Gene Rundle of France, had the same experience that I've had concerning the Basenji dogs. A
native of the Congo region of Africa serving as an "externe" in our local hospitals saw our Basenji
bitch, and said, "she's a nice Pygmy dog. " She's 16 inches tall and 20 pounds. But when he saw our
Basenji dog, KING TUT, he got real excited and said, "that's a real African hunter, big and strong. "
KING TUT is 20 inches at the shoulder and 35 pounds. He also said there were many big Basenji
dogs in Africa.
In Veronica Tudor-Williams' book, she states that her dog SIMOLO was a perfect physical
specimen but contributed nothing to the breed because he was too big! I'm firmly convinced that the
larger dogs shown in pictures of Egyptian tombs are Basenjis (large ones) and not Salukis, as some
claim, due to size.
The African "externe"also said that there were striped, spotted and docked tail Basenjis in
Africa. Some tribes dock tails for hunting monkeyswhich bite the tails of dogs whenever possible.
Frankly, I think the A. K. C. standard for Basenjis was influenced and set by women who
favor the smaller dogs!
One question - why do the pictures in your magazine show everyone pulling the Basenji's head
up in a strained position? Most Basenjis that I've seen will hold their head up on command, even the
pets! I can understand why some European countries want to judge Basenjis in the Terrier group.
They look more like "Toy Terriers" than hounds. Last dog show that we attended most of the Basen-
jis looked like Toy Terriers.
Of course, this is just my opinion, but I thought some one might be interested in what the Afri-
can "externe" had to say. What is the biggest Basenji on record? I'm sure some are bigger than my
dog.
see Veronica Tudor-Williams response
Reprinted from
The Basenji
Volume IX Number 1 January 1972 p. 3
Copyright © 1972 The Basenji, All
Rights Reserved.
Used
with permission. |
