The Basenji is an interesting dog breed, probably best known as the 'bark-less' dog of Central Africa. But there are a lot of other things that make this one of the most unique dog breeds.
These dogs have been used as hunting companions by the tribes of Central Africa for centuries. In fact, there is a documented history of this breed that goes back over 5, 000 years, and includes depictions of the Basenji in ancient Egyptian tombs.
However, in the West, these dogs remained unknown until some were brought to England in 1937. The Congo Dog, as it was then called, was first introduced to America in 1944, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1944. Later the name was changed to Basenji, which apparently means 'bush thing'.
The Basenji is a medium sized dog that stands between 15 and 18 inches at the shoulder. It has erect ears, a pointed muzzle, and a distinctive 'furrowed' brow. The tail is tightly curled, and carried over the back. The coat is short in length and can be a number of colors. These include red, chestnut, copper, black or brindle. All color variants feature white markings on the chest, feet and tail.
But what really sets the Basenji apart from other breeds is its temperament. For starters, the are compulsive groomers and have been described as being more like cats than dogs in the way they clean themselves.
And they behave like cats in other ways too. They are very good climbers for instance, quite adept a scaling trees, and even chain link fences.
These dogs can be quite strong-willed, and even dominant if they are allowed to get away with it. Training, socialization and consistent pack leadership are therefore a must. Common problem behaviors with the Basenji are chewing, and aggression towards small animals.
But don't let that put you off adopting a Basenji, because they can be wonderful pets. They are affectionate, energetic and intelligent dogs with a genuine eagerness to please. They bond closely with their human family, and do very well with older children, although they are less suitable for very young kids.
You do need to remember however that these were originally hunting dogs, so they need quite a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Your Basenji will need a long walk every day and will also enjoy games to keep him mentally active. When to dog is home alone you may want to get him some chew toys, to keep him away from chewing your stuff.
These dogs can live quite comfortably in an apartment, but will need to get outdoors daily for exercise.
Basenjis are generally healthy, but not immune to the conditions that typically afflict purebred dogs. Particular concerns with this breed are liver disorders, intestinal problems and eye diseases, like progressive retinal atrophy.
One big benefit of owning a Basenji is that you'll have virtually no grooming to do, as they shed very little and also groom themselves.
If you’re stuck for puppy names, for your Basenji, I’d recommend that you check out Puppy Names HQ, an online database that has thousands of excellent dog names including a huge list of male dog names.
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The Bullmastiff is a powerful, muscular dog that was first bred in England during the 18th century for the purpose of apprehending poachers. During the latter part of the 18th century, poachers were the bane of English country estates, and a dog was sought to assist gamekeepers in apprehending them. Unfortunately, the dogs of the day were either too vicious, or too slow, so a new breed was created by crossing the Bulldog and the Mastiff. The resulting dog was fierce, powerful, but pinned the poacher down, rather than mauling him.
The Bullmastiff was big enough, fast enough, and agile enough to excel at this job. And the dog seldom had to resort to force because even the bravest poacher was quickly frightened into submission.
Standing up to 27 inches at the withers, and weighing as much as 130 pounds, this dog just exudes power and strength. The head is huge with a somewhat undershot jaw. The coat is short, in tan red or brindle, normally with a darker face mask.
In common with most mastiff breeds, the Bullmastiff is truly a gentle giant. These huge fearsome dogs are real softies when it comes to the people close to them. They are placid, loyal and loving, and get on particularly well with children. You will however need to watch them around small kids as they can easily knock a child over by accident.
Obedience training is a must with this breed, as is early socialization and strong consistent leadership. The Bullmastiff is generally an obedient dog, but does tend towards dominance, especially if there is a lack of rules and boundaries. Male Bullmastiffs for example, can be highly territorial, and will often not accept another male dog in the household.
Median life style for the breed is 10 years, which is in line with other dogs of this size. The Bullmastiff is unfortunately prone to a number or genetic disorders. As with most large dogs they can suffer from hip dysplasia and gastric torsion, while canine cancers, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy also occur.
Up to a quarter of Bullmastiffs develop hip dysplasia. Bloat, or gastric torsion, is also common and can be prevented by feeding the dog several small meals a day, rather than one large meal. If your dog does develop bloat, it is imperative that you get him to a vet immediately.
Grooming a Bullmastiff is an easy task. All it takes is a good brushing every other day or so, to keep the coat looking its best.
The Bullmastiff may look tough and rugged, but it is not an outdoor dog. Their coat offers little protection from the elements and besides, they are sensitive souls who want and need to be close to those they love.
The good news is that they are generally calm, quiet and well behaved indoors and can even be kept in an apartment. They will however, require daily exercise outdoors.
Good names for a Bullmastiff can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of female dog names to pick from.
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Too few dog owners pay attention to what they feed their dogs. For many, it's just a case of whatever is on special at their local supermarket, without any consideration for what the food contains. Many would be shocked to know that some of the ingredients, flavorants and colorings may actually be harmful to their dog.
Not only that, but in many cases buying cheap is actually a false economy, as I’ll explain later.For now, lets just concentrate on ways to select a healthy, good quality dog food for your dog.
Dogs are omnivores and require both meat and vegetables in their diet. The ratio between the two should be about 50/50 with no additional fillers. How do you know if a particular brand of kibble meets this requirement? You read the label.
Unfortunately, labels sometimes appear to be written in a foreign language, so here's a short-cut to finding out what you need to know. Just look at the first five listed ingredients, and if they are meat based products, the food will probably meet your dog's nutritional needs.
It's not that grains are bad for your dog, just that they are better fed whole. Grains like rice, millet, oats and barley are actually a rich source of fiber, but the grains contained in dry dog food are primarily there as filler, and contain minimal nutritional value.
The other things you should look out for are preservatives and artificial flavors and colorings – a quality dog food will not contain any of these. If preservative are present, take particular note of what kinds of preservatives are used. Chemical preservatives can cause cancer, so rather go a product that uses natural preservatives, like Vitamin E and C.
All this checking of labels can be a bit of a bind after a while though, so why not just cut to the chase. Buy a premium or super premium dog food brand and you can be almost certain that it will give your dog the optimum level of nutrition he needs.
Now you may be thinking that these products are exorbitantly priced but as with most things, you get what you pay for. Remember earlier when I said that buying cheap is a false economy. Here’s why.
Cheap dog food brands use sub-standard ingredients that are low in nutritional value. This means you have to give your dog more food to meet his nutritional needs. Feeding more inevitably leads to obesity, obesity leads to disease, disease leads to expensive visits to the vet, and your dog living a shorter, less fulfilling life.
Feeding a premium brand means you can feed smaller quantities, so that expensive brand of kibble last longer and also passes quality nutrition to your dog. Your dog will also pass less waste, so there's less for you to pick up!
Hopefully this article has illustrated why you should always feed your dog the best dog food you can afford. But quite aside from the health benefits, your dog deserves it.
Read more about best dog food, dog care, dog walking and other useful dog info at dogsanddogtraining.com
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