Basenji at a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height
- 40–43 cm
- Weight
- 9–11 kg
- Life expectancy
- from 12 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Shedding, Barking, Garden.
Is the Basenji right for you?
Like every breed, the Basenji is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You can give around an hour of exercise a day.
- You would like a coat that is fairly easy to look after.
Consider another breed if…
- The dog would regularly be left alone for long working days.
- You live in a flat or a small home.
- You have young children at home.
- You want a dog that picks up training quickly.
How would the Basenji fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Basenji
The Basenji is a light, elegant hound with a wrinkled forehead, a tightly curled tail and a short, glossy coat. It moves with a stylish, swinging stride and is famous for having no bark: instead it yodels, chortles or crows when excited. It is curious, confident and very clean, often grooming itself much like a cat.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.
- Size
Small
A small dog.
- Exercise
Moderate
Typically around an hour of exercise a day.
- Energy level
Lively
A lively dog that enjoys being busy.
- Grooming
Weekly
The coat usually needs brushing about once a week.
- Shedding
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Trainability
Independent
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other dogs
Can be selective
Can be selective about other dogs.
- Good with cats
Varies
Varies with the individual dog.
- Suits first-time owners
Some experience helps
Some dog experience helps.
- Barking / vocality
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Time alone
Prefers company
Usually copes only with short periods alone.
Dogs of this type appear in ancient Egyptian art from around 4,500 years ago, and the breed is often described as one of the oldest true-to-type breeds. In Africa, Basenjis were used for thousands of years as all-purpose hunting dogs, working by both sight and scent.
The breed was established in England in 1936 with dogs imported from the Congo region. Its name is said to come from the people of the Ituri rainforest, who called them Basenchi, meaning "little bush thing".
Basenji temperament
Basenjis are typically high-spirited, inquisitive and confident. They become very attached to their family and are companionable rather than openly affectionate, and can be aloof, independent and self-contained. Many are charming and sometimes clownish, and they are extremely watchful, happy to sit for hours looking out of a window.
They are often reserved with strangers and can be unfriendly towards unfamiliar dogs. They do not like being left alone and can become very destructive if they are. Although they do not bark, they are not silent dogs.
Size and appearance
The Basenji is a small to medium-sized dog. Adults typically stand around 40–43 cm at the shoulder and weigh around 9–11 kg.
The coat is short, sleek and fine. Breed standard colours are black and white, black, tan and white, brindle, brindle and white, red and white, and tricolour.
How much exercise does a Basenji need?
Basenjis have high energy levels and usually need at least an hour of exercise a day, and often 60–90 minutes. They also need plenty of mental stimulation: puzzle feeders, enrichment games and scent work all help, and many do well at dog sports.
Most exercise will need to be on a lead. They have a very strong drive to chase and explore, unreliable recall and very poor road sense, so take care near traffic. Gardens must be exceptionally well fenced, as Basenjis are expert escape artists that can climb fences and even trees.
Training a Basenji
Basenjis are clever dogs, but they can be strong-willed and often see training as beneath them. With skill, patience and good motivation they can learn a great deal, and some make good agility dogs, but their obedience and recall can never be fully relied upon.
- Use reward-based training and keep it interesting: they need a reason to cooperate.
- Keep your Basenji on a lead in unfenced areas, as recall is unreliable.
- Offer appropriate things to chew: many are extreme chewers.
- Introduce cats with care, and do not trust them with small furry pets.
Basenji grooming
Grooming is easy. The Basenji does most of its own upkeep, and a weekly brush or wipe with a grooming glove is usually enough to remove dead hair. Check the ears and nails from time to time.
Living with a Basenji
The Basenji is a specialist dog with very particular needs, and usually does best in a home without children or with older, sensible children.
All dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other. Whatever the breed, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and an adult should supervise every interaction.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other dogs
Can be selective about other dogs.
Cats and small pets
Varies with the individual dog.
Flats and smaller homes
Usually happier in a house.
Being left alone
Usually copes only with short periods alone.
First-time owners
Some dog experience helps.
Basenji health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.
Some inherited conditions are recognised in the Basenji. Knowing about them helps you ask the right questions; it does not mean every Basenji will be affected. Ask whether the parents of any puppy have been screened under the BVA and Kennel Club Canine Health Schemes, and discuss the health of the parents and grandparents with the breeder.
Fanconi syndrome
A type of kidney disease that leads to glucose in the urine. It is one of the most widely recognised inherited conditions in the breed, and a genetic test is available.
Anaemia and pyruvate kinase deficiency
Anaemia is an abnormally low number of red blood cells, and a form of anaemia is one of the best-known inherited conditions in the breed; a genetic test is available. Pyruvate kinase deficiency is a lack of a specific red blood cell enzyme, which leads to anaemia.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
A gradual deterioration of the retina, which can start with night blindness and progress to total blindness. The Royal Kennel Club recommends eye testing under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme as best practice before breeding.
Patellar luxation
The kneecaps can slip temporarily out of place.
Urolithiasis
Stones forming in the urine.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Basenji home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
How much does a Basenji cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Basenji home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 12 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Basenji
If you have decided the Basenji suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Basenji
Basenjis do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.
Basenjis looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Basenji adverts at the moment.
Find Basenji adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
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Basenji FAQs
Is the Basenji good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Can the Basenji live in a flat?
Usually happier in a house. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.
How much exercise does the Basenji need?
Moderate: typically around an hour a day. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.
How much grooming does the Basenji need?
Typically: about once a week.
Is the Basenji easy to train?
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps. Kind, reward-based training works best.
Can the Basenji be left alone?
Usually copes only with short periods alone. Build up time alone gradually.
Is the Basenji good with cats?
Varies with the individual dog. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
How long does the Basenji live?
Typically from 12 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Basenji get?
Adults typically stand 40–43 cm at the shoulder and weigh 9–11 kg.