Basenji
The Barkless Dog

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone stopped me on the street and asked, "What kind of dog is that?" I'd probably have enough money to keep our basenjis in toys for the rest of their lives. My stock answer has become, "It's a basenji, a barkless African hound dog." Of course, that's a little like summing up Gone with the Wind with, "It's a book about the civil war." True enough, but you're leaving all the juicy parts out.

If you want all the technical details, consult a book on dog breeds, or one of the several excellent sources of basenji lore and knowledge. My personal favorite is The Complete Basenji, by Elspet Ford. (Howell Book House, ISBN 0-87605-016-X) What I offer here is based on my personal observations, having lived with basenjis for around nine years.

Basenjis are

1. fastidious, and clean themselves like cats
2. they also have no real body odor (read "doggie stink")
3. they don't bark
4. they are not, however, quiet.

they yodel (or chortle) when happy

they whimper and make loud whining noises when they see

1. a bunny
2. cat
3. or other interesting creature

they can screech like a siren when they are in pain

The basenji is not the dog for every one, but those with the patience and flexibility to understand and appreciate this uncommon breed get love, devotion, and true companionship as a reward.

* text from http://www.basenji.com/whats/whats.html

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