The basenji is a wonderful dog, whether you’re looking for a hunting companion or a pet. Whether you live in the city or the country, this African-bred short-haired breed could be exactly what you are looking for.
The basenji is intelligent and loyal, and they make great family dogs! If you’ve thought about it and decided what you want is a puppy rather than an older dog from a rescue, read further for a list of reputable breeders in Texas.
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The Best Basenji Breeders in Texas
When it comes to acquiring a dog, the dilemma always exists of how to get it ethically. Pet stores are notorious for working with puppy mills, and reputable breeders can be hard to find.
Most have a limited online presence with out-of-date web pages that are difficult to locate in the first place because the breeders are focusing on the dogs rather than on social media.
Of course, the best way to find a reputable dog breeder is to spend time in the community surrounding that breed.
There is no better way to find a reputable breeder than by word of mouth, and if you’re unable to get out there and speak to people face to face, the forums are an excellent place to get information.
There’s no such thing as a comprehensive breeder list because of how reputable breeding works. Not all kennels will breed a litter every year, so finding someone who is breeding dogs at the time you want to acquire one can take dedication and patience.
Fortunately, we’ve gathered a list of reputable breeders in Texas to ensure you shouldn’t need to travel too far to find your next canine companions.
You might not find the right fit immediately, but breeders that aren’t planning a litter straight away will be willing to refer you to one who is. No matter what, this list is a perfect starting point on your basenji adoption journey.
1. Brenda Castle (Signet Kennels)
If you spend time in the basenji community, Brenda Castle is a name that is bound to come up. Signet Kennels has an excellently arranged website with current contact information and a page with veterinarian recommendations.
The recommendations are well organized, and there’s even a concise breakdown of the common Basenji health problems for reference.
Brenda Castle Details:
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
- Phone Number: 682-429-3961
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Brenda Castle (Signet Kennels)
2. Bob & Terry Reed (Illusion Basenjis)
Illusion Basenjis has a lot of information on Basenjis as a breed. They also have an excellent gallery of some dogs that have come out of their care. The website is easy to navigate, with good contact information for anyone looking for a basenji puppy.
Based out of Montgomery, Texas, they have been on the dog breeding scene since 1991 and are long-time animal lovers.
Puppies from this kennel are socialized around children and other animals–which is essential with Basenjis due to their natural inclination to hunt small prey animals like cats and birds.
Bob & Terry Reed Details:
- Location: Montgomery, Texas
- Phone Number: 936-597-4891
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Bob & Terry Reed (Illusion Basenjis)
3. Anne Humphreys, CPDT (Dharian Basenjis)
This website hasn’t been updated in a while, but the contact information is still up to date for those in the Wolfforth area looking for a Basenji puppy.
Dharian Basenjis has a lot of great information on the breed and the pitfalls that can come with breeding Basenji puppies, showing that this kennel has an excellent understanding of what goes into a quality puppy that will live a long and healthy life.
Dharian also has a page dedicated to breaking down all of the acronyms typically used in dog circles, so if you’re looking for a puppy and are confused by things like AKC and LCM, this site is a good one to bookmark.
Anne Humphreys, CPDT Details:
- Location: Wolfforth, Texas
- Website: Anne Humphreys, CPDT (Dharian Basenjis)
4. Pat Marshall (Berimo Basenjis)
Pat Marshall doesn’t have a website but is located out of Jasper, Texas. His contact information was last updated in 2022, so it’s current!
The contact information on this page is accurate, and if you’re the kind of person that’s down for a candid phone call, you’ll get a great response.
If you’re looking to adopt a basenji and want to hear back about when one will be available, Pat Marshall might be worth a call.
Pat Marshall Details:
- Location: Jasper, Texas
- Phone Number: 409-489-3117
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Pat Marshall (Berimo Basenjis)
5. Denise Vertrees
A reputable breeder stationed out of Texas, Denise is “committed to raising well-rounded Basenji puppies”.
Although her contact page doesn’t say where in Texas she’s operating, her contact information is viable and current. Ms. Vertrees also does genetic testing on her dogs, and puppies are available ten weeks after birth.
Denise Vertrees Details:
- Location: Texas
- Phone Number: 502-439-9519
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Denise Vertrees
Basenji Rescue and Transport (BRAT)
While they don’t breed puppies, BRAT rescues Basenji’s from poor living conditions and helps put them in safe, stable homes. If you don’t want to raise a puppy, but would rather pick up an older, already trained dog, BRAT is worth checking into.
BRAT is also an excellent resource for anyone considering taking in a basenji, regardless of how you mean to do that. They also provide an honest look into what keeping a member of the breed looks like.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to bring a basenji into your home, this is the place for you.
Although we’ve touched a little bit on what Basenjis are like as pets, BRAT has a whole section about taking a look at whether or not you will be equipped to handle a canine companion with the unique needs the breed has.
Basenji Rescue and Transport Details:
- Location: Texas
- Contact: Basenji Rescue and Transport Contact
- Website: Basenji Rescue and Transport (BRAT)
Is the Basenji the Right Dog For You?
Despite their versatility, the basenji is not for everyone.
Although there are many perks to the breed, such as the fact that their short coat makes them lack the typical “dog smell” most people associate with canines, they have a lot of needs to be met that cannot be ignored.
Training a basenji takes a lot of patience. They are intelligent dogs, which means they understand what’s being asked of them, but you have to earn their respect in the same way you would a human teenager.
They like to play games with their trainers and revel in outwitting a human when they can. If you are the kind of person to be more amused by this sort of behavior than infuriated by it, the basenji might be the dog for you.
Basenji are also known for being little escape artists. They must be contained, and doing so is not an easy task.
They’re known to jump fences and find gaps in their enclosures, and being on the smaller side and very fast catching them to bring them back is not as simple as it sounds.
If you’re going to get a basenji, you need to be sure that the area you intend to keep it in has no easy means of egress, especially if you live near a road or in the city.
However, the fact that the basenji is a barkless dog makes them adjust well to city life. They make sounds but tend to be quiet.
It sounds more like they’re talking to communicate with the humans in their lives. Because these sounds don’t carry, there’s less likelihood of a neighbor complaining about your dog.
If you have other pets, you might reconsider the basenji. They were made to hunt smaller animals and it’s a part of their nature. A basenji will go after rodents and birds.
Being well suited for life in an apartment doesn’t mean that Basenji’s won’t do well in the country. They were bred in the Congo to be hunting dogs and help take down small prey animals and are highly sought after by hunters in the United States.
If you’ve read all of this and are still thinking the basenji might be the dog for you, it would be good to do a little more research, but you still might be right!
The Right Time of Year
Almost all basenji litters are born in the late winter or early spring, meaning basenji puppies are available in the spring and summer.
Additionally, many breeders have a waiting list for people looking to have a basenji in their life. Of course, if you have your heart set on this breed, they’re worth the wait.
Conclusion For “Best Basenji Breeders in Texas”
Basenji puppies are not for everyone. They are highly intelligent and active dogs that fit in well both in the city and the country, and for a hunter they can be an absolute dream to work with–after all that is what they were bred to do.
If you’ve gotten this far and think a basenji is the right dog for your life, any one of these breeders might be the one to introduce you to your new canine companion.
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For more information about the Basenji Breed, check out the video below:
