These are my (Senni's) homepages. I'm 3-years young Basenji girl. Here you will find information about me, my breed and my "herd". I've been born 25.11.1995 in Loimaa. There are only two sisters, Nekku and I. My breeder is Bribas - kennels Riitta Hautanen from Oulu. Nowadays I live in Forssa with my herd.

Dog Rules

What is basenji?

As a breed Basenji is very old and has developed by itself, what means that it's not cross-fertilized with other breeds. Basenjis history can be traced all the way back to stone age. It is told that one of African tribes male member couldn't get married unless he owned at least one basenji that guaranteed their food supply. Basenjis have been called many names along the years: African bush dog, Kongo's terrier, nyam nyam -dog and zande -dog. Some people say that ancient Egypt's god Anubis has got it's features out of basenji. First basenjis were exposured in Crufts dogshow at 1895. Basenjis woke up very much attention then. At that time they were still called African bush dogs or Kongo's terrier. One of Basenjis specialty is that it has its season only one time in year (There are exceptions). Other noticeable feature is that, basenji doesn't bark. But it may try to bark if there is company with some dog that barks. Basenji creates voices differently than "normal dogs", and that's why it's voice sounds more like cough than bark. Basenjis former working customs tariff was hunting. Especially they hunted pine bog rats. They were excellent in that. Some people say that they hunted also lions. They worked as a group and besieged the lion and then attacked all together. Basenji can track down the booty even at 70 meters from it.

Basenjis are pretty tough for a little dog. And when they come to the obstinate age they are impossible. As a puppy they are wild and really jesting, but after all there are no such lovely dog like basenji. Basenji is everything that you need ( and little more than that :)

Nowadays they are mostly bought to home for keeping company.

General Appearance

The Basenji is a small, shorthaired hunting dog from Africa. It is short backed and lightly built, appearing high on the leg compared to its length. The wrinkled head is proudly carried on a well-arched neck and tail is set high and curled. Elegant and graceful, the whole demeanor is one of poise and inquiring alertness. The balanced structure and the smooth musculature enables it to move with ease and agility. The Basenji hunts by both sight and scent. Characteristics-The Basenji should not bark but is not mute. The wrinkled forehead, tightly curled tail and swift, effortless gait (resembling a racehorse-trotting full out) are typical of the breed. Faults-Any departure from the following points must be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded is to be on exact proportion to its degree.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Ideal height for dogs is 17 (42 cm) inches and bitches 16 (39 cm) inches. Dogs 17 inches and bitches 16 inches from front of chest to point of buttocks. Approximate weight for dogs, 24 pounds and bitches, 22 pounds. Lightly built within this height to weight ratio.

Head

The head is proudly carried. Eyes-Dark hazel to dark brown, almond shaped, obliquely set and farseeing. Rims dark. Ears-Small, erect and slightly hooded, of fine texture and set well forward on top of head. The skull is flat, well chiseled and of medium width, tapering toward the eyes. The foreface tapers from eye to muzzle with a perceptible stop. Muzzle shorter than skull, neither coarse nor snipy, but with rounded cushions. Wrinkles appear upon the forehead when ears are erect, and are fine and profuse. Side wrinkles are desirable, but should never be exaggerated into dewlap. Wrinkles are most noticeable in puppies, and because of lack of shadowing, less noticeable in blacks, tricolors and brindles. Nose-Black greatly desired. Teeth-Evenly aligned with a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck of good length, well-crested and slightly full at base of throat. Well set onto shoulders. Topline-Back level. Body-Balanced with a short back, short coupled and ending in a definite waist. Ribs moderately sprung, deep to elbows and oval. Slight forechest in front of point of shoulder. Chest of medium width. Tail is set high on topline, bends acutely forward and lies well curled over either side.

Forequarters

Shoulders moderately laid back. Shoulder blade and upper arm of approximately equal length. Elbows tucked firmly against brisket. Legs straight with clean fine bone, long forearm and well-defined sinews. Pasterns of good length, strong and flexible. Feet-Small, oval and compact with thick pads and well-arched toes. Dewclaws are usually removed.

Hindquarters

Medium width, strong and muscular, hocks well let down and turned neither in nor out, with long second thighs and moderately bent stifles. Feet-Same as in "Forequarters".

Coat and Color

Coat short and fine. Skin very pliant. Color-Chestnut red; pure black; tricolor (pure black and chestnut red); or brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red); all with white feet, chest and tail tip. BRINDLE IS NOT ACCEPTED COLOR IN FINLAND. White legs, blaze and collar optional. The amount of white should never predominate over primary color. Color and markings should be rich, clear and well defined, with a distinct line of demarcation between the black and red of tricolors and the stripes of brindles.

Gait

Swift, tireless trot. Stride is long, smooth, effortless and the topline remains level. Coming and going, the straight column of bones from shoulder joint to foot and from hip joint to pad remains unbroken, converging toward the centerline under the body. The faster the trot, the greater the convergence.

Temperament

An intelligent, independent, but affectionate and alert breed. Can be aloof with strangers.

My hobbies

My favorite doings

My informal hobbies is taking my owner out (it has to be leaded, that she won't get lost. She wouldn't know how come home by herself anyway). I also like to drag everybody's gloves around and hide them. Believe me, I've heard about that. I love everything that's warm. In winters my favorite place is by the fireplace. I wouldn't care to go out, but somebody always carries me there. I hate cold and wet weather. I can't imagine anything so disgusting than slush when spring comes. I really don't understand, that why a dog that's used to equator's weather, has to be brought here in cold north! I'd rather be basking on sand dunes than neighbor's snow piles... They've obtained me mudguard, but I really don't like it. At least they won't get it on without fight! Every aristocrat dog has to have that much self-respect. My speediest hobby may be driving a car! Believe it or not, but I love being in car. I want always be on driver's lap. People often look me amused, especially at traffic lights. But I am so experienced that, that when bureau comes against us or when I hear scream "POLICE!" I know I must go to backseat. When I'm on drive I have one vice. I like to push the horn! They say that driver shame when I suddenly decide to stand up and push the horn with my front-paws! Usually people get angry cause they think that my driver is pushing it. They should relax sometime... Maybe most embarrassing hobby is to dig up trashes. You can find some treasures there! That reminds me my absolute number one hobby; eating! I can't imagine why my owner doesn't give me food when I ask it. You just can't keep dogs in hunger! I think I'm just fine like this.

Pictures of me

My "herd"

My "herd" or family consists: father, mother, my "official owner" Sanna, Sanna's boyfriend Tero and Luru-rabbit. Luru is pretty old for a rabbit. He will be eight years on March. We get along pretty well with Luru, although my plays are sometimes too rough for the old man. Poor Luru has a cataract and he's sight is getting hazy. I lounge all day long at home when my "herd" works for my food, I mean OUR food... Sometimes I feel lonely, but after all I like to be on my own for a while. But evening I make sure that I will be noticed!

My hairy friends

Now I'm going to tell you about my friends. Actually I have lot of friends even though none of them are same breed as I. That's only because there is no other basenjis around here. Dogfriend that I see most often is Donna. She is nowadays bigger than me, even she is puppy. We get along fine, but sometimes she irritates me. Mostly because she barks! This may be embarrassing for a dog, but I like cats. Especially Sanna's granny's cat called Nalle. Nalle is pretty old, but still she always plays with me when we visit there. I have other cat friend Iines. Not all cats like us dogs though.

Me and Donna wrestling.