Related articles
Share with friends
History
The Basenji known today originated as a distinctive breed in the Congo in central Africa where they were used as hunting and tracking dogs. They are also known as the African barkless dog, African bush dog, Congo dog, Ango angari or the Zande dog.
Appearance and Personality
They are small but strong dogs with heights around 40-46cm high and weighing around 9-10kgs. Females tend to be a bit smaller than males. Basenjis come in a variety of colours including red, black and tri-coloured, brindle, blue merle, with white markings. Their life expectancy is around 12 -14 years. They have big, upright ears and a curly tail.
Basenji’s are very intelligent and independent. This can make them difficult to train, but also fantastic problem solvers especially when they want something. They can bond strongly with their families and be defensive with strangers. They may be a better choice for families with older or no children. Daily exercise is vital, as they have plenty of energy to burn and can become destructive if bored. Early socialisation and training with other dogs, people and animals is important for Basenji’s who may not always love the company of other animals and be aloof with people. Always be very cautious when introducing a Basenji to other small animals, as they often have a strong prey drive and can be aggressive towards small animals. Basenjis can adapt to apartment living if they are given plenty of exercise and entertainment. Basenji’s don’t bark, but they do make other dog sounds.
Basenjis have a short, soft coat that requires minimal grooming. Prevent parasites by ensuring your dog is on flea control all year round and tick prevention if you are in a paralysis tick prone area.
Common Health Concerns
From 2016 to 2020, Basenjis commonly visited the vet for skin conditions, including allergic skin disease, from which they are known to suffer. Also, in the top five reasons for Basenjis to visit the vet were liver disease, gastrointestinal upsets and cancers/tumours. Ranking at number two in the top reasons why Basenjis visited the vet in this period were traumatic accidents, such as broken bones, perhaps testament to their active and adventurous natures!
According to PetSure claims data, from 2016 to 2020 the five most common reasons for a Basenjito visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) were:
| Rank | Condition | Average cost for single treatment (average pet insurance claim amount) | Highest cost for single treatment (highest pet insurance claim seen for this condition) |
| 1 | Skin conditions, including allergic skin disease | $272 | $1,763 |
| 2 | Traumatic accidents, including broken bones and wounds | $289 | $2,610 |
| 3 | Liver disease | $117 | $390 |
| 4 | Gastrointestinal problems | $311 | $1,169 |
| 5 | Cancer & tumours | $258 | $728 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider
For the same five-year period (2016-2020), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for insured Basenjis from PetSure claims data were:
| Rank | Condition | Highest Cost of treatment for condition (average pet insurance claim amount) |
| 1 | Elbow dysplasia | $2,871 |
| 2 | Broken leg | $2,610 |
| 3 | Urinary disease | $2,500 |
| 4 | Sarcoma (cancer) | $2,475 |
| 5 | Foreign body ingestion | $2,362 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
Most popular Basenji names (PetSure data 2016-2020)
Most popular names
- Benji
- Archie
- Billy
- Bob
- Cleo
- Luna
- Onyx
- Sam
- Alfie
- Apollo
Most popular female names
- Cleo
- Luna
- Onyx
- Bonnie
- Boots
- Charlotte
- Eddie
- Elsa
- Frankie
- Honey
Most popular male names:
- Benji
- Archie
- Billy
- Bob
- Sam
- Alfie
- Apollo
- Austin
- Bandit
- Bosley
Did you know?
Attempts to import Basenji’s into England in the 1800’s failed with the imported dogs dying from distemper virus, from which the breed had no immunity.
References
- American Kennel Club, Basenji, accessed on 17/03/2021, available at: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/basenji/
- The Kennel Club, toy Basenji, accessed on 17/03/2021, available at: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/hound/basenji/
- Wikipedia, Basenji, accessed 15/03/2021 available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basenji
Pet insurance can help by covering a portion of the eligible vet bill if the unexpected happens. Because it is difficult to predict the costs of veterinary care, it can help to have measures in place to help prepare for the unexpected. Check out our partner network and explore our policy tools to find a pet insurance policy.
Not all conditions or items are covered by Pet Insurance. Refer to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement for information about coverage and exclusions.
