Basenji, companion of the pharaohs with African roots

Basenji, companion of the pharaohs with African roots

Basenji attracts attention with its original appearance and self-confidence. He is smart, friendly and full of energy. Although he usually emphasizes his independence quite strongly, he leaves a lasting impression with a cheerful character.

Basenjic

Basenji - breed description

Basenji - is a breed of dog belonging to the group of Spitz and primitive dogs, classified to the section of primary breeds (FCI - group V, section 6, pattern No. 43). Due to its origin, it is also called the Congolese dog. In this area of ​​Africa, the word "basenji" means "bush dog". He is one of the smallest hounds. The weight of an adult quadruped varies between 10-11 kg, and the height is between 40 and 43 cm.

Basenji has a characteristically curled tail and pronounced forehead wrinkles. Delicate body structure, combined with erect, large ears and a proud posture, make it look extremely noble. The neck is slightly arched, the tail is carried high, the short back and the long legs reflect the characteristics of a typical hound. His coat is smooth, short and shiny, mostly red and white, black and white, black and tan and brindle, also tricolor. The unusual feature of this breed is that bitches only have one estrous period per year. It occurs between August and November. The life span of dogs of this breed is approximately 14 years.

Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:

Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog ​​is different.

Character

The Basenji is a smart, intelligent, cheerful and faithful dog. In some ways, it resembles a cat, it is an independent cleanseed who can climb trees and fences. He has a strong temperament, is very energetic and requires a lot of activity. Left alone, it can become a "rodent" and "digger". He becomes attached to the caregiver quickly and is very affectionate with his family. However, he shows great distrust towards strangers. Basenji often comes into conflict with other dogs of the same sex, so early socialization is recommended. This four-legged individualist requires a consistent and patient caregiver.

Basenji puppy

Basenji health and care

The Basenji are basically a strong breed. With a proper nutrition and exercise, the dog remains active until old age. However, some lines may have a genetic predisposition for certain conditions. Representatives of this breed tend to have kidney disease - the so-called. Fanconi syndrome, anemia, hernia and retinal atrophy.

Since the Basenji itself cares about cleanliness itself, it is enough to wipe its short, smooth and thin hair with a damp or dry glove once a week. This treatment helps get rid of dead hair. It is also recommended to take regular care of the ears, teeth and claws.

African roots, companion of the pharaohs.

Basenji comes from the Congo Basin. It accompanied the ancient Egyptians as early as 4000 BC. Researchers believe that the quadrupeds of this breed were the favorite pets of the pharaohs, who loved animals with a feline personality and a smooth coat. The images of the Basenji dog can be seen in places related to the history of Ancient Egypt. A representative of this breed came to Europe quite late (after World War I), and he came to Poland only recently.

In Kenya, the Basenji dog is used to lure lions from their caves. To track down the lions and scare them out into the open, Maasai hunters use four dogs at once. When the animal leaves the safe cave, the hunters and dogs circle the big cat.

It does not bark and does not smell of its own

There is a misconception that Basenji is mute, but this is not true. A dog of this breed under the influence of emotions makes noises resembling "yodeling". It is therefore called the "cat dog".

One of the advantages of the Basenji breed is both an acute sense of smell and the lack of its own smell. Which means he loves to sniff his owner when he comes home to recognize where he has been all day. On the other hand, unlike other dog breeds, the Basenji's body is virtually odor-free. This feature allowed him to effectively mask himself during hunting.

The Basenji breed is special and unique when it comes to keeping it clean. The dog regularly cleans itself by constantly licking the hair, thus relieving the caregiver of the obligation to care for the pet. She loves adoration and caresses. Additionally, it is very quiet as it does not bark. These features make it a cat-like pooch.

Amazing hunter and runner

The Basenji was bred for hunting. With his fangs he could pull animals from hiding places and eggs from bird nests. His sharp teeth also made it easier for him to fight rodents in the villages. Interestingly, it uses both sight and smell to track prey. Unlike most dog breeds, which rely on one of their senses (e.g. sight in a greyhound or smell in a greyhound). beagle).

Like greyhounds and whippets, the Basenji uses a double canter when running. In his dog's case, the gallop has two separate moments where all four paws are raised off the ground. This helps the dog of this breed to achieve impressive speeds.

Basenjic
Dogs of this breed use a double gallop when running, which allows them to achieve very impressive speeds.

He can be restless at night

The Basenji is a dog that likes to spend time outdoors only during the day. When he is about to leave the house at night, he becomes nervous or even vehemently opposed. This is an inherited trait of dogs of this breed that is difficult to eradicate.

Exercise

Raising a Basenji dog requires a lot of patience, firmness and positive reinforcement. This four-legged friend is independent and, unfortunately, stubborn at times. Usually, she has a strong relationship with only one caregiver and likes to do things her own way. These innate qualities make his training difficult. Generally, all forms of activity, play (e.g. agility, training with baits) are most helpful in training.

Basenji among other animals

Basenji properly brought up and socialized does not show aggression towards other animals. It happens, however, that it turns out to be dominant in relation to the same-sex quadrupeds. This reaction is ingrained in his genes. Demonstrating a strong posture helps him chase and capture smaller animals such as rabbits, rodents or poultry.


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