trepidation, lots of excitement and a dash of puppy breath. This story isn't over yet. It's another adventure that will unfold over time and it's fun not knowing where this trail will lead. I'm pretty confident that we're going to be able to become monkeys for another Basenji at some point. This was truly THE best weekend 2020 has offered me this year.

I suppose I should wrap this puppy chapter up...

Kind of struggling with my feelings on this…
It’s been an incredible experience. Working with a tenured Basenji Breeding expert has given me invaluable insight in the breed. Especially the standard. I’m no expert now, but I think I can understand it better and talk about it now. I also believe I have much more appreciation for the choices breeders are faced with while selecting traits. Again, I’m no expert now, but I understand better.

I also appreciate the costs much better now. Showing to demonstrate a championship line (entry fees, lodging, and travel); veterinary exams, x-rays, dewclaws, etc.; OFA certifications (Fanconi, PRA, hip x-rays, etc.); infrastructure necessary to keep adults of opposite sex, whelp pups and keeps everyone safe, healthy and happy; food, supplements, vaccinations, etc.; time to socialize, train to show and live in a house with humas; and I know I’ve only scratched the surface. Breeding responsibly is costly. Selling puppies helps recover some costs, but I’m not seeing that income beginning to cover all of them.

Responsible breeders really are the champions for the breed. Think of your one dog. Think of the effort and love you invest to keep that dog thriving. Now multiply that by a factor of 10 or more. Day in, day out, week after week, which soon leads to years. As pet owners we’re lucky if we get 15 years with our pet. Some breeders have been doing this for more than 30! Add generations of selective breeding to create a line that supports the standard while expressing some personal taste within reason. The commitment and difficult decisions required to be a breeder are enormous. Something I’ve really come to appreciate more than I can adequately express.

Another side to breeding is purely emotional. At least for me it is. I loved breeding my two, watching Sparkle grow and give birth. I loved seeing them born, getting them breathing, cutting cords and seeing them nurse from mamma for the first time. Weighing them every day to ensure they were thriving. Sleeping next to the whelping box on a cot for the first three weeks. Watching their eyes and ears open. Watching them take their first steps. And watching their personalities emerge. It’s hard not to get attached. I couldn’t do it. I definitely got attached.

Logically I know all the reasons why I couldn’t keep six puppies or even one right now. Not the least of which is they’re not my puppies to keep. Emotionally it hurts to see a couple of them go. Neither were the best of the litter show or breeding wise, but damn… I loved their spirits so very much. I’ve had to come to terms with never seeing them again. For me… this is the part of breeding that hurts the most, for me. It’s just hard to let them go I guess.

I’m still enormously thankful for the opportunity. Just struggling a bit with my feelings about certain parts of it. Bye Tank, D’Otto, Zowie, and Spike, our beautiful piranha babies. I’ll get to see Tri Baby and PW again as it looks like Stella is going to hang on to them, which I love!

Meanwhile I remind myself that I still have Sparkle and Logan. Two champions and dogs I love very much. Sparkle has bounced back so well. She’s playing with Logan again big time. And, I think she and I have bonded much more, if that’s possible, having shared trust in one another during this journey together.

Maybe I’ll get my head back in the game and show Logan again soon. We still need 19 points and 2 majors to hit our goal. That may ease the sting a little. Till the next chapter… see you then.

@mrscastro said in Is she a basenji ?:

@morsesa I apologize for unloading on you. May I extend an olive branch?

You show very much class @MrsCastro. I too reconsidered my comments and decided to remove them. Sometimes the things we don't know turn out to be more important than the things we think we do know. True in my case. Thank you @elbrant

@MorseSA I hope your good memories of KOA continue to bring you happiness. As you know... Basenjis... the BEST dog ever. :oncoming_fist: :winking_face: :thumbs_up:

@griffinsmom First, I get it so much. This, for me, is the hardest hardest part of the dog contract... Being the one to make the call. As a good vet once said to me... No one, and I mean no one knows your pet better than you. You've been his best friend for these last 14+ years. You know his signals. You know his eyes. You know his posture. You know all of it. No one will know better than you when he is suffering. No one wants that. But this is the hard part. I went out of my way to create moments of pleasure for mine. And he responded, so we kept going. I can't and wouldn't presume to tell you what you should do, or when. That's strictly between you and him. I would encourage you to ask yourself if you're keeping him going for him, or for you. That question takes a great deal of courage to ask and I sincerely wish you both the very best.

@mrscastro...

A shout out to Sally! @Zande Thinking good thoughts about you today hoping your eye surgery goes smoothly, and that you heal quickly. Love being able to experience you and your experience here. Look forward to seeing you back soon. :dizzy_face: :astonished_face: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth: :smiling_face_with_smiling_eyes:

This is Max. He was given to my wife for her birthday many Earth orbits ago by her brother and best girl friend at the time. She had always wanted a German Shepherd. Max was described as a German Shepherd mix and was 8 weeks old when she got him. If he was half German Shepherd then the other half was most definitely Basenji. Max could scale a 6 foot fence, he yodeled, but rarely barked. He grew to be the same size as a Basenji, had a curled tail, but he was hairier than a Basenji. My wife says his personality was most definitely Basenji, not German Shepherd. This mutt caused my wife to fall in love with Basenjis. I look at where I am today Basenji wise and it all started with... Max.

Here’s an article that describes a guy using the internet to sell non existent puppies kinda like we’ve warned people to watch out for.

Google Sues a Guy, Alleging 'Puppy Fraud'

Google has sued a man for allegedly abusing its services to trick droves of would-be pet owners into forking over money for non-existent basset hound puppies.

On Monday, the great and mighty search engine filed a lawsuit against Nche Noel Ntse, of Cameroon, accusing him of violating Google’s terms of service by using its platforms to engage in a vast “puppy fraud” conspiracy.…

It continues via the link in the headline. Thanks Gizmodo!

Don’t order your puppy off the internet. Network and contact a breeder. Call them, answer their 1,000 questions and then ask your own. Go visit them.

Jengo passed July, 2020. A few of my favorite pictures of him...

The good news is that soon you will have an awesome singer, who will entertain you every single night. You’ll enjoy multiple encores night after night because just like Broadway... this pup will be here for months!

I learned a long time ago that Basenjis don’t care about my rules. They care about what they want. For instance I have a rule... no Basenjis on the dining room table. I mean it. Stay off the table. Don’t get on it. They don’t care. They taught me that the chairs have to be pushed in and that anything important cannot be left on top of it because chair or not... hey... they have springs... they can jump.

Your puppy wants to be with you. Like it not, move the crate to the bedroom, or don’t. The pup will train you before you train it because... Basenji. There is another solution. Get another basenji to keep the first one company while downstairs and double your fun! 👊😳👍

@tanza said in Misty mountains in Knoxville TN:

@jengosmonkey - That is typically for a BYB, they don't "attach" a kennel name (if it is valid) and/or register their dogs... Chances of anyone getting the pedigree or health testing information in my opinion is slim to none.

How right you are. @foster1286, For the uninitiated Basenji enthusiast there are at least a few things to SERIOUSLY look into before getting a pup/dog from anyone!!!

The first is Fanconi. Didn't catch that? I'll speak up. FANCONI! It's a PREVENTABLE crappy time consuming expensive heart breaking disease that will crush you and your dog under a mountain of misery filled tears. Read more about Fanconi here. Respectfully demand to see OFA testing results for both Sire and Dam from ANYONE selling a Basenji.

The second is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Read more about Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) here. Same as above... preventable.

Sire and Dam should have been tested for both diseases prior to breeding to ensure they are not passing the diseases on to their puppies.

If you want to go further, ask to see OFA hip x-ray results for both Sire and Damn. Canine Hip Dysplasia can also be a thing Read more about Canine Hip Dysplasia here. From what I understand hip x-rays are usually taken once the dog reaches two years of age.

I'm no expert by any stretch. While I've had basenjis for quite a while, I've only become serious about them in the last year an half. A good part of what I know I learned from real experts here on this forum.

There are host of other things you might consider learning about if you care to. For instance color, temperament (which I think is HUGE!), intelligence, agility and more. You might just want a pup to snuggle up to on the couch, or maybe you want to engage in other activities with your dog like agility, obedience training and stuff like that. A solid breeder will asses you, your goals, your household and match you up with a pup/dog that will more than likely result in your success. An experienced responsible breeder knows what you don't. They can help you.

All that said, I wouldn't bother engaging with any breeder who won't or can't provide parental health testing results. All responsible breeders will.