Basenji

Hound

Coat

Solid: or
Sable: Red Sable in the Clear or Minimal pattern with tipping only, not solid shading. If all else is equal, a clear dog is preferred over one with tipping.
Brindle: with striping.
Tan: with or brindle markings in the traditional pattern. Minimal creeping tan is also accepted, may include a tan snout and/or fully tan ears, and the tan under the tail may include up to half the tail (underside only, starting at the root).
May have tipped with markings on backs of legs/butt, underside of tail, front of chest, behind ears, muzzle and/or around eyes. Markings may be present in one, some or all of these areas. Optional - shading on back
Masking: All of them above may be masked with (standard mask).
White Markings: Always has in the irish spotting (relaxed) pattern. On the hind legs, white is allowed up to and including the lower half of knees, or as a stripe of white on the front of the knees.

Eyes

or - brown is preferred.

Nose

Faults

Creeping tan.

Disqualifications

More than 50 % white.

Varieties

None

Notes

The first traces of a dog similar to the Basenji are found in Egyptian tombs and wall drawings of five thousand years ago. Also called the Congo Dog, it was brought to Europe in 1934. English breeders refined it and exported it all over the world. In Africa, it is used as a guide in the forests, to warn against the approach of dangerous animals, and as a very active pack-hunting dog of small game.

The basenji should be a fine-boned and aristocratic breed, with slight stop, and a medium broad skull tapering gradually towards the tip of the nose. The eyes have a curious expression. The ears are small, erect and pointed, carried slightly forward. The neck is powerful, quite long and well arched. The chest is deep and oval in shape, with a short, straight back and visible tuck up. The tail is set very high, making the rear appear to stick out, a typical characteristic of the breed. The coat is short, shiny and fine.

Breed Files

Filename: SBasenji
Offset: 2706
Base: Labrador
SCP: Labrador
Accepted: February 15, 2018
Notes: V2. Overwrites V1. 3 body lengths, 3 underlines, 2 muzzle lengths, 8 tails, 2 ear sizes. Optional ear insides, optional dewclaw pads/fingers, optional cheek wrinkles. Smooth or fuzzy tail, line direction variations, plenty of colour variations. Strongly suggest .pet hexing offspring if variations are crossed.

Filename: Basenji
Offset: 2621
Base: Labrador
SCP: Labrador
Accepted: May 21, 2017
Notes: 7 addball tail variations and 3 back wrinkle variations (plus another variation without wrinkles).

Filename: Basenji
Offset: AC25
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: December 5, 2008
Notes: Comes with or without liplines. Body variations including leg length, topline variations, size variations etc. Angled legs, addball tail and ears. Various addballz used for shape (underline etc)

Filename: Basenji
Offset: 2706
Base: Labrador
SCP: Labrador
Accepted: March 14, 2007
Notes: Two chest depth variations, optional nails, addball wrinkles and others in the head. Only the tighter tails accepted, three variations accepted (two shown). Addball tails and ears. Angled legs.

Filename: Abno Basenji
Offset: CCCE
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Great Dane
Accepted: April 4, 2006
Notes: Two chest variations (shown in the photo), wrinkles on forehead, angled legs, might not be suitable for obedience, addball ears and tail. Doesn't bark as an adult. Tan markings on the tricolor is sometimes difficult to see in the front (Dal) stacks (as shown). 2nd gens may lack fuzz on the tail.

Filename: RDK Basenji
Offset: FF20
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: January 4, 2006
Notes: Angled legs.

Filename: Iola Basenji
Offset: F111
Base: Mutt
SCP: Mutt
Accepted: January 4, 2006
Notes: Version 2 of the Iola file.

Filename: Basenji
Offset: D387
Base: Mutt
SCP: Mutt
Accepted: May 1, 2004
Notes: