Basenji Breed Profile

Head: Poised, alert, soft, enigmatic, and intelligent.

Eyes: Moderate in size, oval, almond, or somewhat triangular in shape, and light to dark brown (preferred) in color. The eyes are well set under a good brow and are oblique. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging, or rounded. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.

Ears: Small to moderate in size, set high on the skull, triangular in shape, broad at the base, and pointed or slightly rounded at the tips. The ears are erect, slightly hooded, and oriented slightly forward. The tip of the ear is closer to the center of the skull than the edge of the skull. The space between the ears is narrow rather than wide. The ears are never long, overly large, or broken.

Muzzle: Shorter than the topskull. The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane of the muzzle is straight. From the side, the muzzle appears rounded at the end, as opposed to pointed, with the muzzle gently tapering from the broader foreface toward the nose. Upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snippy or weak.

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black. The nostrils are well-opened.

Neck: Moderate length to allow for proud head carriage, strongly muscled, and well-arched. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Deep, broad, but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is developed and perceptible before the point of the shoulder.

Body: Compact, short-coupled, balanced, sturdy, with substance, and capable of endurance and agility. The body is never racy or refined. Width at forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.

Tail: Set high on the croup, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, but never tucked. Tail is of a medium length, and is held curled or curved up and to either side of the back, or the center of the back.

Movement: Swift, effortless, enduring, efficient, and energetic. The characteristics of healthy structure are evident: when moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in a line with the nose. The width between the forefeet when extended should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: The Basenji is a unique breed with a unique temperament. Many people mistakenly believed that because they are called “barkless” dogs that they do not vocalize often. However, the Basenji can be quite vocal, and instead of barking, it uses a series of howls, yodels, chortles, and other sounds. A hallmark of this breed is its seemingly impeccable hygiene, high degree of intelligence, and independent nature. Many have likened the Basenji to a cat. Due to their independent nature, they can become quite insistent on which actions they do and do not prefer to perform and learn. Many consider this stubbornness. However, with the proper motivation through positive reinforcement, getting Basenjis interested in training is possible. They are also highly instinctual, and will want to hunt by scent or sight, so allowing them to exercise their natural talents is important. They also will require obedience training and socialization to ensure that they understand that other people and dogs are friends. Close supervision must be paid to a Basenji who shares a home with smaller pets, as their natural hunting instincts may kick in, putting smaller animals at risk. Although loving and devoted to his family, even with a heavy socialization routine, the Basenji can be indifferent or aloof toward strangers. This attitude is simply a part of the breed. However, any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.