Labrador Retriever Forum
Just thought I'd share what I've been through the past 6 weeks.
I have a very good friend looking for a smallish dog, active couple, no children, a dog who is cleanly and sheds minimally. After hours of sitting ringside with me at dog shows and researching, they've decided to get a Basenji.
I was happy at first when they came to me, and asked me to help them find a GREAT breeder. They didn't want to support a puppy mill, and are willing to wait for the right dog, so long as they know that they are supporting a great breeder and will get what they are looking for in a dog.
So off I set to find the perfect Basenji breeder. Where does one start? At a dog show right? Well not only were the breeders I talked with at dog shows (who knew I was exhibiting as well) not helpful, they were downright rude. I asked about clearances etc. and no one could agree on what clearances a Basenji might have to be bred.
So I thought, perhaps a breed club! Yes, thats it, a breed club.
Again, met with disdain. Not only would the club breeder referral not recommend any breeders who were members of the club, she simply was trying to sell her own puppies, due next march mind you, but had no ideas what colors to expect (though this wasn't important to my friend).
So off to try again. How do I do this? So I randomly started emailing LAB breeders within a 500 mile radius. Someone has to know a Basenji breeder worthy of making puppies, right? Wrong. Nada.
No puppy referrals, no referrals to anyone expecting puppies, no concensus as to what clearances are to be done, no line with a nice temperament, I got no where.
At a dog show this weekend, I happened to stumble upon a young woman, with one basenji, who actually talked to me! She was 21, her first dog, she intends to breed next year! Nice enough to talk to me, and nice enough to talk to my friend! She apparently hadn't been jaded by all the other Basenji people.
Next time you think Lab breeders are snobs, just remember, Basenji breeders (generalization) are much snobbier!
I have a good friend who has a beautiful Basenji bitch and has several friends in the breed. If you contact me privately, I'd be happy to put you in touch.
Another option is to check with one of the local all-breed clubs. Usually they have a breeder referral contact that can refer people to reputable breeders who are interested in being contacted.
If you e-mail me or post your e-mail and the location of your friend, I also know a basenji breeder that would be delighted to have someone like your friend as a potential puppy owner.
Hope those breeders are honest with you. That breed is not good for everyone. Gets mean I've heard, even to other dogs in the family. The one first hand couple I knew who had two had to keep them separated and had several trips to the vet for stitchs on one or the other. Must be strong willed ? Sure there are good one like with all breeds.
I easily found detailed information about health issues and testing at www.basenji.org, which is the National club. In fact, the information was quite detailed.
I have socialized with several basenji breeders at shows over the years and have found them to be quite friendly and informative about their breed. It is an interesting breed and has a fascinating history, and breeders seemed eager to correct misconceptions about their breed. The dogs themselves have been more aloof than I might want for a pet, but never aggressive.
Contact Damara Bolte, she is NOT a snob. One of the GREATEST ladies in dogdom!
Never is a big word. Agressive, I just said I knew of two, first hand. Know it can be how they were raised or the pedigree. The people paid alot for them, so not something that just came along. I was just saying go visit the parents if you can. Know they are different.
Hi wanted to let you know I have owned a Basenji before, they are wonderful and extremely smart, almost to smart. they can distroy a house in an hour chewing threw doors , escapeing from any wire crate that I have ever used. they many times are not the best breed to get for a first time dog owner, so have your friend find someone who knows the breed well as to help and advise about training and other traits.
unfortunately for memy apartment was distroyed in a few hrs while I was at a wedding because of not getting the proper info to care and train this breed from the breeder. just don't want the same thing to happen to your friends. they are a wonderful breed and now that I am older and wizer I would consider another at some point in my life. also basenjis climb and can get out of almost any encloser
best of luck
as a rule this is not an aggressive breed, but we all know poor breeding can produce anything
including aggressive Labradors.
I personally am offended when someone runs down another breed in order to show how much better their own breed or breeding is.
I didn't take it that way - I took it as more of a "Be sure the prospective Basenji buyers know what they're getting into beforehand so they don't suffer the way I (Barb) did, simply because I didn't know enough about the breed." I didn't think it was meant to bash one breed and laud another. JMHO
Don't know if this helps at all or not, but I come accross this today and thought of this post:
"As with most of the hound group, the Basenji tends to be a very healthy breed of dog provided they are giving regular exercise, routine vet visits and fed a high quality food that meets all nutritional requirements. Breeders of this very unique type of dog have worked to prevent any genetic conditions from becoming highly problematic, but as with any breed there are a few issues that potential owners need to be aware of.
One of the most easily managed conditions that the Basenji may be prone to is becoming somewhat obese when not provided enough exercise and fed poor or incorrect types of food. Generally a moderate to high energy dog the Basenji, when walked, jogged or played with on a routine, fairly intensive basis will stay trim and in good weight range. Dogs that are encouraged to become couch potatoes or those that are kept in small spaces such as apartments may be more prone to weight gain. Avoid feeding the Basenji human foods or excessive amounts of treats. With weight gain comes increasing chances of joint and muscle problems as well as diabetes and other digestive type problems. Routine walking, playing and running is a simple way to prevent this from becoming an issue.
Occasionally a Basenji may also have mild to severe allergic reactions that cause skin problems. For most Basenjis this is caused by a reaction to flea bites, more specifically flea saliva. The Basenji is one of many breeds of dogs that can have this flea allergy sensitivity, and it is really fairly easy to treat with a routine flea treatment of the dog's living environment as well as the dog his or herself. Monthly flea medications as well as vacuuming of the home and routine treatment of the yard is all that is required to curb the infestation and eliminate any possible issues with the flea allergy.
Hot spots are the irritated patches of skin that occur due to a huge build up of a naturally occurring bacteria on the skin's surface. This bacteria causes the hot spots, more correctly known as pyotraumatic dermatitis which can actually spread to other areas of the body. Often scratching from flea allergies and other skin irritations can contribute to the development of hot spots. Treatment includes clipping the hair around the area and washing with mild antiseptics to help manage the infection. The dog should also be restricted from licking, chewing or scratching at the area but nothing should be used that closes off air circulation to the skin. Creams and lotions should be avoided as they can create the humid, moist and oxygen free environment in which the bacteria actually thrives. In severe cases corticosteroids can be used to manage the irritation for the dog and allow the skin to heal. Regular flea treatment and early treatment of hot spots in the future will be essential in preventing or minimizing future problems.
Progressive retinal atrophy or PRA is one of the most common causes of vision loss in all breeds of dogs. Basenjis are know to have the genetic factors that cause PRA, which results in decreasing vision until full blindness. Although most commonly seen in adult dogs, PRA can begin to occur even in juvenile dogs. Although the vision loss varies by dogs, it is not painful and dogs can live happy lives with decreasing vision. As there is no treatment for PRA it is essential for prospective owners to ask breeders about the diagnosis of PRA within the breeding lines.
One disease that is more common in Basenjis than other hounds or similar sized dogs is Fanconi's Syndrome. Researchers estimate that up to ten percent of the total breeding population of Basenjis have Fanconi's Syndrome or will develop the disease. In the Basenji breed it is typically a later onset disease, seen typically after the dog is three years of age and older. This means that many Basenji dogs may have produced one or more litters of puppies before the genetic condition is known unless the dogs have been tested prior to breeding.
The condition occurs when the proximal renal tubules of the kidney do not do their job but actually spill or fail to absorb nutrients and electrolytes back into the blood. This causes these nutrients and electrolytes to be eliminated from the body in the urine, resulting in gradual muscle wasting and gradual overall decrease in health will occur. If not treated early the muscle and tissue damage is irreversible and will lead to death.
Early diagnosis includes having the Basenji's urine tested for the presence of glucose. Typical symptoms of the disease are similar to that of diabetes including excessive drinking and frequent, small qualities of urine being produced. Owners can use human urine glucose test strips on a monthly basis after the dog is three years of age to detect the presence of glucose in the urine at abnormal levels. A vet can then further complete tests to determine if the condition is due to diabetes or if it is in fact Fanconi's Syndrome. While not curable, there are different drug and diet protocols that can be use to manage Fanconi's Syndrome and allow the dog to live a normal, healthy life. Any Basenji with Fanconi's Syndrome should be spayed or neutered and all siblings of the dog also removed from breeding programs.
Another relatively easily misdiagnosed condition in the Basenji is Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease or more simply known as IPSID. This is a typically slow moving disease on its own that causes weight loss, chronic diarrhea and overall poor health, but will eventually cause fatal complications in the liver, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system and the skin or other organs. IPSID is generally considered to be an inherited disease in the Basenji breed however any type of stress including mental of physical stress, can also trigger the disease. Cancer and other metabolic types of disorders are often found in Basenji dogs diagnosed with IPSID.
Early diagnosis and treatment to reduce stress and increase absorption of nutrients on the small intestine is often very effective. Antibiotics and switching to a raw food or holistic type of homemade food often manages the condition without any need for additional drug therapy. As there is a risk of other animals in the house developing IPSID, it is essential to carefully follow all recommended treatments and isolation of the dog by your vet."
Best of Luck!
Then why the subject line "we lab breeders are a special group"? If I were a Basenji breeder, I would be pretty offended by both the subject line and the content of many posts.
