Nigeria’s free roaming dogs, popularly known as ‘ekuke’ are the basenji breed of dog. This is according to some people with low or no knowledge of the breed. If basenjis are actually the types of dogs we find roaming about the streets, then we should not have them around in Nigeria again. We would have exported them all. They are quite expensive and highly appreciated outside Africa where they originated from. We have to acknowledge the fact that there are many dogs scattered across Africa that resemble the basenji breed.
Basenji breed originated from central African Republic and are classified by FCI under Spitz and primitive types of dog. Their size and weight are as follow: Ideal height : dogs 43 cm (17 inches) at withers, bitches 40 cm (16 inches) at withers. Ideal weight : dogs 11 kg (24 lbs), bitches 9 1/2 kg (21 lbs). They have various colours like brindle, black, tri-color, tan, black & white, red. Basenjis are bred basically for hunting. The breed got its name from the Lingala language of the Central African Republic, mbwá na basɛ́nzi which means ‘villager dogs’ and are popularly referred to as Africa’s ‘barkless’ dogs. They do not bark, but they yodel.
The yodel is an unusual sound peculiar to the breed as a result of the construction of their larynx. The larynx is an organ in the neck of mammals that help in breath control, protection of the trachea and production of sound, housing the vocal cords. Since they cannot bark like other dogs, they are termed ‘barkless dog’. Does the dog you are calling basenji yodels or barks? Watch a basenji making the yodel sound:
They are lightly built, finely boned aristocratic looking animal, high on legs compared with its length, always poised, alert and intelligent. They have 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. The distance from top of head to stop is slightly more than from stop to tip of nose.
The accepted colour of the nose is black. The jaws are strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square in the jaws. The eyes are almond in shape and dark. The ears are small and pointed. The neck is strong and of good length, without thickness, well crested and slightly full at base of throat with a graceful curve accentuating crest. Forelegs are straight with fine bone. The legs are in a straight line to ground, giving a medium front. The shoulders are well laid back and muscular. Elbows are tucked in against brisket. When viewed from front, elbows are in line with ribs. Forearms are very long and pasterns are of good length, straight and flexible.
They have life span of 11 to 14 years. They are recognizable by their glistening short coat, tightly curled tail, and wrinkled forehead and expressive almond-shaped eyes that convey a variety of subtle, human-like emotions. It’s often said that a good Basenji is a tired Basenji. This is to say that they need enough exercise daily for them to be calm.
Basenjis like Dingo wild dogs and the New Guinea singing dog or New Guinea Highland dogs, as well as some other dog breeds come in heat once in a year. This is suffice to say that they experience estrus once annually unlike other dogs that come in heat 2 or more times in a year.
Basenji breed has clear differences from its look-alike. They are not the usual breeds that we often misconstrue them with. Kindly like our blog to receive our future post.
Written by Olumide Makinde
©Euniversal Stars Kennels 2019.
What’s up, just wanted to mention, I liked this article.
It was practical. Keep on posting!! Kudos
Hmm Great article! One major error, though! Basenjis are Congo’s dogs, and most definitely not ‘Nigerian’! I’m sure Nigerians never heard of it! I’m perplexed how you could make such a glaring error!
Nigeria is in West Africa!
The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog. It was bred from stock that originated in central Africa. Most of the major kennel clubs in the English -speaking world place the breed in the hound group —more specifically, in the sighthound type. The Federation Cynologique Internationale places the breed in its group five ( spitz and primitive types), and the United Kennel Club (US) places the breed in its Sighthound and pariah group .
Exactly! Basenjis are from the Congo’s villages, not a West African breed of Nigeria! Doesn’t anyone edits nor fact-checks their articles?
You need to read it again. Nobody is saying that the breed belong to Nigeria. The article was written to correct the notion that it originated from West Africa. Please read it again.
You are correct! My mistake! Thanks for pointing it out!