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Country of origin: Africa
Home country:
England
FCI classification: Group 5
Bitch: 40 cm (16 ins) at withers 9 kg (21 lbs)
Dog: 43 cm (17 ins) at withers 11 kg (24 lbs)
General Appearance: Lightly built, fine boned
aristocratic looking animal, high on leg compared with its
length, always poised, alert and intelligent. Wrinkled head,
with pricked ears, proudly carried on a well-arched neck.
Deep brisket runs up into a definite waist, tail tightly curled
presenting a picture of a well-balanced dog of gazelle-like
grace.
Characteristics & Temperament: Barkless
but not mute, its own special noise of mixture of a chortle
and a yodel. Remarkable for its cleanliness in every way. An
intelligent, independent, but affectionate and alert breed.
Can be aloof with strangers.
Head: Flat,
well-chiseled and medium width, tapering towards nose, with a
slight stop. Distance from top of head to stop slightly more
than from stop to tip of nose. Side lines of skull taper
gradually towards mouth, giving a clean-cheeked appearance. Fine
and profuse wrinkles appearing forehead when ears pricked, side
wrinkles desirable but not exaggerated into dewlap. Wrinkles
more noticeable in puppies, but because of lack of shadowing,
not as noticeable in tri-colors; black nose desirable. Jaws
strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e.
the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws. Dark, almond-shaped, obliquely set,
far-seeing and rather inscrutable in expression. Small, pointed,
erect and slightly hooded, of fine texture, set well forward on
top of head, tip of ear nearer center of skull than outside
base.
Neck: Strong and of good length, without
thickness, well crested and slightly full at base of throat
with a graceful curve accentuating crest. Well-set into
shoulders giving head a "lofty" carriage.
Body & Tail:
Balanced with short, level back. Ribs well sprung, deep and
oval. Loin short coupled, deep brisket running up into
definite waist. High set, with posterior curve of buttock
extending beyond root of tail giving a reachy appearance to
hindquarters. Curls tightly over spine and lies closely to
thigh with a single or double curl.
Quarters & Feet:
Shoulders well laid back, muscular, not loaded. Elbows tucked in
against brisket. When viewed from front, elbows in line with
ribs and legs should continue in a straight line to ground
giving a medium front. Forelegs straight with fine bone and
very long fore-arms. Pasterns good length, straight and
flexible. Hindquarters should be strong and muscular, hocks well
let down, turned neither in nor out, with long second thighs and
moderately bent stifles. Feet should be small, narrow and
compact, with deep pads, well arched toes and short nails.
Gait/Movement: Legs carried straight forward with
a swift long tireless swinging stride.
Coat & Color:
Short, sleek and close, very fine. Skin very pliant. Pure
black and white: red and white; black tan and white with tan
melon pips and mask; black, tan and white. Brindle, red
background with black stripes, the more clearly defined the
stripes the better. The white should be on feet, chest and
tail tips. White legs, blaze and white collar optional.
The Basenji can't bark, but is not silent! The
basenji larynx and vocal cord is different than with other
breeds. The vocal cord vibrations is not strong enough to
produce a bark but they yodel instead, a gargling sound that
sometimes is mistaken for a growl.
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