what is the best feature of a Basenji dog.. or what kind of a dog is a basenji..?

Answer 1

They look like Large Shiba Inus...

The Basenji is a breed of dog considered by some, particularly in North America, to be a member of the sighthound family; most kennel clubs, including the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom classify it as a hound. The Basenji is a Congolese hunting dog that rarely (if ever) barks (due to its unusually shaped larynx[1]), but does produce an unusual yodel-like sound. In behavior and temperament they have some commonalities with cats.

Basenjis are capable of barking like other dogs, infact a strange thing with Basenjis is that they have the ability to mimic other dogs and animal sounds.

Appearance
Basenjis are small, elegant-looking, short-haired dogs with erect ears, a tightly curled tail, and a graceful neck. Some people consider their appearance similar to that of a miniature deer. A Basenji's forehead is wrinkled, especially when the animal is young. Basenji eyes are typically almond shaped, which gives the dog the appearance of squinting seriously.

Basenjis typically weigh around 20 to 24 pounds (9 to 11 kg) and stand about 17 inches (43 cm) tall at the withers. They are athletic dogs and are deceptively powerful for their size. They have a graceful, confident gait like a trotting horse, and skim the ground in a "double-suspension gallop" when running flat-out at their top speed.

The AKC recognizes the following colorations: red/white, black/white, tricolor (red/black/white), and brindle (black stripes on a background of red)/white. There are additional variations, such as the "trindle", which is a tricolor and brindle, and several other colorations exist in the Congo.


[edit] Temperament
Like wild canids, Basenjis do not bark. They will, however, give the occasional single "woof." They also chortle, whine, squeal, and make a Basenji-specific noise called a yodel or a baroo. Also like wild canids, most Basenjis breed only once a year, usually in the autumn.

The Basenji is as fastidious as a cat about its personal grooming, even washing itself with its paws.

Most Basenjis, like cats, have a strong dislike for contact with water, and will go to great lengths to avoid getting wet. On the other hand, they are extremely inquisitive dogs, and can temporarily be completely oblivious to the pouring rain if something piques their interest.

Basenjis are highly intelligent and learn quickly, but they also have a cat-like independence and "self-motivation" which can make them somewhat casual about obedience. A healthy Basenji is a mischievous and good-humored animal, and is not above testing the limits of its environment and owner just for sport. They can be aloof with strangers but form strong bonds with their owners. If not supervised or trained properly, Basenjis can become bored and destructive when left alone. Basenjis are also expert climbers, and have been known to scale chain-link fences as much as eight feet high. Basenjis also have a very strong sense of territory, and they consider their home plus the whole area where they are regurlarly walked their territory. Because of this, they can be very hostile towards other dogs in those areas.

Quick and fast on their feet, Basenjis love to run and chase, so much so that they are sometimes competitively run in lure courses. There are few creatures the Basenji is likely to encounter (including its owner!) that it does not believe it can outwit or outrun. This, combined with the breed's typically fearless approach to the world, makes it a good idea not to allow a Basenji to run free in an unconfined area or where it may get into trouble.

A clear way you can tell a Basenji feels something is a threat or prey is when they will circle around the object/person/animal. Usually we see this happen with animals in packs, this is no different with these types of dogs. As explained above about the Basenji's outlook on life, Basenjis do not have to be in a pack to circle around their prey. When they are circling usually they are determining how to kill the threat or prey, and they will do this to humans aswell they are unfamiliar with.

Health
Some Basenjis are prone to an inheritable kidney disorder called Fanconi syndrome. A Basenji with Fanconi syndrome usually begins to display symptoms after reaching the age of four. Owners can test for Fanconi syndrome by checking for sugar in the urine.

Basenjis, along with certain other breeds of dog, have been known to be carriers of a simple recessive gene which, when homozygous for the defect, causes genetic Hemolytic Anemia (basenji.org). Most Basenjis today are descended from ancestors that have tested clean. When lineage from a fully tested line (set of ancestors) cannot be completely verified, the dog should be tested before breeding. As this is a non-invasive DNA test, a Basenji can be tested for HA at any time.

As with other breeds of dog, Basenjis sometimes suffer from hip dysplasia, resulting in loss of mobility and arthritis-like symptoms.

Malabsorption, or immunoproliferative enteropathy, is an autoimmune intestinal disease that leads to anorexia, chronic diarrhea, and even death. Special diet can improve the quality of life for afflicted dogs.

The breed can also fall victim to progressive retinal atrophy (a degeneration of the retina causing blindness) and several less serious hereditary eye problems such as coloboma (a hole in the eye structure), and persistent pupillary membrane (tiny threads across the pupil).

Answer 2

Basenji's are great little dogs if they have the right owner. They are a hunting dog originally from the congo. They are between 16 and 17 inches tall and weigh between 22 and 24 pounds. They have somewhat long legs which makes them appear to move like a race horse. It's true they don't bark but they do make noise. It's more like a yodel but they rarely do it. I had to take care of a friends kennels while he was gone and it was dark when I got there the first time. All 8 of his german shepherds were going crazy and his chuihuahuas. The Basenjis yodeled once I told them it was ok and i never heard a sound from them the rest of the week. They will let you know if somethings wrong but they don't waste their breath so to speak. They have a very short tight coat and they don't shed. They also don't carry that constant dog smell. They don't harbor a lot of dander either so they are considered hypoallergenic. They are very stubborn and require you to be Alpha of the pack or your life will be miserable. They need things to do and exercise or they will make something to do. And you must obedience train them or once again you will be miserable. I love them and am going to get one my son is very allergic to pet hair and dander but is dying for a dog. I have let him play with my friends dogs and they get along well. These dogs are strictly for breeding and have been in a kennel all their lives so my son is the first child they've played with so I'm guessing the breed does ok with children. Here is a website i found that has some good info and some pics too. www.deesbasenjis.tripod.com

Answer 3

Their unique personality! I could go on forever about the unique things they do, like random somersaults for no particular reason. My basenji , Chaos, will lick clean my other dog if she gets wet, and will attempt to clean off my cats also. He likes to sniff people's breath. Chaos has never let out a proper basenji yodel as far as I know, but will say "wruuuuuuuu" (not sure if I spelled that correctly). When upset he sounds like an angry camel. Chaos will "woof" every few months, which, mind you is NOT a bark!

Basenjis are considered a "primitive dog" and only recently (in the last 110 years or so) been exported out of their African origin. Chaos is related to recent African imports brought to the US in the late 1980's.

If you notice, I haven't told you the bad things about basenjis. They are extremely destructive and need to be crated when left alone. Otherwise they will destroy something. No problem housetraining them, but forget about the stupid dog tricks. Ask a basenji to roll over and he'll give you a look that says.... (insert favorite expletive) you!!

Answer 4

I would recommend looking at the AKC website for what kind of dog they are but the best feature is a matter of opinion.
www.akc.org

Answer 5

Is it the pedigree adoption drive commercial? Great Dane is one of the dogs and Labrador cross is the other.

Answer 6

they are a beautiful racing dog with a curly tail that dont bark

Answer 7

People like to get them because they don't bark... but that doesn't mean that they don't make noise. They yodel.

Answer 8

they don't bark.