Hi, I'm new and came across this forum while searching for reasons my basenji is shedding like crazy. She's always shed a bit and as she's gotten older (she's 13 now) it seems to get worse and worse. This year it seems exceptionally bad though perhaps it just seems so because I have a new, dark brown chenille couch. :p
I'm glad to read the constructive suggestions in this thread. A few years back on a different forum I had asked the same question and had been told my basenji could not possibly be purebred if she was shedding so much. She may be a pet but I have extensive paperwork proving her lineage and her parents and siblings have been excellent show dogs I was, understandably, rather taken aback with those accusations.
My vet has been concerned with thyroid levels in Tano (my dog) due to discoloration on her tummy. Tests show she's normal though. Since the discoloration tends to show up in the summer and fade in the winter I suspect it may have more to do with her sunbathing.
Another suggestion made to me is that it has something to do with the protein levels in her food. Over the years we've tried different foods and that doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference (she's on Nutro Senior now which I hope is good food since she loves it and processes it well enough).
Anyway, thank you again for posting up good suggestions!