Strange breed of dog that never barks in Africa, turns out to be unexpectedly ferocious

A strange breed of dog whose characteristic is that it never barks, no matter how well-trained it is. That's the Basenji.

The sound of a dog barking "Wow" has been associated with dogs for so long that we think the two concepts are inextricably linked.

However, there is still a strange dog whose characteristic is that no matter how well it is trained, it never barks. That's the Basenji.

 

About the origin of the dog breed that never barked

The Basenji is an ancient breed of dog that originated in Egypt and is known as the "no-bark dog." Their images appear on Egyptian tombs dating back 5,000 years.

Basenji later immigrated to Africa. Here, the breed is used by locals to guide their way through the forest or to warn and keep dangerous animals from approaching.

Many ancient families trained them to hunt from all over the Congo to Sudan. Especially in the Bahr-el-Ghazal region (South Sudan), among the Niam-Niam or Azande tribes, the breed even lives in separate herds in villages.

They supported themselves, followed the hunters to scout for wild animals, and chased them into the nets they had laid in advance.

In the early 1900s, Basenji dogs were brought to Europe to be bred to protect their owners when encountering wild animals in the forest.

 

Learn about the Basenji dog

Basenji is about the size of a bloodhound. Males are 41-43 cm tall and weigh 10-12 kg; females are 38-41 cm tall and weigh 9-11 kg. Strong muscles, a flat skull.

The hallmark of the breed is its horse-like running gait.

Their glossy coat can be copper red, red, black and fawn, black and brindle. The basenji's legs, chest, and tail tip are usually white.

Basenjis are also known for their erect and forward-facing ears. The tail is curved, pointing up and twisting slightly to the other side of the back. The eyes are small and almond-shaped.

 

How Does Basenji Communicate Without Barking?

The biggest characteristic of the Basenji is that it never barks. Interestingly, however, they are very active, even "loud" types. Depending on their mood, they can growl, howl, or whine...

This may be a way for the Basenji to communicate with each other.

 

Ferocious dog, hard to tame

While this breed of dog is highly intelligent, it can be difficult to train due to its independent nature and can become dangerous if overly restrained.

This is considered the second hardest dog to train of all breeds.