• Are Basenjis the only AKC or domesticated dog with Cloven/joined Paw pads?

    Cloven hoofs were the sign of the devil in the old country.


  • I don't know what you're talking about. My Basenji's paws look just like my golden retriever's paws.

    I don't get what you mean by "cloven/joined pads".
    I can "handle" each pad independently of the others.


  • @Barklessdog:

    Are Basenjis the only AKC or domesticated dog with Cloven/joined Paw pads?

    Cloven hoofs were the sign of the devil in the old country.

    Huh? I don't think so?


  • I have not seen joined paw pads on any other breed ?

    See how the center toes pads are joined at the bottom.

    here's how most paws are like on other dogs. Am I mistaken?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paw
    Observe how the center pads on a regular dog are not joined. Am I mistaken or has not anyone else observed this?

    Old Wives tales. My mother allways told me old wives tales like "cloven hooves were the sign of the devil" "Eye brows that grew together we also a sign of the devil", but thats for another disscussion.


  • I have seen many dogs with the center pad connected


  • The center pads on my golden are joined, just a little farther down, and the hair covers the joining tissue {much like in that Wikipedia photo}.

    Cloven hooves – which horses, cows, sheep, goats {that's where your "devil" myth comes from -- are the hoof itself. On the dog it's just connective skin tissue, like the skin between your fingers. Hooves are not equivalent to paw pads.


  • Somewhere along the line, I remember hearing that the way the basenji paw is formed had something to do with it being a more primitive than domestic breed–don't remember where I heard that or if there's any credence to it. I also thought their paw shape was distinct to the B breed only.


  • I remember reading or hearing how the basenji's, unique to their breed, attached pads actually made it closer in relation to the African jackal than the wolf (which has seperated pads)

    Of coarse I can't find anywhere were this comparison is done/made, but will look further.

    I know with todays DNA testing it could be easily proven or disproven the whole Jackal/basenji debate.


  • @Barklessdog:

    I remember reading or hearing how the basenji's, unique to their breed, attached pads actually made it closer in relation to the African jackyl than the wolf (which has seperated pads).

    That's interesting….one of Max's nicknames during his youth was "the little jackyl" because he was such a pain sometimes! 🙂


  • I just checked both Duke & Daisy's paws. Seems the back pads are attached the way the picture looks, Daisy's are more evident. The front pads move a bit more independently - not much but are very close. Interesting, I never noticed that before. I used to have a yellow lab who's paws were webbed for swimming. The toes would spread out when I cleaned them. hmmm - Very interesting.


  • I have heard basenjis referred to as "devil Dogs: LOL


  • I know of places that will not take basenji's- ones I have personally run across-

    Kennels - I would never use one with all that loud non stop barking, but we considered it once till we visited them - no way! Some do not want basenji's.

    Vets- We had quite a few vets say they wont see basenji's

    Dog trainers- we were told once in a dog training class, one problem from your basenji and he's out!

    I have read about some dog parks were basenji's and other trouble breeds are not allowed.


  • @Barklessdog:

    I know of places that will not take basenji's- ones I have personally run across-

    Kennels - I would never use one with all that loud non stop barking, but we considered it once till we visited them - no way! Some do not want basenji's.

    Vets- We had quite a few vets say they wont see basenji's

    Dog trainers- we were told once in a dog training class, one problem from your basenji and he's out!

    I have read about some dog parks were basenji's and other trouble breeds are not allowed.

    That's crazy! most around here don't know what they are. A friend of mine who is a trainer just mentioned they are untrainable. I don't believe that. I just choose not to. There is a difference.


  • Chicago is a big town and a lot of people own them here.

    It's not that they are untrainable, it's just they respond to different training and the fact that they think nothing of biting if they see fit.


  • @Barklessdog:

    Chicago is a big town and a lot of people own them here.

    It's not that they are untrainable, it's just they respond to different training and the fact that they think nothing of biting if they see fit.

    Your kidding, aren't you? You expect them to just bite? I have never seen a Basenji "just" bite… unless of very poor temperament or socialization..... and that is a very, very small few


  • No they don't bite out of the blue, but they can if you-

    Try to trim their nails, neither likes it- our tri actually went after our vet's assistant, charged her. Another different assistant he just stands there like an angel while they trim his nails?

    Stranger/child Picking him up

    Stranger reaching around his head toward his back

    Touch or grab his tail

    Corner him

    Our male is neutered and will not tolerate any other male. Was was in puppy classes and met lots of dogs and was fine until he turned about 1 1/2 and wham!

    Also he has a thing about mauling/wrestling large dogs with long hair he meets on walks. He jumps on them and trys to wrestle them to the ground, pulling hair out of them. I'm not sure it's playing or what. Other owners are not amused.

    They other night he met a older female yellow lab he knew as a puppy, they were great together. He like labs for some reason?

    Yes 99% of the time, they are fine, but some things will set them off. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone, but people who are forced to deal with them don't look foward to it.

    O.K. We get our dog and go to puppy training class. My wife goes and the very firsat class the trainer pulls my wife over and tells her, "I know basenjis and one bite or incident and he's out of the class". We were really mad! We complained about the trainer.

    No they wont just bite someone, but they might in the right situation. Like it or not they have a bad reputation with vets, kennals & trainers.


  • Well really, any dog will do that…. not just Basenjis.... and I disagree with you on the "people don't look forward to dealing with them"..... if properly socialized..... yes of course there are some things and people that they take a dislike to... and so does ever other breed


  • I disagree with you on the "people don't look forward to dealing with them"….. if properly socialized..... yes of course there are some things and people that they take a dislike to... and so does ever other breed

    This was just my experience when we shopped for a new vet, looked to boarding and training. They ask what kind of dog you have then you get a negitive response. Yes they are not the only breed like that, but we did find out they have a bad reputation with many animal care/service places.


  • Toby has joined paw pads too. I always thought it was a breed characteristic? I know Nashville is not as large of a city as Chicago, but everyone here loves Toby, they say "he is a what?" Cracks me up. Not a common breed here, as a matter of fact we don't have a breeder in Tennessee at all, as far as I know. Which is one reason I was intrested in breeding B's, I think alot of people would love to have one, but don't want a backyard breeder or puppy mill B.


  • Which is one reason I was intrested in breeding B's, I think alot of people would love to have one

    I think the best profile for a basenji owner is a previous cat owner, I think they would have a better shot at understanding the breed. Owners have to be totaly commited to the dog. It's not a dog for the laxed owner. Our breeder really got to know us and "trained us" in basenji's including classes.

    I could never breed basenji's because I could never part with all those puppies.

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