Basenji

Height: 16 to 17 inches at shoulder

Weight: 22 to 24 pounds

Coat: short and fine

Life span: 10 to 12 years

known as the "barkless" dog from Africa, the Basenji attracts admirers with his short coat, small, muscular body, alert demeanor, erect ears, and tail curled tightly over one hip. A wrinkled brow gives him a quizzical and sometimes mischievous expression.the famous bark-less dog, comes from Africa and is a dog of medium size, lightly built and fine boned with a wrinkled forehead, erect ears and a curly tail which sits on it's back. This dog is also known by the other names of Zande dog, Congo dog or Congo terrier. The Basenji was bred originally to drive game up trees (monkeys and small cats). They were also used to also chase prey such as small antelopes into hunting nets or out into the open where their quarry could be shot with a gun or a bow and arrow. It's origins can be dated back for at least 5000 years to the Ancient World. It is classified as one of the Hound Dogs Group which we go on to describe in detail in the section at the bottom of this page. This dog's name is sometimes mis-spelt as Basengi.