Perhaps even visited adult Basenjis
and their breeders in your area. You’re ready to move to the
next step - finding the Basenji puppy that is right for your
household.
The following questions will help you determine if a breeder
is a responsible, dedicated, knowledgeable guardian of the
breed or someone who produces puppies indiscriminately or
for profit. Your goal is to find a healthy, well-tempered
Basenji puppy from a breeder who will provide you with
accurate information, support and assistance throughout your
Basenji’s lifetime. The breeder you select should be a
person you trust = a person of integrity who strives to
maintain sound temperaments, good health, correct
conformation, and longevity in every Basenji they produce.
None of these questions, standing alone, should be the sole
basis for determining whether or not to purchase a puppy
from a particular breeder. These questions are intended to
provide a framework for conversations with breeders, and as
a springboard for acquiring additional information about a
breeder’s practices.
By selecting a reputable breeder, you maximize your chances
of getting a healthy, happy puppy. They will also be a
support network for the life of your dog. Basenjis can
present unexpected challenges to the first-time owner so
it’s important to select a breeder who is both willing to
help you and knowledgeable enough to do so effectively.
An Important Note
Responsible breeders never sell their puppies to pet
shops or commercial brokers. Basenji pups that are for sale
in pet shops are produced for profit, and without regard to
health or temperament. The breeders of these puppies are not
available as a resource for new owners, and responsible
breeders can usually provide better and more accurate
breed-specific advice than the staff of a pet shop. Also, a
Basenji puppy from a pet shop often costs far more than a
companion puppy from a responsible breeder.
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The Questions
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How long have
you been involved with Basenjis? |
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Do you belong
any dog clubs, and if so why is it important to you? |
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3 |
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Do you show
your dogs in conformation? |
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4 |
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Do you health
test the Basenjis you’re breeding? |
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What specific
health concerns are behind the sire and dam? |
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6 |
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How do you
select a sire or dam for a litter? |
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7 |
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How many
litters do you breed per year? |
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8 |
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Do you have a
waiting list for your upcoming litter? |
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9 |
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How long do
you keep pups with their dam and siblings? |
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10 |
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How do you
socialize your puppies? |
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11 |
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Do you screen
prospective buyers? |
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12 |
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What are your
spay or neuter requirements? |
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13 |
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Do you sell
all of your puppies on written contracts? |
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How much do
you charge for a puppy? |
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Can you
provide me with references? |
How long have you
been involved with Basenjis?
A person who begins to breed Basenjis immediately after
acquiring their first dogs may not have the background
knowledge to evaluate pedigrees for health and temperament
issues, and may lack sufficient experience with the breed to
provide accurate, on-going advice to puppy buyers.
Back to questions
Do you belong any
dog clubs, and if so why is it important to you?
Belonging to the AKC parent club, Basenji Club of America (BCOA)
or a regional Basenji club indicates that a breeder
maintains some degree of contact with other people who are
committed to the breed. As members, they receive
publications that contain information about health testing,
and other issues that impact the welfare of the breed.
Back to questions
Do you show your
dogs in conformation or participate in other activities
(lure coursing, agility, obedience) with your dog?
Breeders who show or participate in performance events have
many opportunities to compare Basenjis of their breeding
with Basenjis bred by others. They are more likely to be in
the loop regarding important health information, and to be
serious, life-long students of the breed.
Back to questions
Do you health test
the Basenjis you’re breeding?
Responsible breeders are aware of all health problems
affecting Basenjis, and strive not to produce these problems
in their pups. They utilize the best health testing methods
available to screen their breeding stock, and can provide
evidence to back up their testing claims. Hip and eye
results can be verified on the OFA web site, www. offa.org,
but a responsible breeder volunteers documented evidence of
the health tests they perform. Health testing on a routine
basis can be expensive—some breeders who produce pups
primarily for profit cut corners on health testing to save
money.
A breeder who is concerned about the long-term welfare of
the breed will health test for the conditions mentioned on
the BCOA Health page, and be especially concerned with the
following before breeding:
Hip dysplasia—dogs will have an OFA certification of fair,
good or excellent)
Inherited eye diseases—dogs will have CERF certification
Fanconi Syndrome-Fanconi DNA Linkage test now available, all
responsible breeder should be testing their Basenjis before
breeding. All results will be listed at www.offa.org.
Thyroid disease—thyroid blood panel to determine if thyroid
function is low, or normal
Back to questions
What specific
health concerns are behind the sire and dam of your litter?
What can you tell me about the siblings and other relatives?
Serious breeders talk openly about health issues they've
encountered in their years of breeding, and will be able to
tell you how they are working to avoid problems in the
future.
Back to questions
Two major health problems affecting Basenjis-Fanconi and
PRA-occur later in life (after four years of age)-and even
careful, knowledgeable breeders may encounter problems. At
present, there are no DNA marker tests for PRA, HOWEVER,
there is now a Fanconi DNA Linkage Test and all breeders
should tested before breeding. The best chance to avoid
hereditary health problems like Fanconi and PRA is to
purchase a puppy from a breeder who health tests the dogs
they are breeding for common Basenji ailments, and has a
good working knowledge of the family health history behind
their dogs (not just the sire and dam, but the grand sire,
grand dam, and other relatives as well). Buyer should
inquire as to the results of the Fanconi Linkage Test
Results of the Sire and Dam of any puppies.
Back to questions
How do you select a
sire or dam for a litter? Do you consider Basenjis from
other breeders, or Basenjis that do not reside with you?
Breeders will occasionally breed a male Basenji that resides
with them to a female that resides with them. But if a
breeder never selects mates other than those that reside in
their household, it is possible that the breeder is:
– trying to avoid paying stud fees
– doesn't understand the importance of selecting mates that
are a good match genetically and physically
– not well-regarded by other breeders and therefore doesn’t
have access to a broader range of breeding choice
Back to questions
How many litters do
you breed per year?
There are a few special circumstances when responsible
breeders may produce two or more litters per year. Properly
caring for and socializing a litter of Basenji puppies is
time consuming work and a breeder who routinely produces
multiple litters per year in their own home may need to cut
costs on veterinary care, nutrition, or socialization. In
some cases, these breeders produce puppies for profit rather
than to improve the breed. A responsible breeder who is
producing multiple litters will be willing to discuss their
breeding strategy with you.
Back to questions
Do you have a
waiting list for your upcoming litter?
Breeders begin looking for good homes for their puppies as
soon as they decide to produce a litter. It takes time to
interview prospective owners (they need to check you out,
just as need to evaluate them). Many breeders begin adding
names to their waiting lists in Spring for a Fall breeding.
A breeder who does not have a waiting list, or who waits
until the pups are born to begin looking for homes, may not
be taking the responsibilities of breeding seriously, or may
not be putting enough time and effort into selecting good
homes.
Back to questions
How long do you
keep puppies with their siblings and dam?
Basenji puppies are not ready to go home with their new
owners until they are eight weeks of age, or older. Breeders
who send puppies home prior to age eight weeks may not be
aware of the importance—for Basenji pups in particular—of
spending time with siblings and dam, learning canine
communication skills, and appropriate ways to interact with
people. Puppies that are separated from their dam and
siblings too soon can develop behavior problems later in
life, can be difficult to house train, and may lack bite
inhibition.
Back to questions
How do you
socialize your puppies?
Basenjis require a lot of early, positive experiences with
new people, places and animals in order to be well-adjusted
adults. The breeder should be able to tell you, in detail,
how they socialize their puppies, and what you can do to
continue the socialization process once you take your puppy
home.
Back to questions
Do you screen
prospective buyers? Will my entire family/household need to
visit beforre we can be added to your waiting list?
Most breeders who care about their Basenjis, and the breed,
will not place a puppy with a person they have never met, or
at least corresponded with extensively. Expect to be asked
for references—including from your landlord if you rent.
Expect to be asked to visit the breeder’s home if you are
within a reasonable distance, and anticipate that all
members of your household (children, anyone else residing in
the household) will be asked to attend. A face-to-face
meeting, where practical, helps the breeder find the best
possible match for pups they produce and in the end is for
the benefit of you and the puppy.
When a personal visit isn’t possible, expect that a breeder
will want to speak/correspond with you at length to ensure
that you and your puppy will be a good match. A breeder who
will sell/ship a puppy without references and a thorough
screening process should be cause for concern.
Back to questions
What are your spay
or neuter requirements?
Responsible breeders realize that breeding Basenjis properly
takes a great deal of time, effort and experience. They do
not want dogs they’ve produced to be bred indiscriminately,
adding to the pet over-population problem. Requiring
companion pups to be spayed or neutered indicates that a
breeder is conscientious, dedicated to maintaining the
integrity of the breed, and concerned about the welfare of
each puppy they produce. Responsible breeders also have
first hand experience with some of the demands of living
with intact Basenjis—they understand that a person who is
looking for a Basenji as a companion isn’t likely to want to
face these challenges.
Back to questions
Do you sell all of
your puppies on written contracts, with AKC registration?
Responsible breeders sell their puppies on written
contracts. A contract will protect you, the puppy buyer, and
clearly state the seller’s expectations. A responsible
breeder’s contract will contain health guarantees and
include a provision to take the puppy back at anytime during
its life (even in old age) if you can no longer care for it.
Basenjis are an AKC-registered breed. U.S. breeders do not
need to use other U.S.-based registries. Many of these
alternative registries were created to provide papers for
dogs that are not eligible for AKC registration. The
integrity of some alternative registries is
suspect—particularly if the breed is recognized by the AKC - and
the pedigree you’re given may not be accurate.
Back to questions
How much do you
charge for a puppy?
Basenji breeders in the U.S. charge between $800 and $1000
for a companion puppy on a spay/neuter contract. There can
be legitimate reasons for charging more or less. However, a
breeder who is selling companion puppies for significantly
more or less in your geographic area should have good
reasons for doing so. A breeder whose fee is significantly
below market rate may be producing too many litters and
needs to sell quickly. A breeder who sells at an inflated
price may be seeking to line his/her pocketbook at your
expense.
Back to questions
Can you provide me
with references from other puppy buyers and Basenji
breeders?
A responsible breeder will have a long list of puppy buyers
and fellow breeders who can vouch for their credibility,
sincerity, and knowledge. They will not hesitate to provide
you with references and will encourage you to contact them.
Follow up on the references you receive—a disreputable
person may give out names of well-known breeders in the hope
that you will never bother to contact those individuals.
Take the time to call or e-mail every reference you receive. |
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