Coming from Africa originally, the Basenji enjoys warmth. During very cold weather he can be outside while he is active. He will hate the rain, avoiding it like the plague, but enjoy a good romp in fresh snow. He is the ultimate in sun-worshippers, very seldom seeking a shady spot and always being found in the warmest place in the house.
He also has the cat habit of sitting in the best chairs or on a sunny windowsill watching the world go by.
Their extreme cleanliness, They are known to wash themselves like cats, and will dry each other and their owner’s clothes after a walk in the rain, whilst a human being having a bath holds endless fascination, the washing and drying being helped and hindered all the time.
He shouldn’t need a bath more than every few weeks.
Brush your Basenji’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
Trim nails regularly once a week. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re too long. Short, neatly trimmed nails keep your legs from getting scratched when your Basenji enthusiastically jumps up to greet you and keep his paws in good shape. They must look like cat paws.
Begin accustoming your Basenji to being brushed and examined when he’s a puppy. Handle his paws frequently — dogs are touchy about their feet — and look inside his mouth and ears. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards, and you’ll lay the groundwork for easy veterinary exams and other handling when he’s an adult.
The Basenji should NOT live outdoors. He’s a companion dog and will express his unhappiness in many destructive ways if relegated to the backyard with little or no human companionship.
