Page 321 - ShowSight - September 2019
P. 321

                            Basenji Q & A
the effort put into raising, training, socializing and conditioning him/her.
SUSAN COE
We started in Basenjis in 1970 while we lived in Calgary, Canada. As well we’ve lived with our dogs in Washington state, Pennsylvania and now Australia. I was quite active in the Basenji Club of America serving on the Board of Directors for many years. I also published/edited and everything else, The Basenji maga- zine for about 25 years. In 1975 Jon and I self-published a fun book about
Basenjis entitled Curly Tales and Other Basenji Nonsense. I wrote a general book about the breed which was first published in 1990 entitled The Basenji, Out of Africa to You. Since moving to Austra- lia, I have shown less but continue with the BCOA keeping the Club’s website and The Basenji University. Here in Victoria I serve on the Committee for the Basenji Club of Victoria and prepare the Club’s bi-monthly newsletter. Over the years I have been involved with over 250 AKC champion Basenjis and now have my first Australian champion.
What hobbies do I enjoy outside of dogs? Gardening is my favorite pastime. I also have a strong interest in the conservation of natural ecosystems.
We started in Basenjis 49 years ago. I showed a great deal and bred only Basenjis. I breed now only as a co-breeder. We have one Basenji and one Saluki that are our pets and get to go to some shows.
The secret to a successful breeding program is being impartial enough to evaluate your own as well as others’ dogs. Also, one must take the time to train yourself improving your ability to visualize what the standard is requiring.
My advice to a new Basenji judge: learn all the parts but judge the whole dog.
What is it about the breed that makes them irreplaceable in my life? They are full of themselves with a great attitude for life.
How much time do I spend per week preparing for exhibition? During shedding season in the spring, they need to be brushed or massaged to encourage shedding. For a show they get a bath. If they get dirty feet before judging, they will need a foot/leg bath. Many need their tails tidied up with scissors.
The breed’s most endearing quality is their intelligence makes them naughty and fun.
Is their temperament ideal for indoor life or are they mostly an outdoors dog? Indoor dog and mostly in one’s lap.
How do I place my puppies? Contacts are now mostly made via the internet.
At what age do I choose a show prospect? At seven to nine weeks.
My favorite dog show memory? This is the hardest question as there are many. Mostly they involves successes with training if it is only finally getting a new dog to trot on a leash or sharing the show life with a top winning individual dog. In either case one gets very close to the dog and that makes it special.
I think our breed has remained fairly true of its African roots and it would be good to see this continue with moderately-built dogs with strong, bold personalities.
JULIE DUGAN
I enjoy participating in the sport of judging the Conformation of dogs. The Basenji is my current breed, they are the all-around hound and they keep me entertained daily. The Irish Setter and Siberian Husky were my past charmers. Their elegance and joyful endurance remain in my rec- ollections. Junior Showmanship has been a part of my life as my daughter flourished within it and aged out.
My club affiliations are the Wilmington Kennel Club, Basen- ji Club of America, Mid Atlantic Basenji Club and Mid Atlantic Stewards Association. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Ele- mentary Education from Temple University.
I live in Delaware and I enjoy running my dogs daily. I am an AKC Judge and am always working on new breeds.
I have loved the Basenji for 16 years of which we have shown all our dogs to Championship and beyond and I have reached top 25 with five dogs/bitches.
The secret to a successful breeding program? Look at the dog, not just the pedigree.
My advice to a new Basenji judge: never approach a Basenji from the rear and don’t linger in your examination.
What is it about the breed that makes them irreplaceable in my life? They keep me laughing!
How much time do I spend per week preparing for exhibition? The coats are easy but the perfect tail grooming can take an hour.
What is the breed’s most endearing quality? My dog, Simon, gives the best hugs.
Is the breed’s temperament ideal for indoor life or are they most- ly an outdoors breed? Indoors, they are extremely quiet.
How do I place my puppies? Most puppy people find me via Basenji Club Of America breeder directory.
At what age do I choose a show prospect? By eight weeks, I know the one.
My favorite dog show memory is the 2005 BCOA National in Rhode Island, The Ritz.
The Basenji is the all around hound and can fit into most fam- ily lives. The Basenjis are very musical as they are known as “The Singing Dog”.
PENELOPE INAN
I became interested in dog shows as a child, and attended my first show in the late 1950s—an outdoor benched show—with an aunt who raised Pomeranians. In 1973, following a divorce, I moved in with my sister (Sandra Bridges) and her family in Northern Cali- fornia—bringing with me my companion Basenji and a show bitch I had been given by his breeder. As I wasn’t interested in handling, Sandy was drafted. I bred my first litter in 1974, but we lost all but
   “My advice to a new Basenji judge: learn all the parts but judge the whole dog.”
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