Basenjis are ancient dogs tracing their lineage from pariah dogs to the Egyptians and then to hunting dogs for the tribes in the Congo. Running in silent packs (they do make noise, but not regular barking), the Basenjis often wore bells to alert their human partners to their whereabouts in the deep jungle. They were, and still are, renowned for their keen eyesight and excellent sense of smell.
The basenji got its name from a Mrs. Burn in England around 1936. Known until then as the Congo dog or Congo derrier, the word basenji means dog of the bush in that region of Africa. The breed has been placed in the hound category as it is clearly a hunting dog, but whether it truly belongs with the sighthounds or the scenthounds is still being debated. Basenjis are allowed in lure coursing (a sighthound sport) but some people feel they might even belong in the terrier group.
In the 1980s several basenjis were imported to the United States from Zaire and added to the AKC gene pool to help combat some health problems. These new additions also introduced the brindle color pattern to the western basenji. Basenjis are considered rather primitive dogs genetically and developmentally. Unlike most domestic dogs, they have only one estrus season per year.