First and foremost, a Basenji should be a beloved member of the family.  Basenjis are not hyper by nature but they are very active dogs and enjoy every opportunity they are given to "get out and do something!"  They want to be included in family activities whether it's walking, running, hiking, going for car rides or just hanging out in the sunshine.  Basenjis are also great snuggling companions when you curl up on the couch to read or watch TV.  Another one of the Basenji's favorite games is The Basenji 500 (I don't think this is a scientific term!).  For Hamlet and Rhumba this usually occurs in the evening hours. Out of the blue, one of them will jump up and start running around, literally bouncing off the walls and furniture.  The other one will quickly follow suit.  It's as if they have suddenly been possessed by a shocking burst of energy.  For several minutes they will run in circles, bouncing off everything in their paths and then, as suddenly as it began, it will stop and the house will get quiet and still.

For those who want to take dog related activities to a different level there are many that you and your Basenji can pursue and enjoy..  Conformation, or showing your dog, is one of the most popular.  While many people show their dogs for fun, the purpose of dog shows is to exhibit good breeding stock.  Serious breeders, who are in it for the betterment of the breed, are proud to show the stock they have produced.  They are also on the look-out for the next healthy, conformationally correct dog or bitch to add to their breeding program in order to continue producing the highest quality puppies possible. (This includes excellent health, temperament and function)  If you are interested in learning more about Basenjis, or any breed of dog, dog shows are a great place to start.

Lure coursing is one of my passions.  Well, maybe I should say it's one of Hamlet's passions.  Lure coursing is a sport designed to test the skills of the sighthound.  Since Basenjis hunt by both sight and scent there has been some dispute among other sighthound breed fanciers as to whether a Basenji is truly a sighthound.  However, in 1979 Basenjis were approved for competition in American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) trials and they've been burning up the field every since.  Soon after, the American Kennel Club began offering lure coursing field trials, too. The course is set up to simulate the flight of prey.  This is accomplished by running a string between pulleys which are stuck in the ground.  The string, from pulley to pulley, creates a pattern or course. Courses, complete with turns and loops, must be no less than 500 yards long and some even run as long as 1000+ yards.  Three white garbage bags are tied to the line and these are referred to as the lure or more commonly, "the bunny."  Bunnies are what the Basenjis, and other competing sighthounds, are out to hunt.  The line is hooked up to a battery and operated with a push button by the Lure Operator.  Three Basenjis compete at once, each wearing a different color blanket--yellow, pink or blue--for judging identification.  The lure operator starts the line moving and the bunnies take off, strung along the ground and moving like fleeing prey.  When the Huntmaster yells, "Tally-Ho!" the Basenjis are let loose and the hunt it on!  Dogs are scored on five things: Speed, Agility, Follow, Endurance and Enthusiasm.  You've never seen a Basenji smile until you've seen one strut off the field after a good course!  If you have never been to a lure coursing trial--GO, GO, GO!

Agility and Obedience can also be enjoyed with your Basenji but these sports are not for the faint of heart, the easily embarrassed or the person lacking a sense of humor.

Hunting and tracking are other activities you can explore and there are many Basenjis who have earned their Canine Good Citizen awards and have gone on to make wonderful therapy dogs, visiting the elderly and sick in nursing homes.  I've even heard of one Basenji who competes on a flyball team!

Whether you are seeking a companion to keep you company on walks or snuggle with you as you read or a dog who can excel in many canine sports and keep you laughing and challenged all the way, you'll soon discover that the Basenji can do it all and is truly the All Around Hound!

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