Basenji

History of the breed: From Pharaohs to modern times

These unusual dogs were created by nature itself, without selective intervention by humans. This places them in the same rank as so-called "primitive" breeds (in the cynological sense, this means "primordial," not "simple"). It is belived that the Basenji is one of the oldest dogs on Earth. Their images have been found on bas-reliefs in the tombs of Ancient Egyptian pharaohs, specifically in the burial chamber of Tutankhamun. Even carefully embalmed mummies of these dogs have been preserved, testifying to their high status - they were considered living amulets and precious gifts. Historically, they are very close to another ancient breed - the Pharaoh Hound, though their evolutionary paths diverged millennia ago.

After the decline of the Egyptian civilization, traces of these dogs were lost, but as it turned out, they continued to live in the countries of Central and West Africa, upstream of the Nile. It is thought that these dogs lived alongside Pygmy tribes and other peoples inhabiting the dense forests of Africa. There, they fulfilled the role of indispensable assistants in the hunt.

In Europe, Basenjis were first presented at Crufts in 1895; at that time, they were called "Jungle Dogs" or "Congo Terriers." Unfortunately, the first attempts to bring them to the Old World ended tragically - the dogs died of distemper, to which they had no immunity. The name "Basenji" was applied to these dogs much later. The word "Basenji," translated from one of the dialects of the Congo peoples, means "dog that jumps up and down" or "creature of the bush."

Since ancient times, African tribes have used these dogs for driving game into nets, hunting monkeys, large cane rats, and even antelopes. To spot prey in the tall elephant grass, Basenjis jump high into the air (performing a "candle" jump), hence the name. Targeted and, crucially, successful breeding of this variety began only in the 1930s in England, and subsequently in the USA. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) finally recognized and approved the Basenji standard in 1964 (with amendments).

What the Basenji looks like: Appearance and standard

The Basenji is a dog of small stature, with a light, aristocratic, and surprisingly proportionate build. It is the embodiment of grace and athleticism in a compact size. Their movements are light, gazelle-like, with a long stride.

• Head: Beautifully chiselled, tapering towards the nose. The skull is flat and moderately broad. The main "highlight" is the fine wrinkles on the forehead, which appear abundantly when the Basenji is interested in something or concentrated, giving it a "worried" expression.
• Ears: Pricked, high-set, small in size, with sharp tips. They tilt slightly forward, like a cobra's hood, adding an attentive expression to the muzzle.
• Eyes: Almond-shaped, set obliquely, dark in color. The gaze is intelligent, mysterious, and piercing.
• Body: The neck is quite long, strong, with a good crest, flowing smoothly into a straight and short back. The chest is deep, oval-shaped, with sprung ribs, indicating endurance. The belly is noticeably tucked up, forming an elegant silhouette.
• Tail: This is an indicator of pure breeding and mood. High-set, with the ischial tuberosities protruding beyond the root of the tail. It is tightly curled into a single or double ring and lies closely against the croup.
• Limbs: Straight, fine-boned, yet strong. Paws are compact, oval, tight (not splayed), with thick pads.

Color variations

The coat is fine, very soft, short, and close-fitting to the body. It gleams in the sun like copper. The standard identifies clear color types:

1. Red and White: A rich red-chestnut color.
2. Black and White: Deep black without brownish hues.
3. Tricolor: Black and white with bright tan markings above the eyes (so-called "melon pips"), on the cheeks, and near the tail.
4. Brindle: Black stripes on a red background (the most recently recognized color).

Important detail: white must be present on the chest, the tip of the tail, and the feet. White may also appear on the collar, as a blaze on the face, and partially on the legs, but white should never dominate over the primary color.

Care and maintenance: Minimum hassle

Here, a pleasant surprise awaits you. Basenjis are one of the easiest dogs to care for. They do not shed profusely (hair does fall out, but it is fine and doesn't get stuck in carpets "to the death"), and, most importantly, they do not smell. Even a wet Basenji smells more like a damp wool sweater than a dog.

• Coat: Needs to be brushed from time to time with a special rubber glove to remove dead hairs and massage the skin.
• Bathing: You only need to bathe such a dog when heavily soiled, which happens quite rarely. They avoid puddles like the plague themselves. Be sure to use hypoallergenic shampoos.
• Eyes and ears: Regularly inspect and clean your pet's ears with a cotton pad, and wash their eyes with chamomile tea or a special lotion if needed.
• Nails: Do not forget to trim the Basenji's nails every month (or better yet, every two weeks). They are strong and grow quickly. Long nails interfere with the correct posture of the paw.
• Clothing: Since the breed has no undercoat, they get very cold in winter. You will need a wardrobe: a raincoat for fall and a warm jumpsuit for winter.