There are few breeders willing to
breed full African litters. I believe this is a shame. Since the
importation of the African basenjis in 1987/88, I had heard how
different they were from the American bred domestic basenjis. Depending
on who you were listening to, the Africans were either too soft, too
aggressive, too spooky and not a good choice for most people. This,
coupled with the fact that they looked different and didn't do well in
the conformation ring, tended to overshadow their true worth to the
breeder and to the basenji breed. I recently had an opportunity to
witness firsthand the difference between a full African litter of
puppies. By observing the differences, I saw what the Africans have to
offer.
I had been following the imported dogs since
they hit the U.S. I was a recent basenji convert, having come from a
life long association with horses and working stock dogs I starting
[sic] showing Shetland sheepdogs in 1979 and got my first basenji in
1986. When the Africans arrived, I was understandably fascinated with
these new immigrants. I read every article that was written about them
and talked to many individuals who had full Africans. In the years that
followed, I watched the influence that the full Africans had on the
overall conformation, movement, and of course the temperaments. In
1989, I met my first full African Avongara
Zarirenna owned by Teri Gavaletz and I was hooked. Then I met
Kibushi La Brea and the die was cast. I began to steer my breeding
program towards using the Africans in my gene pool. Towards this goal,
I acquired my first pup with the new African heritage; a lovely little
¼ African brindle girl who became CH Cinjas Cheetah. In 1997
I finally acquired Avongara
Kipingi from Nancy Parks in Washington.
Although Kippie was almost 8 years old, she was a long
anticipated dream that had been worth waiting for. In 1998 I bred
Kippie to AvongaraWorth The
Wait JC. At the same time, I bred two other litters, mainly
because I wasn't sure if Kippie's litter would take. One was a 3/8th
African litter and the other was 1/16th or almost a total domestic
basenji litter. I believed that I would have an excellent opportunity
to see the much touted difference between the full Africans and the
domestic dogs.
The full African litter was born
first; three days later the 3/8ths African litter was born. A week
later, the last litter was born. It was easy to compare the puppies
with all three litters being born so closely together. The three
bitches were experienced mothers. All things were relatively equal,
except the percentage of African heritage.
The
first difference I noticed was that the African pup were up on their
feet and attempting to walk at 2 days of age. Not just trying to stand,
but walking. It took the other two litters 5 to 7 days before they made
attempt. This was the beginning of a developmental trend that was
repeated with all area development including eyes opening, exploring,
weaning, etc.
There were many other I things that I
noticed as I watched the puppies develop. The Africans were vying with
mom for her dinner at just about 2 weeks old and what appetites they
had! The 3/8th litter were starting to sample the food at just under 3
weeks of age, but the biggest thing was that, for the most part, the
greater percentage of African blood, the faster the puppies developed
overall.
The play of all the puppies was very
interesting to watch. The full Africans played like all puppies do but
they played quieter and mostly in groups, while the domestic pups
played one on one and the play was vigorous and noisy. The reverse of
this was that the African babies started yodeling at 4 to 5 weeks and
would greet you when you came into the room and they would wag their
tails so much that their whole bodies moved. The African puppies all
are still very vocal at a year of age, especially Mickey and Rooster. They tell it like
it is. The African puppies also tended to potty in one area of the pen
and still do to this to this day, usually well away from where they
sleep.
One major break from the early
development trend is African puppy ears. Both domestic & 3/8
litters had upright ears in approximately a week, while the Africans
took much longer. In fact, 2 puppies went to their new homes at 15
weeks of age and their ears were not consistently up although they did
finally come up; Roos
between 17 & 18 weeks and Roosters by 4 months. I found the
Africans used their ears at an early age to a greater extent to
telegraph their mood.
One other item beyond
structure that I find completely appealing is temperament and cognitive
reasoning of the Africans. They never rush into anything and their
entire approach to life reflects this instinctive trait. They check out
each new place, person and situation before approaching to closely. I
have watched Pippi sit and watch the refrigerator with her head cocked
to one side, then walk to it and push the door, stop sit and look again
and approach it again and try something different until she got the
desired result - the door opens. I have a hedge in my yard that
attracted a large number of birds. All the Basenjis will flush birds in
the hedge, but the Africans will work together; to not only flush the
birds but try to bring them down.
As time has gone
by, I have been able to see other differences as the dogs matured. One
of the most striking features is how the Africans are more social than
the domestic pups. Today I can have 7 full Africans, of both sexes and
a variety of ages, in the same yard where I would never consider having
7 different domestic basenjis running together unsupervised. I enjoy
the sociable nature of the full Africans. My African dogs do not spend
all their time jockeying for dominance; they tend to work together as a
team in most of what theydo. I have noticed that Kippie is the
matriarch. Because of their understanding of pack roles, it has made it
easier for me to assert my dominance as ultimate pack leader. The full
Africans do not challenge me as pack leader after about a year of age
and they don't challenge one another either.
I have
observed that the Africans are much more aware of their environment,
which may be one of the reasons that they are considered spooky. When
released in a new surrounding, they investigate the entire area and
then monitor it for any new changes. An example of this was when I took
5 full Africans to a fenced in training area to take pictures. All of
the dogs circled the training area until they were satisfied that there
were no immediate threats. They worked as a team, the pack probing and
surveying for possible hazards. When none were found, they came back to
play and lounge.
They are especially sensitive to
new sounds and smells, and are alert to anyand all changes. Their
caution is, I believe, one ofthe reasons that the full Africans have
not succeeded in the show ring. If you can imagine walking into a
grassy area that is surrounded by unknown sounds and smells, and they
are given no chance to determine if the area is safe, then it is easy
to grasp why their reaction is not as confident as we would like. I
have found that if the full Africans are worked with and come to expect
numerous new sounds and smells at a show setting, particularly in the
show ring, then they are able to overcome their fearful manner.
When the puppies started going to their new homes, one of the
Africans went to a fairly novice basenji owner who had already had a
1/4 African male from the year before and 2 children. Rooster was about
17 weeks old and the transition was very smoothly [sic]. He immediately
took the 2 girls as well as to Tigger, the other basenji. He bonded
very quickly to the family and adapted to their life style. Rooster is
a highly sociable dog who accepts all the neighborhood children as
well. The one problem they have had was during Nationals when Tigger
was gone and Rooster was without canine company, a fact he protested
very loudly for the first 2 days.
Beau went to a long time
Basenji breeder and moved in and settled very quickly with no problems.
His new owners had several full Africans and their comment was that he
was a happy boy who preferred to be with the people in the household,
but dealt well with their Papillons and other basenjis.
Roo, the little girl, also made a smooth transition except
she had some minor house breaking problems. Her new owner, also a long
time breeder who had a ½ African, remarked that Roo was the
most voca basenji she had ever owned. That was how she got her name.
She ROOS at everyone she meets and she has never meet a stranger, or at
least anyone that stayed a stranger. Roo seemed to be happiest with
people but also fine with most of the other dogs in the household. The
3/8 male puppy went to a relative Basenji newbie and was not as easy.
Bear thought he was the man in charge and in typical basenji fashion,
proceeded to establish that thought in his new home. But the new owner
finally prevailed and life is good.
The puppies all
settled in to their new homes and the last year has been full of
challenges for all. Rooster has become the best friend of a 3 year old
and a 10 year old girl who all go for long walks with Dad. He has
unfailing patience with the kids and a sweet disposition. Roo comes
when she's called (what a concept) and shows a natural desire to hunt.
Mickey and Ellymay,
who stayed here along with their mother Kippie, are part of my pack.
Mickey greets each day with a rousing yodel and a true joy of just
being with you. He has a happy go lucky attitude and a strong desire to
please you in all you ask of him. Although he is some what tentative in
new surroundings, he tends to adopt well after a few minutes. Ellymay,
on the other hand, is much quieter and laid back. She is softer with
people and does not deal will with the bitches except her mother. Of
all the pups she is my only shy one.
In Retrospect |
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Reprinted from
The Official Bulletin of the Basenji Club
of America, Inc.
Vol.
XXXIV No. 1 January/February/March 2000, pp. 26-27
Copyright © 2000 BCOA, All Rights
Reserved.