Hi. After waiting 2 years to get a dog we've decided the time is right now as our kids are 4 and 2. My wife is a full time carer for my son and he required regular fresh air daily so they would love a companion to venture with. After intensive research we would love to have a basenji. The problem is they seem to be harder to find legitimate breeders. Cam anyone help us get on a waiting list for a basenji puppy?

Many thanks

Adam

The very best way is to find a breeder, then wait until they have a litter (however long that may be). In the UK, there are not many Basenji pups registered in a year, just 70 in 2019.
Try looking here https://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/basenji/breeders .....along with contacting breed clubs.

Last year there were only 70 puppies registered. Your best bet is to look here and the breeder club, they hope a breeders list
https://basenjiclubofgb.org/breeders

Make sure the parents are eye tested.

Breed Club - and unfortunately now is not the time to be buying a puppy, period.  I'd suggest that not too many BYBs are producing this breed however as it's comparatively rare and won't appeal to the average member of the public.

ps    Apart from the situation with Covid 19 - without shows at the moment, many breeders have curtailed their breeding programme until shows start again.

Just a question. Are you sure about that breed?  I'm not sure that the walks with a Basenji and a small child would be very relaxing! High prey drive, hunting dogs need a lot of very careful management on walks.  I don't know what other breeds you have considered or what experience with dogs you've had so you may well have thought all this through.

Did you realise that Basenji's are a primitive breed and usually only have a season once a year.

"Unlike the other breeds that have two estruses anytime during the year, the Basenji's annual estrus is seasonal. For the most part, estrus occurs within the months of September and October for Basenjis living in the Northern Hemisphere."

So you may be too late to get on a waiting list for this year.

I knew a lady who had a lot of the breed.

They are very cat like.  Due to their small size and hunting instincts, lead walking would be most wise.

https://www.basenjiclubofgb.org/page/about-basenjis