5. Housing Requirements

Basenjis can be trained to sleep in virtually any warm, draught free location; outside in a kennel, in a basket in the laundry or garage, in a crate in the corner of the bedroom, or on (or even IN!) bed with his humans.

During the day, a Basenji requires a well-fenced yard, with a large enough area to play in, a sunny spot to lie in, and some things to interest him - trees, bushes, etc.

Basenjis are also natural born escape artists, so fences need to be at least 5 feet tall, with no tree limbs overhanging the fences - for tree climbing is another specialty for some Basenjis. Some Basenjis can also climb chain link fencing!

It is OK to leave a Basenji crated for a short period of time, but a Basenji left alone (and unrestrained) inside the house for an extended period will almost certainly become destructive.

Basenjis are hunters and require a fair amount of activity to keep them out of trouble. Some adults may need to run full out for an hour to be happy, while some may require nothing more than a nice walk.

Finally, and most importantly, please remember that Basenjis have no road sense and must never be allowed off lead near a road. Owners must also be vigilant never to leave a gate open or ajar. Being extremely curious, it would not take long for a nosy Basenji to make his way out of an open gate.

Page Created: 29 December 1998 - Last Updated: 10 June 2007

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