Basenji

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History/Origin
The Basenji is believed to be among the oldest breed of dogs who originated from 3600 BC. in Africa. These dogs were frequently used by the Pygmy natives to hunt wild animals because of their inherent intelligence. In Egypt, archaeologists found traces that show just how much they were valued in the ancient times after seeing images of the Basenji carved on the tombstones of the pharaohs. This proved that the early Egyptians had revered the Basenji for its cat-like characteristics.

The early breeds of Basenji did not reach Europe until the late 1800's. Several attempts to import them to Europe failed prior to this time because they've died even before arriving in Europe. Despite their gradual introduction to the west, many people still remain unaware of the difference of the Basenjis from other breeds. An example of such is the late recognition of the AKC (American Kennel Club) in the United States of America ,and it was only in 1943 that Basenji was recognized as an official pedigree.

Description
At first glance, one would see that the Basenjis' have a typically small but powerful build. A regular Basenji may be the same size as a small deer, but they can gallop just as swift as horses do. An uncommon breed of great runners and climbers, they're even considered to be faster than other types of dogs.

Basenji, unlike most dogs, is not the barking type. Although it may not bark, it doesn't necessarily imply that the dog is mute. Oftentimes, they can make a somewhat yodel-like noise. They stand straight with elegance and they move their neck gracefully. They are born with a flat skull and have almond-like eyes. The rims around their eyes are dark in color while their ears stand erect and their tail is curled. The Basenjis also have wrinkled foreheads that are more visible in younger ones. These dogs have smooth, short hair all over their body.

Temperament
Basenjis are oftentimes compared to cats because they like to wash themselves using their paws. Moreover, they avoid water just like cats do. They are highly faithful dogs and they develop a good relationship with their masters, while avoiding strangers. However, an unfortunate quality of this kind of breed is that they do have this tendency to be aggressive when they become bored or lonely. This is the reason it is recommended that owners give them proper dog training.