Breed history

Many say that the basenji is one of the oldest known dog breeds. Dogs with almost identical appearance as our days basenji can be found in some cave paintings in Tessir-N-Ajer, Algeria and these paintings is said to be 12 000 years old. The breed is likely to be descended from the Schensid dogs in the Kwango district in former Belgian Congo. It was also from this district that the Westerners in the year of 1895 reported about small dogs that couldn't bark. Very homogene groups of these dogs has been found in isolated pygmy tribes in Congo but also in southern Sudan. They where used both as hunting dogs, to keep the cottages warm and clean and as company for the children. Tribes in Sudan is said to value their dogs very high and they are given away as special gifts or wedding presents. As hunting dogs they show great curage, speed and persistance. First in 1936 the basenji managed to survive and reproduce in England. It took a great amount of time for the breed to acclimatize in the West World. The first basenji in Sweden arrived in 1951. The basenji can also be seen portaid on Egyptian graves and is mentioned in the Old Testament.

The Basenji can't bark, but is not silent!

The basenji larynx and vocal cord is different than with other breeds. The vocal cord vibrations is not strong enough to produce a bark but they yodel instead, a gargling sound that sometimes is mistaken for a growl.