| Blackie is a
native-born black and white male Basenji who belongs to the de la Haye
family, missionaries for the Sudan Interior Mission in Africa. Blackie,
I believe, was whelped on the Firestone Plantation in Liberia, where
they have been selectively breeding Basenjis for some ten years, using
their own breeding as well as native dogs.
The de
la Haye family, due to come back to the U.S. for a year's leave,
decided there might be a possibility that Blackie could be sent here as
he is so much a part of their family, a constant companion of the two
daughters. Through mutual friends, I learned of all this, and
volunteered to meet Blackie at the airport and keep him at our home
until the the family would arrive in the U.S. First of all, I was most
anxious to see a real live native Basenji and secondly, Blackie is an
uncle of my unregistered black and white girl, Black Diamond of Cryon,
or "Miliku". I must admit that I was most apprehensive as I knew that
this would be a radical change in climate, atmosphere and surroundings
for Blackie, who I believe is almost four years old and had never been
subjected to our modern world. Even a four-year-old Basenji who is used
to city noises, cars, people, etc., is hard to place in a new home, and
I knew that Blackie was quite attached to his family.
The day arrived, and after two trips to the airport, I
finally managed to get him. I felt sorry for him as he looked so
pathetic and lost huddled in the corner of his crate. It took a few
days before he wanted me to handle him, but the most admired trait I
found in him was that no matter how frightened he was he made no
attempt to growl or bite. And in a few days he was acting as though he
had always lived here.
Having Blackie has given me
a chance to see a representative of the native Basenji. He is an
excellent specimen and could give quite a few of our show prospects a
run for their money. He is tall - about 17 3/4" and weighs 28 pounds.
He has fabulous bone structure and is certainly a dog who could hunt
all day in thick, dense underbrush without tiring. He has slender legs
and the smallest feet I have ever seen on a Basenji. His tail is quite
long and is double-curled, with perfect placement - far forward on his
left side. He is somewhat long in the loin and like my Miliku could
have a darker eye. What really impresses me about him is his tireless
and flowing gait. He seems to glide along the ground and has such a
reach that while most of my dogs are running he is still trotting
along. And again, his temperament, for native dog, is amazing. I have
learned from Leon Standifer that any native dog that is ill-tempered or
shy becomes the evening meal, so perhaps that is why the Basenjis in
Africa have good temperaments. This is one quality that the offspring
of Fula (the little bitch
Veronica Tudor-Williams brought out of Africa in 1959) all seem to
have, as well as those of Ch. Binza of Laughing Brook. It is only too
bad the A.K.C. will not recognize the registration of these native-bred
Basenjis, as I feel that some of them have qualities which could be of
great value to our present lines.
Blackie has not
yet finished his long journey, as he will have to be sent on to
California, where the de la Haye family will reside. I would be just as
happy if they left him here, as I have become really attached to the
little fellow, but can understand how much they must miss him. |