The Rip Van Wrinkler, Volume XIV, Issue 4, November 2009

Pages 14 & 15

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W O R D G A M E

Jo Thompson started a word game - "If you are able, please share one word that best describes the personality of your Basenji. Also, one word that best describes the personality of the Basenji breed."  I said, "exquisite."

Below is the list Jo compiled, without the duplicates, of words submitted for the word game describing the personality of the Basenji breed and individual Basenjis. If you’d like to add to this list do so on our facebook page or contact the editor.

a thinking breed

active

adored

affectionate (as adults)

alert

aloof

alpha

amazing

analytical

aristocratic

astute

athletic

beautiful

big baby

bitchy

bossy

bull-headed

busy

busybody

captivating

cautious

challenging

cheeky

clever

complex

crafty

creative

cuddly

demanding

determined

devoted         

doomed

driven

easy going but always got his way

eccentric

elegant

enchanting

enterprising

entertaining

ever-changing

exquisite

Fabio.  GQ but not alot upstairs.

fascinating

finicky

finky

focused

funny

genius

guarded

hall-monitor

headstrong

hearty

hellion

human

hunter

independent

ingenious

imaginative

innovative

inquisitive

inspiring

instigators

intelligent

interested in everything

intrepid

intriguing

joyful

kaleidoscope

lovable

loved

loyal

magnificent

manipulative

mischievous

monsters

multifaceted

mythical

naughty

nerd

noble

nosey

obstinate

opportunistic

opportunistic predators

outsmarting

perfect

persevering

playful

possessive

primitive

Queen

queen like

quick-witted

quiet

quirky

rambunctious

reactive

rebellious

regal

reserved

resourceful

rewarding

rocket scientists

Satan's Fur balls

savvy

self-possessed

self-sufficient

self-willed

semi-domestic

sensitive

serious

shrewd

smart

social

spirited

spoiled

spunky

strong

stubborn

superior

sweet

swift

talkative

tenacious

The Queen

thinking breed

trouble

unconventional

unforgettable

unique

unpredictable

unrestrained

versatile

wary

watchful

wears his emotions inside out

wild

willful

wily

young, cute, funny, with teeth

Wait on me ladies!"

Words submitted separately by our club members:

Karen Christensen: For the breed, the term I would use is Compelling (but mostly because "snorfle-able" isn't a real word; pity, because snorfle is what I do to each of them, daily, pressing my face into their bodies and inhaling, rooting around a bit to find the sweetest spots).

 

For the individuals, well: Laser = monkey

Cherry = m-a-n-i-p-u-l-a-t-i-v-e, in the nicest way

Ian = eager

TuTu = forceful, yes, she exerts. In a very vital way.

 

Natlalie Culver:  Thinking about Jo Thompson's question.  I thought to "describe" them, stating a bit about their personalities, as Kunjo & Obike have VERY different personalities.  The only things they really have in common at home are liking treats & crazy about chasing squirls/cats/rabbits.  Other than that they have different personalities all the time.

 

Short phrase (to describe personality):

Kunjo = brave, strong willed, & a closet/secret clown

 

Obike = takes himself & the world much to seriously (in the opinon of me & Kunjo)

To cut this down to one word does not capture their personalities as well, but as one word: Kunjo = brave  & Obike = serious

 

Lisa Voss: Unforgetable.

 

When my relatives try to describe what basenjis are, it almost always goes something along the lines of, "Those dogs of ___________, I remember when _____________"  The first blank is usually filled in with either mine or my mom's name and the second blank is then filled in with some memorable incident, like Nicky howling like a banshee when I went skiing and left him at the cabin with my mom and grandparents but my mom took a shower leaving him with "strangers" so he howled until she "returned", or when my grandfather walked into the kitchen to find a young Bella smack in the middle of his table helping herself to pound cake from Costco, or how Cole likes to try to knock the squirrel off the back fence when he visits my grandfather, etc.

I suppose from the stories my family tells, one might get the impression that their one word description would be "Trouble" but I really think it is "Loved".

 

Jackie Crane: My word is shadow because Marco is mine and a unique one at that.

 

Susan Chuvala: Challenging

 

Donna Hess: One word for Nora…BEDWARMER!!!!

 

Karen Stotka: For Tess's personality we would choose "soulful"  and for Reno, "true".   Overall, I think the personality of the breed is "intricate".  (To say the least)

Charter Member, Dotty Cohen (and her son Ronnie, & his wife Lori) made the trip from Brooklyn up to Woodstock the end of August, bearing bagels & rye bread. They wore their Wrinkler T-shirts.

Occhi & Lori Dotty with Fernie & Scarlet

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