The Rip Van Wrinkler, XVI, Issue 2, May 2012

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Porch scene, S K-M


Club Posters

Mark your calendars!

Our 16th Annual

Specialty Fun Match, Picnic, & Annual Meeting

will be on Sunday, June 24th, at Karen Sahulka's,

in Woodstock, NY.

Please See Page 7 FMI

2011 Match


The Wrinkler is published quarterly:  February, May, August & November.  Deadline for receiving material for publication is the 1st day of the previous month.

The contents of The Rip Van Wrinkler do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors, or the membership.   All rights to reproduce any part of The Rip Van Wrinkler® shall be done solely with the permission of the editors.

The RVW Club is affiliated with the BCOA

The Rip Van Wrinkle Basenji Club & Wrinkler ONLINE: www.rvwbasenjiclub.org


As the Tail Turns

The Basenji at Home and Play/by Len Reddie

Len has lived with Basenjis since 1972, and has learned some of their nuances that make them such an interesting breed.  He has bred, shown, and trained Basenjis, and is a Group 4 Hound Judge. He lives in South Australia with his imported African Basenji and some of her pups.

The Basenji is a primitive dog, and one that was known to ancient civilisations, that has learnt to live with man through the millennia by being smart – with most of the time trying to outsmart the household.  They are not a compliant breed, and you have to convince them that what they are about to do is good for them; otherwise you should go and get a 'clockwork' dog that you can wind up and point in the right direction.  They will look at you “silly” if you throw a ball or stick and expect them to fetch it.

They are low maintenance inasmuch they usually don't need much veterinary attention, but still enjoy their coat brushing and nail trimming, but I still like to have another opinion on their general health on an annual basis.  Mine are fed Raw Beef Brisket Bones (RBBB) to keep their teeth in good shape.  The advantage of RBBB is that the whole bone is consumed leaving no shards nor lumps to squabble over, at a later time.  The complete brisket bone is sawn up into the size that I request, so that all of the Basenjis get to gnaw away on the bone, and it diverts their attention away from chewing other more precious items – like shoes, trousers, underwear, wallets, and any other item that is of interest at the time.  There was a by-line on the Basenji List that stated: “A Basenji is a slob's best friend” as they teach you not to leave things in reach of their paws and mouth.

By protecting them against anti-intestinal worms and heart worm all through the year, I try to maintain their health at the optimum throughout the year.  While they are out walking, they will often snaffle up the 'lollies' that are left behind by the herbivores, so a rigorous worming program is required.  Mosquitoes, that can carry heart worm, are always around, and that is why I am so keen to provide them with the correct doses on a monthly basis, no matter where I travel.  Being a hunter by 'design', the Basenji will eradicate the area of cats, and just the other day, my bitch, tracked and caught a rat (but I think the rat was not feeling too well, and may have ingested some rat poison).  The rat did not stand a chance, as the hunting instinct switched right on, and the bitch grabbed the rat and gave it the most vigorous shaking I have ever seen.  I think the rat died of a broken neck in several places, but she did not try to eat it, thank goodness, and was content to await her reward of a RBBB.

Most Basenjis dislike being rained on, which includes bathing, but mine do not mind going through puddles and even swimming, paddling, or running through the river, sea, or pond.  They also seem to enjoy the perfume of fish, sheep, horse 'apples', and other odoriferous items.  No matter how vigilant you are, they will always find the carcass of something that is just at the right strength to overpower you on the way home and into the tub. I think they consider it as part of their camouflage and do not seem to be worried by the strange odours.

Basenjis are not for everyone, and you will need the strength of all your faculties to overcome their whims.  Although they know what they want, they are trainable with heaps of patience and being able to convince them that this is really what they wanted to do.  There are Basenji out there with a string of obedience, tracking, agility, and conformation titles that would make an alphabet soup envious – so it can be done.  Although a bitch of mine, when on a sit-stay, would sit alright, but if the grass was wet, she would sit on her haunches to keep her butt off the ground.  They think things out, and if you are lucky enough to have one curl up at the foot of the bed or under the covers, you will appreciate the wonders of a Basenji – more likely you will be wondering: “What is the Basenji doing now?”


2011 Match


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