I am so sorry to read that your basenji is not well and perhaps nearing the end of his life. I've known so many pet owners who, after their pet passed away, said "I waited too long." I had three basenjis; they were all 15-17 years old when they went to the rainbow bridge. I almost didn't get any more dogs after they died because those decisions were so difficult. I think that using eating as the marker is not enough. What I think about first is DIGNITY. Human beings who are nearing the end can think about dignity but our pets can't. I think it is up to us to let our pets go before they are peeing and pooping everywhere or acting confused. Surely something must tell them that this is not their normal behavior.
I have a wonderful article written by Dr.Marc Bekoff, an animal behaviorist, who wrote about how difficult it was to make the decision. Unfortunately I don't have a link; I just have the article. He talks about having to make the decision about his 12-year-old dog. Please forgive me for including so much of what he said in this response, but I couldn't have said it any better, and each time I have had to say goodbye to one of my pets I have turned to this article for comfort and understanding and knowing that I am doing the right thing . I recently had to say goodbye to my 16-year-old cat and it wasn't any easier than the last time but Dr. Bekoff's words comforted me:

Jethro knew I’d do what’s best for him and I came to feel that often he’d look at me and say, “It’s OK. Please take me out of my misery and lessen your burden. Let me have a dignified ending to what was a great life. Neither of us feels better letting me go on like this.” And I feel he told me that the moral dilemma I faced was no predicament at all; that I had done all I could and that his trust in me was not compromised one bit — but, perhaps, strengthened; that I had made the right choice; that I could go on with no remorse or apologies.....Our companions are counting on us to be for them in all situations, to let them go and not to let their lives deteriorate into undignified humiliation while we ponder our own needs in lieu of theirs. We are obliged to do so. We can do no less.

Your basenji will thank you, and you will be at peace, knowing that you made the right decision.

I could use stronger language, but will stick with "pity the poor basenji who is left in a large cage alone during the day. " We had neighbors who left their basenji in a small cage in the basement while they were at work, and she chewed through the wiring. She also managed to chew through a couple of padlocks. Fortunately for her, they found her another home. Where do people get the idea that there is nothing wrong with keeping a dog in a cage for eight hours?

How old was your dog when you acquired him? Did he have any training either from you from the previous owner?

Do you have someone who could take him out for a couple of walks while you are at work? If that big cage is your only solution, please do a kind deed and let someone else adopt him.

Hi, Yes, basenjis are fascinating, aren't they? And that's why we love them. I am writing to comment about basenjis and inclement weather/snow. We must never forget that on the whole they are very adaptable. We lived in Stockholm for 12 years. That is where I got my first two basenjis. In November and December and part of January, the sun rises at 9 AM and sets of 3 PM in Stockholm. Further north, the days are even shorter. Sweden is home to many basenjis. I can assure you that the dogs adapt to the dark AND the cold, with the appropriate outerwear, just as they adapt to hours and hours of sunshine in the summer. They may not look like a hearty breed, but they are. I have Swedish friends who take mile-long hikes in the hills and in the woods with their basenjis. these dogs are tireless if there enjoying what they're doing. I've never known a basenji that didn't enjoy snow. Rain is something else altogether. However there too, one cannot generalize. Two of my basenjis went out in the rain to do their business. The third one= no way!

I guess my point is that we can't generalize about all basenjis doing X and never doing Y. I also think that with a little bit of patience from their guardians ( I live in Boulder; that's what were supposed to call ourselves :-), they can be taught just about anything. Note that I said "just about". :-)

Good luck, roguecoyote
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I think that a basenji puppy and a two-year-old is a recipe for disaster for many reasons. Both require and crave lots of attention, neither one can be reasoned with, both will want to play with the same toy, both can be stubborn, and the list goes. It is far too much to expect a two-year-old to understand how to get along with any puppy, especially a basenji puppy. If your heart is set on a basenji puppy, then I think you should wait until your child is at least five or six years old.Children that age understand what you are saying about the puppy and you can explain to them why you are saying it. I agree with the person who suggested getting an older basenji or how about a puppy of another breed? t one time in my life I had a basenji and a mixed breed, and they got along beautifully.
You may love all the traits of this breed but I was suggest that you talk to owners and their experiences with the basenjis and young children. One cannot count on even the best breeders to give you the full story. Please don't get me wrong. I've had three basenjis and adored them all. I got the first one when my youngest daughter was seven. You don't have to wait that long but two years old is too young, imho. Good luck.

What a charming fellow! Congratulations (Do you by any chance live near Tower Bridge?)

Absolutely!

I agree with what the other guardians have said about basenjis; just want to add that I don't think any dogs, unless they are relatively inactive seniors, should be left alone for ten hours.

One can't put a time limit on how long it will take to acclimate a puppy to new surroundings and to get it to understand its place in your home. You have to keep in mind that basenjis can live many years so this is a long commitment, not one to be taken lightly. I've had three basenjis and they lived to be 14, 15, and almost 17.

They are absolutely wonderful dogs, unique in so many ways but, as the saying goes, they are not for everyone, and that's okay imho. My basenjis have always had a companion, and most of the people that I knew in Sweden, where I acquired my first two, had two dogs, not always two basenjis or one basenji and another breed.

Apparently, because of the pandemic, puppies and kittens are in short supply everywhere, and since female basenjis generally only have one litter a year, you might have to wait even longer. The theory behind the shortage of puppies and kittens (and even older dogs and cats) is that because of lockdowns, etc people are lonely for companionship.

I agree with what others have written about rehoming your basenji. Nine years of age would qualify as middle-age for most dogs. Leaving the only home that he has known since he was a puppy would bewilder him. When we acquire a dog, I think that we make an unwritten contract with the dog that we will keep them unless severe behavioral issues or unforeseen circumstances unrelated to the dog arise. My first reaction to your email is that you are tired of taking care of him because he has health issues. I hope that I am wrong in my assessment. Now is the time that he needs you more than ever.
Some suggestions/ideas: 1) navigating the hardwood stairs. Check to make sure that his nails have not gotten too long. 2) I had an older dog, who could not go up and down the hardwood stairs, so I bought some non-slip carpet stair treads. They solved the problem. They are not very expensive, so you could put them on all the stairs and not have to carry him up and down 3) have you considered putting down some non-slip area rugs on some of your hardwood floors? 4) how about putting some of his food upstairs? 5) If you are upstairs most of the time, and he is downstairs, he probably gets lonely (he cries when he is not with us.) Basenjis in particular are social animals; they get very attached to their guardians and like to be in proximity of them. Carpeting the stairs might help this situation. 6) As for the neurological disorder, there is a lot of useful information online, including various forms of pain relief such as canine massage. GOOD LUCK to you and Blaze!

I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful basenji. As someone wrote below, it never gets easier. I truly believe that it is our memories that keep them alive in our hearts forever.

Hi,

I have lived with three basenjis. I acquired the first two in Sweden, a b/w male and a tri/female. The breeder was completely honest with me about what to expect. He told me all the good things and also the bad things, which included chewing. I don't know how many underpants and jeans' crotches the male chewed up but his actions didn't come as a surprise. After they outgrew puppy hood, they didn't play together very often but their antics, yodels, and beautiful selves brought us great joy. As someone else has mentioned, they are very affectionate, like to be warm and sleep under the covers. Unless they are hit by cars, basenjis tend to live well into their teens. Mine were 15 years old when they died.

My third basenji, Sasha, a tri female, was also bred in Sweden but spent her life in the States. I wanted a second dog so I went to the local Humane Society and found what turned out to be the perfect partner for Sasha. He was a mixed breed, probably had some beagle in him, and when they met, I knew that I had made the right decision. For 16+ years, they were inseparable, and neither one of them ever destroyed anything. They could spend hours chasing each other around the backyard and then once back in the house, they would lie down next to each other and go to sleep. Sasha was the alpha, and Dylan didn't mind.

They died within three months of each other. Dylan died first and Sasha, who was in fairly good health for her age, missed him so much that her health deteriorated. I think she died of a broken heart.

I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that I believe that basenjis can be only dogs but in that case they require a tremendous amount of exercise and stimulation. A companion dog can provide these things. An added bonus: when I left the house for any reason, they kept each other company.

Basenjis are not known for their ability to learn at the drop of a hat. They are very smart and need to want to please you. However, with patience, you can teach them many things. Finally, if you're looking for a dog that is submissive and knows their place, a basenji is probably not for you. A basenji will be your four-footed partner/friend for life. They will adore you and respect you but they will also be independent.

Good luck. Please let us know what you decide.

Mireille

I agree with Giza1. No need for me to go into why I don't think she's a basenji, but she's awfully cute. Enjoy her and let us know what the DNA test says.

I'm with Tanza zbout breeding times. I've had three basenjis; two were born in December and the third one in April. I still belong to the Swedish Basenji Society, and when their magazine publishes news about new litters, almost all of them were born in December. If you want a puppy, I think you are looking at the fall of 2021. Having said that, I'm sure there are young basenjis (not puppies) for sale year around.

Good luck.

I am so sorry for your losses. They must have had a very strong bond. Several years ago, my beloved mixed breed died of severe arthritis. He was almost sixteen. He and my female basenji had lived together their entire lives, and they were inseparable. She was living with kidney disease that was under control. After he passed away, she was so distraught; she looked for him everywhere in the house; couldn't find him. Her condition deteriorated very quickly, and three months later, she too died, I'm sure of a broken heart. May all of our dogs meet again.....

If you're lucky, he won''t bark (basenjis don't) No offense meant re chihuahuas but they sure do bark a lot! Seriously, I think it would be pretty difficult to tell you what to expect from that mix. It all depends on what characteristics you recognize from each breed. I suggest that you read up on both breeds

This beautiful basenji has to be a purebred. Upright ears, wrinkles, very alert, gorgeous color.

I've had three basenjis. The first two lived together for many years. After they died, I acquired the third one and got her a companion (mixed breed) from the local humane society. In both instances, I was so happy that the basenjis had companions. Basenjis bore easily if they don't get enough exercise or if they don't have a distraction, like a companion. When they're bored, they can be mischievous. Good luck to you. There's rarely a a dull moment with a basenji around.

These beautiful pictures make me want to have another basenji. I've had three, all lived to be 15+ years old: two tricolors and a b/w. All wonderful companions. Congratulations to you!