Basenji

Do you like cats? If so, you’re more likely to enjoy the independent personality of the Basenji. In fact, some people will tell you that the Basenji acts more like a cat than a dog. They’ve  got their own agenda and won’t demand a lot of attention or shower you with love. Basenjis have a mischievous streak to them, and they think they are super smart and hilarious, which they kind of are. You just never know what thing of yours they’re going to move, hide, or eat next. Although Basenjis don’t bark, they do make a lot of different noises, ranging from scary growls to happy yips.

The Basenji’s coat is as easy as they come: set it and forget it. Their short coat is odorless and sheds minimally, and they clean themselves in ways similar to cats, so you won’t need to bathe them often. All you need to do is brush their coat about once a week to help remove any dead hair.

Basenjis do best in situations where they are allowed to play outside in a securely fenced-in area, but come back in to live indoors with their family. They can be even more destructive and mischievous when they are forced to live outside permanently, and that’s not something you want to deal with. Basenjis are very playful and tend to make better companions for older children who understand how to treat dogs. Cats and other small pets, however, can be a different story. Basenjis are natural hunters and tend to see other small animals as things they should be chasing rather than being buddies with.

Basenjis were born for the chase. They love hunting small animals wherever they happen to be. Their talent for hunting and running makes them excellent competitors in the doggie sport of lure coursing, a sport where dogs chase a mechanical lure. Basenjis also enjoy going for walks on their leash, or even better, going to a safe, fenced-in dog park where they can run around freely to their heart's content.