Customer Reviews

Basenjis: The barkless dogs of Central Africa

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The three versions of this book (original red cover, second edition blue cover and last green/grey cover) are all out-of-print and highly prized by basenji fanciers. Some of the only exsisting photographs of original imports/first generation dogs are within its pages. Really not the book to get if you are researching to pick a dog (you'd want Susan Coe's book for that) but a true piece of Basenji history to be treasured for its frankness and those elusive early photographs.

The basenji, an African hound that yodels instead of barks is indeed exotic. Basenjis clean themselves like cats, don't shed and females come into season once a year.

This book gives an excellent introduction and overview of this very distinct and unique dog indeed.

Basenjis have a long history spanning over 2,000 years. They were the loved and pampered pets of Egyptian nobility; basenji shaped footstools were common during that era. Basenjis were often the subject of art. Paintings of basenjis, basenji shaped footstools and even Anubis, the Egyptian God of the Underworld had a basenji head are all testaments to the cultural influences this dog had.

Clean limbed and graceful, this yodeling dog is also known for being loyal to a given owner. Lovable and spirited, the yodeling dog will certainly find a place in the hearts of many.

I own all three editions of this book, and the final reprint from the 1970s (brown hardcover) cannot be classed as "collectible" (in the sense that it is somehow valuable). It would be difficult to pick up either the original edition (red) or the second edition (blue) at a reasonable price as they truly are collectible, but there are many copies of the brown book knocking about. I see one being offered here for $100, as a "collectible" just because it is signed, and in the used list there are two books way over that price - one approaching $200.

Anyone tempted to buy a copy should first find out what colour the hardcover is. Any edition with a dust jacket is from the 1970s. Don't get ripped off.

Excellent book on the history of Basenjis from Veronica Tudor-Williams (kennel name "Of the Congo") who played a key role in the history of basenjis in England and America. A must have book for the serious collector of basenji memorabilia.