Hi all,
My wife and I are wanting to get a dog (or two) I have tried a fairly comprehensive google and come across the breed I *feel* would be the best: and the winner is:  Basenji
Reasons, quiet, loving, clean, happy left alone for the work day (hence maybe two) and above all good for the allergys.

I would appreciate comments on weather this would be a good dog(s) and when is the best and where is the best to obtain one (two)

Thank you very much in advance
Nick Roberts

On a final thought, what would be the rough guide price??? I have only ever had small furries before, Rats, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs and oh yeah Snakes!!

Probably your best bet is to go to a sho and meet up with some Basenji owners and breeders. You will be able to ask them loads of questions and get to meet the actual dog as well :)

You can find details of shows in the dog press (Dog World and Our Dogs) which are availabel from larger branches of WH SMmiths.

In the meantime...have a look here Basenji Info , you can find a breed guide and also, breed club info. If you get in contact with a breed club, they should be able to help you

besenjis? quite? yea right tell that to the ones I have met, althought they do not bark they can makes all other sounds......

Also I would not recormend getting to, ESPECIALLY if you work, to dogs (puppies) need alot more training, and if you leave them alone together they will bond with eachother and not yourself and your wife!

For more information on the breed visit owners/ breeders, go to shows to see them and get in contact and join breed clubs!

Basenji's in my expereince are not QUIET they may not bark but they howl, yowl and screch, gibe me a good old bark anyday.

They are very clean and cat like.  They are quite a primitive breed, and I think great escape artists.  think Terrier and Hound characteristics.  they can jump high and dig under fences.  In my opinon to have a really nice ones they would need a lot of human input and time, that rather rules out getting two an two full time workers.

With the time you have and especialy with two you could end up with rather shy nervous and very independant little dogs who ignore your wishes and want to go a huntin by themselves.

Having had a Basenji I would agree, not entirely quiet they love to yodle and they are quite aloof in the same respect as a cat, they are very cat like-perch high places,wash like a cat and you live with them and they cuddle up to you because your warm :) Very strong hunting instincts...my girl would often head off on her own when out for a walk, with no hope of coming back if she found something nice to chase. Always exercised her away from roads and they need plenty to keep them lean and happy. Not a good choice for a first time dog owner and definitely not two, as Brainless says they would definitely be off hunting together, you wouldn't see them for days :)

Guest
please bare in mind that leaving a young dog alone in a house while you are away at work in cruel and unfair...it is the same as leaving a young child alone.You would end up with damage to your house and worse still the pup may harm itself....2 pups would be even worse.We all have to be away for some time during the day but if you work full time it is not a good idea to have a pup.
Also ,how will you toilet train a pup if your not at home?
Archer

Guest - I wondered *how* you settled on a Basenji, until a friend told me they were the breed featured in 'Breed all about it' a couple of days ago - they aren't a common breed, and as you have now learnt, the tale about them no barking doesn't mean they are silent :(  No dog should be left all day on a regular basis, and getting two won't eliviate the problem - it's their humans they really want to be with, not another dog - and if another dog is the only company they get, then they won't be giving YOU the respect you need for training :(

Never, ever consider getting two pups at the same time unless you really know what you are doing, are in the house most of the time and are prepared to train separately.

you might be better to have 2 pups with a gap of a good few months in between, that way you will have time to train both, training two pups at the same time is hard work! :-)

Basenjis are not a first time dog, they are not quiet as anyone who has been benched next to them will tell you, they are hounds, the are independent, they only come into season once a year so it can be a long wait to get one, they have easy care coats but the nails need a lot of attention and they defiantly should not be left alone as the can be very destructive. Don't think you will find any breeder who will sell you a puppy if it will be left alone although they may let you have an older animal and I would hope they would not sell you two together either. Sorry to pour cold water but I do not think they are suitable and can think of no dog that should be left alone for more than about 3 hours when a pup. You will find details here