Basenji Breed Profile

Head: Mesaticephalic skull type, medium in size, fine, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is wedge-shaped, clean-cut, and without excess skin. The head forms an isosceles triangle from above, tapering smoothly from a broad back skull to the nose. The topskull and forehead wrinkles are present when the ears are alert. The head is carried proudly. The topskull is flat from the front and in profile. The topskull is moderately broad, approximately as broad (from one side to the other measured in front of the ears) as long (from stop to occiput). A good brow is evident. The head may range from somewhat slightly chiseled to slightly padded with full cheeks and temporalis muscles, which give substance to the head, with the head always appearing smooth but with perceptible contours. The head should never appear coarse or overly chiseled. A slight median groove down the center of the head adds to the proper expression. The head is carried proudly when not hunting.

Eyes: Moderate in size, oval, almond, or somewhat triangular shape, and light to dark brown (preferred) 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. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak.

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

Neck: Moderate length allows 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 and 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. The width at the 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. The 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 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, 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, getting Basenjis interested in training is possible with the proper motivation through positive reinforcement. 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 will also require obedience training and socialization to ensure 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 their family, the Basenji can be indifferent or aloof toward strangers even with a heavy socialization routine. This attitude is simply a part of the breed. However, any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.