What do basenjis like

Learn more about living with Basenjis. By Abby Gilman Updated July 20, Breed Group Group Breed Group herding hound hybrid non-sporting none sporting terrier toy working. Dog Size Size Dog Size extra large lbs. Other Traits Traits Other Traits apartment-friendly cold weather tolerant easy to groom easy to train good for first-time pet owners good hiking companion high potential for weight gain high prey drive highly territorial hot weather tolerant hypoallergenic loves water low prey drive prone to health issues requires lots of grooming strong loyalty tendencies tendency to chew tolerates being alone.

Temperament Temperament Temperament aggressive aloof anxious friendly gentle outgoing playful protective timid willful. With their super short fur, grooming a Basenji is simple. A weekly brushing should keep her coat shining.

Left: With their small size Basenjis only stand about 17 inches tall , these pups make good apartment dogs. Just make sure she has daily opportunities to stretch her legs outside! Right: Basenjis are ancient hunting dogs from central Africa.

But today they're more likely found running around the backyard and snoozing on the couch. Living Needs.

A Basenji has a go-go-go attitude. She needs daily strenuous exercise so she doesn't become bored—or she may turn to yodeling for entertainment. Basenjis are pack dogs through and through.

They love to be around their humans, with other dogs, or with the family cat. Basenji enteropathy : An inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic diarrhea and vomiting.

Persistent pupillary membranes PPM : Strands of tissue in the eye. Although they typically don't affect the pup, they can sometimes interfere with vision. Over time, the dog can become emaciated and weak. There is no cure, but treatment is possible. Coloboma : When part of the eye doesn't develop properly.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency PKD : A disease where the pup's red blood cells don't produce energy properly, leading to low energy levels, jaundiced skin, and, eventually, liver failure.

Basenjis are thought to be the inspiration for the image of Anubis, the Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife. Yet they are still vigilant watchdogs due to their acute senses of sight and hearing, their wariness of strangers, their inherent distrust of anything new or different, and their territorial instincts.

They will let you know when something is amiss. Though unable to make a barking sound, Basenjis are not silent dogs. They whine, growl, chortle, yodel — and scream. It's a sound that can get old really fast! Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. Try to get your Basenji involved in agility classes an obstacle course for dogs or in lure coursing chasing a mechanized lure full-speed in a controlled setting.

To teach your Basenji to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. They are a very clean breed and will spend hours grooming themselves after a walk. They are more cat-like than any other breed of dog - just like their feline friends, they clean themselves using their paws.

This makes them less smelly than most breeds as they are not using their mouths! Basenjis are an intelligent breed but can be a little nervous and independent - this can make it a bit tricky to train them. Training must start early, continue consistently and contain a heavy dose of patience. If the Basenji is part of a big family, it is recommended that just one person focuses on training. When other members of the family or borrowers are looking after the pup, they should try to copy the commands given by the main trainer exactly.

Recall should be a top priority in Basenji training. As their prey drive is high, it is important for you dog to know to come back when called. Thanks to the BorrowMyDoggy community for sharing their wooftastic photos and quotes. As more owners and borrowers join the community and start messaging, more woofs, walks and waggy tails can be spread to share the love of dogs. Our members tell the stories best - check out Dusty - not a Basenji but a super sweet and similar looking hound.

BorrowMyDoggy connects dog owners with local volunteer borrowers for walks, holiday care and dog sitting. Lifelong medications and special diets are usually required to keep IBD under control. There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary.

Reactive seizures are caused by the brain's reaction to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar, organ failure, or a toxin. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, and Basenjis are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age.

An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy.

If your dog has a seizure, carefully prevent him from injuring himself, but don't try to control his mouth or tongue. It won't help him, and he may bite you accidentally! Note the length of the seizure, and call us at or an emergency hospital. An umbilical hernia is a hole or defect in the body wall in the area of the umbilicus, or bellybutton. Usually it is seen as a soft bulging in the center of the belly caused by abdominal fat and sometimes intestines protruding through the hole.

Considered the most common type of hernia in dogs, it is usually inherited, and your African Barkless Dog is at greater than normal risk for this problem. In most cases, the abdominal bulge can be easily pushed back into place with gentle massage, but occasionally the intestines can become stuck in the hernia and require immediate veterinary attention. We'll check your baby for this congenital defect at his first exam and discuss treatment options at that time if needed.

Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, and other behavioral changes. Treatment is usually as simple as replacement hormones given in the form of a pill. The pancreas has two major functions: regulating blood sugar and helping digest food. Digestive enzymes are produced by the exocrine part of the pancreas.

Basenjis are at an increased risk of having too few digestive enzymes, a disorder called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This causes inadequate digestion and absorption of nutrients leading to weight loss; foul-smelling, greasy diarrhea; and a dry and flaky coat due to his inability to absorb dietary fats.

Lifelong dietary supplementation of digestive enzymes is an effective therapy. Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes. Unfortunately, Basenjis can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs of concern.

A relatively rare blood disorder called Pelger-Huet anomaly can occur in your Basenji. If he is a carrier of the disease, his infection-fighting white blood cells will look abnormal under the microscope, but will operate normally.

Puppies that inherit a copy of this abnormal gene from both parents, however, usually die before or shortly after birth. Pyruvate kinase deficiency is a genetic disease that causes red blood cells to develop abnormally. Affected Basenjis will be anemic, causing pale gums, exercise intolerance, and liver and spleen enlargement. Sadly, there is no cure and most dogs with this disease die by four years of age. There is a DNA test available to identify the disease in young puppies or for pet parents interested in breeding.

Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs.

Build her routine care into your schedule to help your African Barkless Dog live longer, stay healthier, and be happier during her lifetime. We cannot overemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine.