@Callforcries:

Yep we are going to the Windsor one! Can we just go and talk to people or is there a protocol for a champ show?

Just come and find the B's and I am sure anyone would be very happy to show you their dogs and tell you all about them. The only time that could be tricky is if they are about to go into the ring.

Your mum is right to worry about the vet bills, not wanting to put a damper on things but although Basenjis are on the whole a robust and healthy breed if you do your research and buy wisely but unexpected things can occur. I recently almost lost my pup and ended up with a vet bill that was well over ?1,000, he is of the opinion that if he can get it down his throat and swallow it it's edible, result was a blockage.

Having said that this could apply to any dog.

@Callforcries:

Yep we are going to the Windsor one! Can we just go and talk to people or is there a protocol for a champ show?

Just come and find the B's and I am sure anyone would be very happy to show you their dogs and tell you all about them. The only time that could be tricky is if they are about to go into the ring.

Your mum is right to worry about the vet bills, not wanting to put a damper on things but although Basenjis are on the whole a robust and healthy breed if you do your research and buy wisely but unexpected things can occur. I recently almost lost my pup and ended up with a vet bill that was well over ?1,000, he is of the opinion that if he can get it down his throat and swallow it it's edible, result was a blockage.

Having said that this could apply to any dog.

My beautiful boy Marzuku Mzuri (aka Pip) did me proud last weekend by winning the dog challenge certificate!! The judge was a breed specialist, Rosie Lane (Chaanrose). I am over the moon with him.

I sometimes struggle to get him moving without messing around and we had been practising at home, I didn't realise that he had actually taken it all in!! I would have been thrilled with him even if we hadn't won.

I work weekends so would be difficult. We do however have two shows coming up that you might like to come along to. The first is at Newbury, we are on the Saturday which I believe is the 2nd of June, there are 17 B's entered. The second is at Windsor Great Park which is on Saturday 30 June, we don't have entry numbers yet but it is likely to be similar numbers.

I live in Hampshire, whereabouts are you?

Rufus didn't used to do stairs, he races up and down them now!

That sounds like a scarey experience, so glad things have turned out ok. Thats a good tip re the benedryl.

I had an afghan hound once that swelled up and looked like a bloodhound! He had lumps all along his back too, the vet thought that it was a reaction to a sting, we never did know what caused it, it didn't ever happen again.

I love to see the dogs enjoying the racing, some lovely expressions.

I can't believe Ryan is two already! Happy belated birthday Ryan!

A basenji with a KC Gold GC! That just doesn't seem right! You should be really proud of her, that is a real achievement. Don't forget to let us know when she gets it.

I love Kwame, I hope we see him again next year. He can visit his newest relative, Taz (Indie is his grandad).

I hope the training is back on course!

I would say they are a mixed bunch, there is a lot of american influence in Europe anyway these days. Some have beautiful small hooded ears some don't, true english lines have the shorter muzzle which is correct to the breed standard but longer muzzles are creeping in. Wrinkle on the whole is good.

I will have to post some pics of my crew!

I did notice that some breeds at Westminster looked totally wrong! I suppose it's a bit like some of the breeds here are from "working lines" as opposed to "show lines" and look different. I would have thought that we should be breeding "Fit for function dogs" which the UK Kennel club is now insisting on rather than pretty show dogs who wouldn't be capable of carrying out the purpose for which they were bred. (I am talking about all breeds BTW) Border collies and ****er spaniels spring to mind.

Sally has asked me to post this appeal on the forum

Could you you please send her details of any litters that she may not have on her database, she doesn't seem to have many coming through, particularly from the USA. Doesn't have to be recent litters, any that aren't already on there. This is a valuable site for all of us basenji folk.

For anybody who isn't familiar with the database take a look, many of the dogs also have photographs too.

www.pedigreeszandebasenjis.com

Congratulations, what a wonderful photo to have to remind you.

Hugs to you, the downside of breeding I'm afraid. You have been unlucky.

I would be reluctant to sell to show homes, they are pets first and foremost not to be discarded if they don't win. I hope our precious puppies have forever homes.

Taz and Alfie

Splodge

Zeva, the Rose amongst thorns!

Sorry pics wouldn't load, I think they are a bit big! Meet Storm anyway.

Julie has still not got to grips with new computer so here are some pictures of the pups taken last week, they were nearly 6 weeks old.

Julie's laptop has died and I am too far away to take pics. New laptop is arriving tomorrow, I am sure when she works out how to use it she will post some more pics, I would like to see some too!