Height: male: 17 in; female: 16 in. Weight: male: 24 lbs; female: 22 lbs. Life Span: 12-14 years
The Basenji is a handsome, muscular dog, who is also known as the African Barkless Dog. He should not bark, but is not mute. His repertoire of sounds range from a pleasing throaty crow to a keening wail made when he is lonely or unhappy. One of the oldest breeds of dogs he is native to Africa where he is used to assist beaters in flushing game which is then driven into nets strung up against trees. His name means "wild and violent" in Swahili. The Basenji will make a good pet as long as he is handled on a regular basis from an early age.
