Breed profile
Basenji
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseModerate
GroomingLow
ChildrenModerate
BarkingVery low
HealthLow
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight10 to 10.9 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelHigh
BarkingVery low
Grooming effortLow
Health burdenLow
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Possible
- Alone tolerance
- Moderate
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Limited fit
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 60 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Below average
- Grooming effort
- Low
- Professional grooming
- Low maintenance
- Shedding
- Moderate
Household fit
- Children
- Moderate
- Dogs
- Moderate
- Cats
- Limited
- Prey drive
- Very high
- Visitors
- Limited
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- Low
- Heat tolerance
- Excellent
- Cold tolerance
- Poor
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Fanconi syndrome
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Hypothyroidism
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.