Temperament and care ratings
The American Kennel Club rates every breed from 1 to 5 on the traits below. They describe how the breed tends to be, not a promise about one dog.
Coat: Smooth coat, short.
A Basenji suits
- Runners, hikers and active households (energy 4 of 5)
- People who hate dog hair on the sofa (shedding 2 of 5)
Think twice if
- You can't offer daily training or puzzle games (mental stimulation needs 4 of 5)
What the ratings mean day to day
An energy score of 4 and mental stimulation needs of 4 mean plenty of daily exercise plus training games or puzzle feeders. With barking at 1 of 5 and a watchdog score of 3, expect a fairly quiet dog. Grooming at 1 of 5 means an occasional brush.
Popularity
In 2020 it ranked 86.
Breeds with a similar profile
Closest matches across all 14 trait ratings:
Bergamasco SheepdogKidsEnergyShedding
Australian Cattle DogKidsEnergySheddingCompare: Basenji vs Borzoi · Basenji vs Bergamasco Sheepdog · Basenji vs Australian Cattle Dog
Frequently asked questions
Are Basenjis good with kids?
The AKC rates the Basenji 3 out of 5 for being good with young children. Supervise early meetings and teach kids how to handle a dog.
Do Basenjis shed a lot?
Shedding is rated 2 out of 5 (low), and coat grooming 1 out of 5.
Are Basenjis easy to train?
Trainability is rated 2 out of 5 and mental stimulation needs 4 out of 5.
How much energy does a Basenji have?
Energy is rated 4 out of 5 and playfulness 3 out of 5.
Ratings: American Kennel Club breed pages, compiled February 2022 (AKC Basenji page). 2025 ranking: AKC, published August 2026. How we check.