Basenji
About the Basenji
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Small (10-25 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 16-17" |
| Weight | 22-24 lbs |
| Coat Type | Smooth |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,100/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Basenjis may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Apartment Living
- Active Owners
- Allergy Sufferers
May Not Be Ideal For
- First-Time Owners
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Basenji
The story behind the Basenji
Basenji-type dogs have lived with hunting communities across Central Africa for a very long period, particularly in the Congo basin, where they flushed and drove game toward nets, often wearing wooden bells so hunters could follow them through dense cover. Villagers valued their independence, silence in cover and durability. European travellers encountered the type during the 1800s, and repeated attempts to establish it in Britain in the early 1900s failed until imports in the 1930s produced surviving lines. Registry recognition followed in Britain and the United States. Later imports from Africa in the 1980s and afterwards broadened the gene pool and introduced the brindle colour. The Basenji is now an uncommon but well-established companion, and it continues to hunt in parts of Central Africa.
Originally bred for: Hunting, Flushing, Companion. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Basenji
A small, lean, high-metabolism hound does well on a quality nutrient-dense food fed in controlled portions, since this breed should look visibly athletic. Determined counter-raiding and food theft mean secure storage matters as much as the diet itself, and treats need honest accounting.
Watch for: No universal food intolerance is established for the breed, though Basenjis are known within their breed community for inherited digestive and kidney conditions. That history makes any change in appetite, weight or stool worth prompt veterinary attention rather than dietary experimentation at home.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Basenji
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.