Bruce's Journal

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm not trying to be disagreeable but I'm speaking from personal experience here:

About a million years ago I had a couple of basenji's before we moved to our farm. They were beautiful dogs and nice enough in the yard, but found out the negative side when we moved to our farm.

They have an extremely HIGH prey drive and did NOT work out on my place. I kept them in the fenced back yard and it worked for a couple of months until somehow or another they got into the barnyard area. I had a 4 x 8 raised cage with hardware cloth bottom that I was raising chicks in. The dogs got into that area and under the cage and literally (and this is a graphic explanation) pulled the legs off of the chicks from underneath the cage. They also killed about 30 of my grown fowl at the same time. Very efficient little killing machines. I loved the breed - but couldn't keep them.

 

[Hens and Roos]

sorry to hear that it's not working out

 

[Bruce]

Basenji, Bruce....they don't bark, supposed to be excellent homestead dogs.

https://www.basenji.org/joomla/inde...t&view=category&layout=blog&id=109&Itemid=345

Don't know about that Bee. @frustratedearthmother's experience plus

and (from your link)

"Although some are almost totally silent, Basenjis possess vocal chords and do have a voice. They have a growl worthy of a dog twice their size; they have a threatening wild-animal snarl, and they have a scream of terror. Some will talk with their masters and with one another in voices like those of Siamese cats. Others are yodelers, with a range comparable to that of a coloratura, and will even perform on command!

Then, there is a call heard generally at night, apparently a pack-call. It is an eerie sound, more reminiscent of a bird than an animal. And, there is the crow, delightfully like a young rooster's initial attempt. The Basenji crows when he greets human friends, when he's surprised, when he's amused, when he's achieved a triumph such as charging into a room forbidden to him, or when he is pleased with the way things in general are going. On such occasions he is at his irresistible best."

Sounds worse than a GP that only makes noise when it perceives a threat.

 

[NH homesteader]

Wow we just had a lot of fun watching a video about this breed. They're lion hunters! I think I'll pass on having one on my farm. But... If I didn't have livestock I would want one!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

They truly are a unique breed. Mine "yodeled" when they were happy! My females were sweet and loving, but the male! Very dominant and would NOT hesitate to challenge you. I had another very large dog at the time that had wandered up to the farm and decided to live with us. He finally had enough of the male basenji challenging me and simply stepped between us one day and told him in no uncertain terms not to mess with his "mama" (me)! Male basenji (Gizmo) never challenged me again. It made life a whole lot easier after that, lol!

They are considered a hunting breed and are used heavily for that purpose in their native Africa. I can attest to the fact that these little guys show NO fear and like I said earlier - very efficient little killing machines. Besides chickens - there wasn't a rabbit safe within miles of them.

I could never convince them that they'd done anything wrong. When they would kill a chicken, or anything else, they would come to me expecting praise and adoration. I couldn't really fault them - they were only doing what they'd been bred to do.

I still love the breed - but in my opinion they are best kept away from any other little critter.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Don't discount the Rhodesian Ridgeback they are very versatile and will defend any people or animals that are considered in their Family. They are not very vocal and low maintenance. With this phone I don't know how to post a link to info, so be sure to check them out. Really nice dogs @Ferguson K has one so she could add more to this I'm sure.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Sorry, but forgot to add that there is a breeder in Ky that uses them on their 40acres farm as working dogs. I found it on google the guys last name is Phillippe, I think. It is something like Phillippe Pharm, some really nice looking dogs.

 

[Southern by choice]

I agree with @frustratedearthmother the Basenji has strong prey drive. They are good at ferreting out just about anything but adding that to poultry doesn't make a great mixx. Second they are too small to be utilized as a farmdog imo.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a great dog however they are NOT for a beginner and they are a powerful strong independent dog. Very few can handle a true Rhodesian.

The issue at hand is guardian - any true LGD will bark plain and simple.
Farmdogs are great but cannot do what a guardian can and if the dog is left out you are still dealing with barking.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I'm not trying to be disagreeable but I'm speaking from personal experience here:

About a million years ago I had a couple of basenji's before we moved to our farm. They were beautiful dogs and nice enough in the yard, but found out the negative side when we moved to our farm.

They have an extremely HIGH prey drive and did NOT work out on my place. I kept them in the fenced back yard and it worked for a couple of months until somehow or another they got into the barnyard area. I had a 4 x 8 raised cage with hardware cloth bottom that I was raising chicks in. The dogs got into that area and under the cage and literally (and this is a graphic explanation) pulled the legs off of the chicks from underneath the cage. They also killed about 30 of my grown fowl at the same time. Very efficient little killing machines. I loved the breed - but couldn't keep them.

x 2
Basenji's are hunting dogs
A very intense breed of hunting dog.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Sorry about Merlin.