Are Basenjis Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Basenji

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Basenji out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Basenji based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Basenji breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Basenji by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Basenji.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Basenji for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Basenji.

The summary table below shows the score of the Basenji for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Owner Directed Aggression 84.3 percent
Stubbornness 82.9 percent
Dog Rivalry 79.7 percent
Dog Directed Fear 76.5 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 66.6 percent
Separation Related Behavior 63.8 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 61.1 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 54.7 percent
Nonsocial Fear 46.0 percent
Touch Sensitivity 35.3 percent
Energy Level 32.4 percent
Excitability 31.3 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 29.9 percent
Prey Drive 100.0 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Basenji`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Basenji, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Basenji.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Basenjis Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Basenjis are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Basenji ranks average for aggression towards strangers.

The Basenji ranks number 66 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 29.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
63 Alaskan Husky 31.3 %
64 Bullmastiff 30.7 %
65 American Pit Bull Terrier 30.2 %
66 Basenji 29.9 %
67 Poodle (Standard) 29.9 %
68 Vizsla 29.7 %
69 Gordon Setter 28.8 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Basenji

Are Basenjis Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Basenjis are very much aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Basenji ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.

The Basenji ranks number 2 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has an owner-directed-aggression score of 84.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
1 Pekingese 100.0 %
2 Basenji 84.3 %
3 Australian Silky Terrier 66.0 %
4 Lhasa Apso 64.0 %
5 Alaskan Husky 60.1 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Basenjis Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Basenjis are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Basenji ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.

The Basenji ranks number 27 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a dog-directed aggression score of 66.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
24 Australian Cattle Dog 67.1 %
25 Shiba Inu 66.9 %
26 Belgian Malinois 66.8 %
27 Basenji 66.6 %
28 American Pit Bull Terrier 66.5 %
29 German Shepherd 66.2 %
30 Jack Russell Terrier 65.8 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Basenji

Are Basenjis Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Basenjis are very much fearful of strangers.

This is because the Basenji ranks very high for fear of strangers.

The Basenji ranks number 12 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a stranger-directed-fear score of 61.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
9 Dachshund 62.5 %
10 American Bulldog 61.4 %
11 Parson Russell Terrier 61.3 %
12 Basenji 61.1 %
13 Australian Silky Terrier 59.0 %
14 Fox Terrier (Toy) 55.1 %
15 Chow Chow 53.6 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Basenjis Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Basenjis are very much fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Basenji ranks very high for fear of other dogs.

The Basenji ranks number 6 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a dog-directed-fear score of 76.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much other-dog-fearful just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
3 Chinese Crested 87.8 %
4 Chihuahua 85.8 %
5 Lhasa Apso 77.9 %
6 Basenji 76.5 %
7 Miniature Pinscher 71.9 %
8 Maltese 68.6 %
9 Border Terrier 66.9 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Basenji a good pet

Do Basenjis Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Basenjis are quite a bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Basenji ranks high for non-social fear.

The Basenji ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a nonsocial-fear score of 46.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
30 Border Collie 47.9 %
31 Old English Sheepdog 46.4 %
32 Shih Tzu 46.0 %
33 Basenji 46.0 %
34 Dachshund 45.3 %
35 Bichon Frise 44.4 %
36 Standard Schnauzer 42.8 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Basenjis Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Basenjis are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Basenji ranks very high on dog rivalry.

The Basenji ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a dog-rivalry score of 79.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
6 Lhasa Apso 85.6 %
7 Pekingese 85.0 %
8 Chinese Crested 81.6 %
9 Basenji 79.7 %
10 Alaskan Malamute 77.4 %
11 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 74.9 %
12 Australian Silky Terrier 72.7 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Basenji. Is it aggressive?

Are Basenjis Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Basenjis are not easy to train.

This is because the Basenji ranks very low for trainability.

The Basenji ranks number 122 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the trainability of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a trainability score of 17.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
119 Dachshund (Miniature) 32.8 %
120 Pekingese 32.5 %
121 Afghan Hound 30.7 %
122 Basenji 17.1 %
123 Treeing Walker Coonhound 14.9 %
124 Dingo 0.0 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Basenji is and how the intelligence of the Basenji affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Basenji is.

Do Basenjis Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Basenjis are very much into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Basenji ranks very high for small-pet-chasing.

The Basenji ranks number 1 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a chasing score of 100.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much into chasing after smaller pets just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
1 Basenji 100.0 %
2 Dingo 97.8 %
3 Ibizan Hound 95.8 %
4 Parson Russell Terrier 88.7 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Basenji

Do Basenjis Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Basenjis are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Basenji ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Basenji ranks number 56 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 54.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
53 Boxer 55.2 %
54 Border Collie 55.0 %
55 German Shepherd 54.9 %
56 Basenji 54.7 %
57 Shih Tzu 54.5 %
58 Lhasa Apso 54.4 %
59 Irish Setter 53.0 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Basenjis have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Basenjis are very much prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Basenji ranks very high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Basenji ranks number 12 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a separation anxiety score of 63.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
9 Yorkshire Terrier 66.4 %
10 Dachshund 66.2 %
11 Lhasa Apso 65.5 %
12 Basenji 63.8 %
13 Weimaraner 63.6 %
14 Fox Terrier (Toy) 62.0 %
15 Beagle 62.0 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Basenji

Are Basenjis Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Basenjis are quite a bit touch-sensitive.

This is because the Basenji ranks high for touch sensitivity.

The Basenji ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has a touch-sensitivity score of 35.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit touch-sensitive just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
39 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 37.0 %
40 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 37.0 %
41 Keeshond 35.6 %
42 Basenji 35.3 %
43 Greyhound 34.8 %
44 Papillon 34.7 %
45 West Highland White Terrier 34.5 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Basenjis Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Basenjis are not hyper (excitable).

This is because the Basenji ranks very low for excitability.

The Basenji ranks number 101 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has an excitability score of 31.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are not excitable just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
98 Rottweiler 32.1 %
99 Alaskan Husky 32.0 %
100 Chow Chow 31.4 %
101 Basenji 31.3 %
102 Shiba Inu 29.5 %
103 Bull Terrier 29.1 %
104 Mastiff (English) 28.9 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Basenji

Are Basenjis Playful? What is the Energy Level of Basenjis

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Basenjis are not energetic.

This is because the Basenji ranks very low for energy level.

The Basenji ranks number 104 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 15 Basenji owners reported on the temperament of their Basenji in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basenji has an energy-level score of 32.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are not energetic just like the Basenji are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
101 Akita 34.1 %
102 Rhodesian Ridgeback 33.8 %
103 Alaskan Malamute 32.9 %
104 Basenji 32.4 %
105 Bulldog 32.1 %
106 Standard Schnauzer 31.9 %
107 Dachshund (Miniature) 30.5 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Basenji Temperament

The temperament of your Basenji comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Basenji is exposed to.

You cannot change your Basenji`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Basenji to.

Exposing your Basenji to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Basenji to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Basenji`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Basenji.

If you think the Basenji is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Basenjis cost and Basenji puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Basenji breeders in the United States and the prices of their Basenji puppies.