Because Basenjis boast fine, short hair they are not high maintenance dogs in the grooming department. The other thing to bear in mind, is that they like to keep themselves very clean and will wash themselves using their paws much in the same way as a cat. With this said, a weekly brush will help keep a dog's coat in great condition and it will also keep their skin healthy too.
Basenjis are not that fond of water which means bathing them can be a challenge, but with this said they should not need to be bathed that often unless really necessary.
Basenjis like to be kept busy and therefore need to be given regular exercise on a daily basis and ideally this has to include lots of mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well-rounded characters that are a pleasure to have around. They are a great choice for people who lead active, outdoor lives because a Basenji is definitely not a "stay at home dog" nor are they couch potatoes. As such a good brisk walk in the morning and then again in the afternoon are absolutely essential. Two hours daily exercise is the ideal for these active, alert dogs to prevent boredom setting in and it should include lots of mental stimulation.
However, because the Basenji is an incredibly skilled sighthound, letting them off their leads can be problematic unless the area is ultra-safe and there are no animals around for them to chase after. Gardens need to be made extremely secure because the Basenji is more than capable of jumping high fences which as previously mentioned, they do with the greatest of ease.
Basenjis need to be fed a good quality well-balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives for them to remain fit and healthy. If you have decided to get a puppy from a breeder, they would provide you with a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to it for the first few weeks after bringing a Basenji puppy home. You can change their diet when the time is right, but this needs to be done very gradually and carefully over a few weeks to make sure puppies don't suffer any tummy upsets.
It's also important for puppies to be fed at least 3 to 4 times a day to begin with, but you can start feeding them the same amount of food twice a day when they are around 4 months old always keeping an eye on things to make sure a young dog can cope with the change in their feeding routine.
Older more mature dogs can be fed twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening and this needs to be good quality food that contains all the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals that dogs need to remain healthy. However, some Basenjis can become fussy eaters if given too many treats which is something to bear in mind when you are training a dog and using high value treats.
