Animal register · DogComing soon to the app

Basenji

African Barkless Dog, Congo Dog, barkless dog

The Basenji is a lightly built, finely boned hunting dog from Central Africa that does not bark but makes its own yodelling sound; the FCI lists it among the primitive types. PDSA gives a height of 40–43 cm and a weight of 9–11 kg. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 9–12 months (PetMD), and PDSA gives a lifespan of over 12 years (WebMD: 13–14 years).

PDSA recommends at least an hour of exercise a day (around 60–90 minutes), plenty of mental stimulation and brushing once a week; it calls Basenjis aloof but trustworthy, strong-willed and with very poor road sense. WebMD says they will chase anything that looks like prey, need very high fences or constant supervision and are only moderately good with young children, and advises cleaning the ears weekly and brushing the teeth at least twice a week.

Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.

Updated: 10 October 2026

Basenji — photo (AI) — AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size: medium — PDSA S644
Adult weight: males 9–11 kg, females 9–11 kg — PDSA S644
Daily exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S644
Brushing: once a week — PDSA S644
Lifespan: more than 12 years — PDSA S644; 13–14 years — WebMD Pets S646

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Keep in mind:

needs mental challengesS644
escapes easily — needs a secure, high fenceS646

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

Daily exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S644

Coat and grooming

Coat: short — PDSA S644
Brushing: once a week — PDSA S644

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

Lifespan: more than 12 years — PDSA S644
Lifespan: 13–14 years — WebMD Pets S646

Life stages

Reaches adult size at: about 9–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

Size: medium — PDSA S644
Height at the withers: males 40–43 cm, females 40–43 cm — PDSA S644
Adult weight: males 9–11 kg, females 9–11 kg — PDSA S644

Training

No. 78 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
FCI standard no. 43, group 5 (spitz and primitive types); origin: Central Africa. — FCI S642

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Basenji need?

According to our sources, the Basenji needs this much exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S644.

How long does a Basenji live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Basenji is: more than 12 years — PDSA S644; 13–14 years — WebMD Pets S646. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does a Basenji get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Basenji, according to our sources: Size: medium — PDSA S644; Adult weight: males 9–11 kg, females 9–11 kg — PDSA S644.

How much grooming does a Basenji need?

Coat and grooming of the Basenji, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — PDSA S644; Coat: short — PDSA S644.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stage	Starts	Meals a day	Daily step goal
Puppy	arrives at 2 months	4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2	1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6
Young dog	month 9	2	6,000 steps
Adult	month 36 (3 years)	2	6,000 steps
Senior	month 108 (9 years)	2	4,500 steps

Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.5× its speed).
Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
Combing once a week.
Care: brushing the teeth 2 times every 7 days — a task for the child.
Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA, WebMD Pets S10 S11 S14 S18 S19 S21 S24 S35 S45 S644 S646

55 foodsWhat can dogs eat?Safe, risky and toxic foods for dogs — each with the reason, the signs to watch for and the sources.

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

Fanconi syndrome, an inherited kidney disease that lets sugar leak into the urine, occurs in the breed; a DNA test of the parents lets breeders avoid it. — PDSA S644
Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. — PDSA S644
Pyruvate kinase deficiency, an inherited defect of the red blood cells that causes anaemia, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S644
Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S644
Bladder stones, collections of minerals that form in the bladder and urine, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S644

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1 K2
The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1 K9 K10
National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9 K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Other screening schemes for this breed

DNA test for Fanconi syndrome (a kidney disease) — Basenji Club of America K37
DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy in Basenjis (PRA-BJ1) — Basenji Club of America K37
Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — Basenji Club of America K37
Thyroid testing of the parents — Basenji Club of America K37
Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — Basenji Club of America K37
Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — Basenji Club of America K37

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
S642FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — Basenji (43)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/BASENJI-43.html
S644PDSA — Basenji breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/basenji
S646WebMD Pets — Alyssa Anderson, medically reviewed by Shruthi N, MD (2026-04-23) — What to Know About Basenjishttps://webmd.com/pets/dogs/what-to-know-basenjis
K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
K37Basenji Club of America — Basenji Healthhttps://basenji.org/basenji/health/

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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