Yes, you read that correctly, there is a dog that doesn’t bark, and it is the Basenji, the only breed in the world that doesn’t have the physical ability to bark.
The reason they do not bark is due to the posture of their larynx and the structure of their vocal cords, which are narrower and flatter than those of other dogs. On the other hand, they can emit a very curious sound recognized as Tyrolean Song, where the dog abruptly changes between the low and high tones with the syllable ‘jo’.
Breed History
The Basenji is one of the oldest dog breeds that exist today. Its first evidence dates from more than 5000 years ago in Ancient Egypt, since hieroglyphs can still be seen that indicate the existence of this type of dog.
Its origin, however, goes back to Central Africa, in the Bashingi tribe, near the area known today as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is believed that it arrived in England around 1895 and from there it spread throughout Europe and later to the United States.
Its past is, above all, a working and hunting dog, in fact, it is believed that they used to hunt lions, since, thanks to their size, they are very agile dogs capable of high vertical jumps. Today Basenjis are domesticated dogs, but it is true that in some parts of Africa they are still used for hunting small animals.
Character
Basenjis are usually compared to cats, since, like felines, they are dogs that like to be clean and for this they groom their bodies themselves. In addition, they are also independent animals, stubborn, cunning, and when they feel like it, loving and warm.
They get along well with other dogs and love mental skill games a lot, as they are extremely intelligent dogs.
In addition to not barking, they are certainly curious dogs, since they do not smell like a one, the females have the heat once a year instead of two, and regardless of the color, they will always have white front and rear legs.