Be sure to check out a VERY well written article by a well respected breeder judge Marianne Klinkowski for the African Basenji Club and has been presented at Judge's Seminars in the What is Basenji? page.
General Appearance
The Basenji is a small, short haired hunting dog from Africa. It is short backed and lightly built, appearing high on the leg compared to its length. The wrinkled head is proudly carried on a well arched neck and the tail is set high and curled. Elegant and graceful, the whole demeanor is one of poise and inquiring alertness. The balanced structure and the smooth musculature enables it to move with ease and agility. The Basenji hunts by both sight and scent. Characteristics--The Basenji should not bark but is not mute. The wrinkled forehead, tightly curled tail and swift, effortless gait (resembling a racehorse trotting full out) are typical of the breed. Faults--Any departure from the following points must be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded is to be in exact proportion to its degree.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Ideal height for dogs is 17 inches and bitches 16 inches. Dogs 17 inches and bitches 16 inches from front of chest to point of buttocks. Approximate weight for dogs, 24 pounds and bitches, 22 pounds. Lightly built within this height to weight ratio.
Head
The head is proudly carried. Eyes--Dark hazel to dark brown, almond shaped, obliquely set and farseeing. Rims dark. Ears--Small, erect and slightly hooded, of fine texture and set well forward on top of head. The skull is flat, well chiseled and of medium width, tapering toward the eyes. The foreface tapers from eye to muzzle with a perceptible stop. Muzzle shorter than skull, neither coarse nor snipy, but with rounded cushions. Wrinkles appear upon the forehead when ears are erect, and are fine and profuse. Side wrinkles are desirable, but should never be exaggerated into dewlap. Wrinkles are most noticeable in puppies, and because of lack of shadowing, less noticeable in blacks, tricolors and brindles. Nose--Black greatly desired. Teeth--Evenly aligned with a scissors bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck of good length, well crested and slightly full at base of throat. Well set into shoulders. Topline--Back level. Body--Balanced with a short back, short coupled and ending in a definite waist. Ribs moderately sprung, deep to elbows and oval. Slight forechest in front of point of shoulder. Chest of medium width. Tail is set high on topline, bends acutely forward and lies well curled over to either side.
Forequarters
Shoulders moderately laid back. Shoulder blade and upper arm of approximately equal length. Elbows tucked firmly against brisket. Legs straight with clean fine bone, long forearm and well defined sinews. Pasterns of good length, strong and flexible. Feet--Small, oval and compact with thick pads and well arched toes. Dewclaws are usually removed.
Hindquarters
Medium width, strong and muscular, hocks well let down and turned neither in nor out, with long second thighs and moderately bent stifles. Feet--Same as in "Forequarters."
Coat and Color
Coat short and fine. Skin very pliant. Color Chestnut red; pure black; tricolor (pure black and chestnut red); or brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red); all with white feet, chest and tail tip. White legs, blaze and collar optional. The amount of white should never predominate over primary color. Color and markings should be rich, clear and well-defined, with a distinct line of demarcation between the black and red of tricolors and the stripes of brindles.
Gait
Swift, tireless trot. Stride is long, smooth, effortless and the topline remains level. Coming and going, the straight column of bones from shoulder joint to foot and from hip joint to pad remains unbroken, converging toward the centerline under the body. The faster the trot, the greater the convergence.
Temperament
An intelligent, independent, but affectionate and alert breed. Can be aloof with strangers.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Basenji is a small, lightly built, short-backed dog, giving the impression of being high on th leg compared to its length. The wrinkled head must be proudly carried, and the whole demeanour should be one of poise and alertness. The Basenji should not bark, but is not mute. The wrinkled forehead and the swift, tireless running gait (resembling a race horse trotting full out) are typical of the breed.
SIZE: Bitches 16 in. and dogs 17in. from the ground to the top of the shoulder. Bitches 16in. and dogs 17in. from the front of the chest to the farthest point of the hindquarters. Bitches 22 lb. approximately; dogs 24 lb. approximately.
COAT & COLOR: Coat short and silky. Skin very pliant. Colour chestnut red (the deeper the better); pure black ; tri colour (pure black with chestnut); brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red); all with white feet, chest, and tail tip. White legs, white blaze, and white collar optional. White should not be the predominant color. Color and markings should be rich, clear and well defined with a distinct line of demarcation between the black and red of the tri-colors and the stripes of brindles.
HEAD: The skull is flat, well chiselled and of medium width, tapering towards the eyes. The foreface should taper from eye to muzzle and should be shorter than the skull. Muzzle neither coarse nor snipey but with rounded cushions. Wrinkles should appear upon the forehead, and be fine and profuse. Side wrinkles are desirable, but should never be exaggerated into dewlap. Black nose greatly desired. A pinkish tinge should not penalize an otherwise first-class specimen, but it should be discouraged in breeding. Teeth must be level with scissors bite. Eyes dark hazel, almond shaped, obliquely set and far seeing. Ears small, pointed and erect, of fine texture, set well forward on top of the head.
NECK: Of good length, well crested and slightly full at base of throat. It should be well set into shoulders.
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders flat, laid back, the legs straight with clean fine bone, long forearm and well-defined sinews. Pasterns should be of good length and flexible.
BODY: The body should be short and the back level. The chest should be deep and of medium width. The ribs well sprung, with plenty of heart room, deep brisket, short-coupled, and ending in a definite waist.
HINDQUARTERS: Should be strong and muscular, with hocks well set down, turned neither in nor out, with long second thighs. Feet small, narrow and compact, with well-arched toes.
TAIL: Should be set on top and curled tightly over to either side.
FAULTS: Coarse skull or muzzle. Domed or peaked skull. Dewlap. Round eyes. Low set ears. Overshot or undershot mouth. Wide chest. Wide behind. Heavy bone. Creams, shaded or off-colors, other than those defined above, should be heavily penalized.
