22/05/2024
Every purebred-dog fancier considers his or her chosen breed to be unique, but the Basenji is arguably more unique than most, from its yodel-like vocalizations, which are due to the unusual flattened shape of its larynx, to its lack of a distinctive doggie odor. Unlike most modern breeds, Basenji females only come into heat once a year, similar to wild canids.
DNA studies have found that the Basenji does not cluster with any of other breeds, but rather holds a genetically distinct position of its own that predates not just the evolution of purebred dogdom, but likely agriculture itself: Research in 2021 found that, like wolves and dingoes, the Basenji has lower numbers of the AMY2B gene that produces amylase, an enzyme that helps digest starch. This is a hunter-gatherer’s dog, through and through.🐕
https://showsightmagazine.com/dog-breeds/basenji/
Source: AKC
