Basenji

The Basenji is among the oldest AKC-recognized breeds, with origins tracing back to ancient Egypt where they were revered as gifts for pharaohs. Paleontologists suggest early domesticated dogs resembled Basenjis, and their presence is documented in Egyptian artifacts as well as Babylonian and Mesopotamian art. For centuries, these dogs thrived as semi-wild hunters in Africa’s Nile and Congo river regions, prized by tribes for their exceptional hunting skills, agility, and keen senses. Known for their remarkable vertical leaping ability—earning a name meaning 'the jumping-up-and-down dog'—they adapted to African grasslands by scouting prey from above. A 17th-century missionary described them as slender, red-coated dogs with curled tails, living ferally yet harmlessly. Isolated from Western influence for millennia, the Basenji remained unchanged until the late 1800s, when explorers introduced them to Europe. The breed gained fame in England in 1937, sparking public fascination, but breeding challenges persisted until a male named Bois and a female called Congo produced the first American Basenjis in the 1940s, eventually establishing the breed in the U.S.