Basenji - Most Ancient Dog Breeds

The basenji breed of dogs is mainly found in Africa. This breed of the dogs is one of the most ancient breeds. One can see basenji on steles in the tomb of Egyptian pharaohs sitting with their masters.These is a kind of hunting dog. Basenji also has a nick name 'Voiceless dog' because they have the unique property of not barking instead the sound they produce is unusual yodel like sound. Basenji is small in size and they have hair short in length and erect ears. The tail of the basenji is tightly curled. The appearance of them can be considered as a miniature deer. The weight of a basenji varies from 20 pound to 25 pound where as the height varies from 12 inches to 18 inches. According to their physical structure they can be considered as a square breed because they are as long as tall. When a basenji is young it has a wrinkled forehead.

They also look like squinting because of their eyes as they are almond shaped. They are found in different colors: red, tricolor (black and tan), black brindle (red background and black strips) and brindle i.e. tricolor with brindle points .Unlike other dogs they very rarely pants. This breed does not like the wet weather. Some basenji likes to climb. According to a survey completed in 2004 many basenji suffer from PRA, which may create the problem of blindness and can also prevent the kidney from proper working. Basenji also have the problem of Hypothyroidism IPSID (immunoproliferative systemic intestinal disease), HA (Hemolytic Anemia). Some household chemicals may cause infection in the liver of basenji. The life span of them exists from 12 years to 15 years. At the time of late 19th century when European entered to Congo, the basenji had almost disappeared from west. They were used as an assistant by their masters in hunting and chasing wild games. The people from northeastern Congo region called the breed as 'dogs of savages' or "dogs of the villagers" or 'dog of the bush'.

In a radio program This American Life, a true story of a basenji was broadcasted. The episode tells the story of a man who adopted a basenji because of its quality of not shading. But with in some days he got bored of the dog and he took away the dog on a farm 30 miles away from his home, but with in some days the dog got its way back home.