Hound Small size 9-11 kg
Basenji
A clever, catlike African hound that barks little and grooms itself, but is famously independent and near-impossible to recall.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Small
Size
9-11 kg · 40-43 cm
High
Exercise needs
High; needs a solid hour or more each day
Good
Alone-time tolerance
Fairly independent for stretches
Challenging
Training
Willful; needs patient, consistent handling
Wash-and-go
Coat care
Wash-and-go coat
Moderate
Fit with kids
Fine with respectful kids and supervision
Fair
Other pets
Needs careful, slow introductions
Light
Health burden
Fanconi syndrome, PK deficiency
The Basenji typically weighs 9-11 kg, stands 40-43 cm, and lives 12-16 years.
Consider this breed if…
you want a quiet dog - it yodels rather than barks,
you like a clean, nearly odorless, self-grooming coat,
you can give it an hour or more of activity daily,
you accept a catlike dog that cooperates on its own terms.
Do not consider this breed if…
you expect reliable off-leash recall - a Basenji chases and does not come back,
you have small pets like rabbits or hamsters; the prey drive is serious,
you want an eager-to-please, obedient dog,
your yard fence is low - they climb and jump remarkably well.
A typical day with a Basenji
- 6:30 · Morning40-60 min brisk leashed walk or secure-area run
- 9:00 · MidmorningSelf-grooming and a sunny nap - very catlike
- 12:30 · NoonShort walk; puzzle feeder to occupy the clever head
- 16:00 · AfternoonPlay or lure-coursing style sprints in a fenced space
- 18:30 · EveningSecond real walk; sniffing time matters to a hound
- 21:00 · NightCurls up somewhere warm, often under a blanket
Family and environment
Kids Conditional
Fine with respectful kids; walks away from rough handling.
Dogs Conditional
Can be scrappy with strange dogs; slow introductions help.
Cats Conditional
Possible if raised together; small running pets are prey.
Apartment Works
Quiet and clean indoors when exercise needs are met.
House with a yard Conditional
Only with a high, secure fence - Basenjis climb.
City Works
Leashed city life suits it better than open countryside.
Countryside Conditional
Wildlife triggers chasing; freedom must stay fenced.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Light
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Fanconi syndrome Inherited kidney tubule disorder; DNA test available
Pyruvate kinase deficiency Inherited hemolytic anemia; DNA test available
Progressive Retinal Atrophy Inherited eye disease; can lead to vision loss
Hypothyroidism Manageable with medication
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
Similarly catlike and independent
Shiba Inu
A clean, cat-like spitz that bonds closely but stays independent and strong-willed - not an easy first dog to train.
View profile →
Quiet, clean sprinter with softer temperament
Whippet
A quiet apartment sprinter: 30 minutes of running, 23 hours of couch - just never trust it off leash near small animals.
View profile →
Larger primitive hound with the same chase drive
Pharaoh Hound
A sleek, ancient sighthound that blushes when excited; affectionate and clean but needs secure space to run.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does a Basenji cost?
Expect roughly $1,500-$2,500 from a health-testing US breeder; the breed is uncommon, so waitlists are normal. The purchase price is the small part of the bill: over a 12-16 year lifespan, food, routine vet care, and the occasional orthopedic surgery add up to far more than the puppy did, so budget for the whole lifetime, not the first year.
Do Basenjis really not bark?
They do not bark in the usual sense - the breed's larynx produces a yodel, sometimes called a barroo, plus growls and whines. Quiet does not mean silent, and it definitely does not mean easy: a frustrated Basenji expresses itself through destruction rather than noise.
Can a Basenji be let off leash?
For most owners, no. It is a sighthound-type hunter with a strong chase reflex and famously selective hearing; once it locks onto a squirrel or cat, recall usually loses. Safe off-leash time means a securely fenced area, and the fence needs to be tall - Basenjis climb and jump well.
Are Basenjis good for first-time owners?
Only for a patient one who wants a catlike companion rather than an obedient dog. They are clean, quiet, and low-odor, which is genuinely easy - but training requires creativity and food motivation, and you must manage the prey drive and escape tendency for the dog's whole life.