Editing Basenji (section)

==History==
[[File:Flickr - schmuela - IMG 6422.jpg|thumb|left|An Egyptian Tesem]]

The Basenji originated on the continent of [[Africa]],<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Dollman | first1=Guy  | date=April 1937 | title=The Basenji Dog | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/717626 | journal=Journal of the Royal African Society | volume=36 | issue=143 | pages=148–149 | jstor=717626}}</ref> where it has been identified with Egyptian depictions of dogs with curled tails and erect ears, a breed called [[Tesem]] which is found in murals as old as 4,500 years.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1031/dogs-in-ancient-egypt/ | title=Dogs in Ancient Egypt | website=World History Encyclopedia | author=Joshua J. Mark}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.basenji.org/index.php/about-basenjis/history-of-basenji | title=Basenji History | website=Basenji Club of America}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2014/06/mans-best-friend-dogs-in-pharaonic-egypt.html | title=Man's Best Friend: Dogs in Pharaonic Egypt | website=Wonders & Marvels | author=Annie Shanley}}</ref>

Europeans first described the breed which became the Basenji in 1895 in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]]. These dogs were prized by locals for their intelligence, courage, speed, and silence.

Several attempts were made to introduce the breed into [[England]], but the earliest imports succumbed to disease. In 1923 six Basenjis were taken from [[Sudan]], but all six died from [[canine distemper|distemper]] shots received in [[quarantine]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.basenji.org/african/nutting.htm | title=BCOA African Stock Project: Lady Helen Nutting | website=Basenji Club of America}}</ref> It was not until the 1930s that foundation stock was successfully established in England, and then in the [[United States]] by animal importer [[Henry Trefflich]]. It is likely that nearly all the Basenjis in the Western world are descended from these few original imports.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.basenji.org/african/jone8908.htm | title=BCOA African Stock Project: History of the Breed Presented to the AKC | work=Basenji Club of America | date=August 1989 | last=Jones | first=Shirley}}</ref> The breed was officially accepted into the AKC in 1943. In 1990, the AKC stud book was reopened to 14 new imports at the request of the Basenji Club of America.<ref>{{cite letter |first=Pamela |last=Geoffroy |recipient=AKC Board of Directors |subject=Letter to AKC Board of Directors |language=en |url=http://www.basenji.org/NativeStock/Correspondence/FirstLetterToAKC.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.basenji.org/NativeStock/Correspondence/FirstLetterToAKC.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2019}}</ref> The stud book was reopened again to selected imported dogs from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013.<ref>[http://www.akc.org/pdfs/about/board_minutes/0808.pdf]{{dead link|date=March 2015}}</ref> An American-led expedition collected breeding stock in villages in the [[Basankusu]] area of the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dibubasenjis.com/congo10|title=Dibu Basenjis: Congo Trip 2010|work=dibubasenjis.com|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-date=14 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314140735/https://dibubasenjis.com/congo10|url-status=dead}}</ref> Basenjis are also registered with the [[United Kennel Club]].

The popularity of the Basenji in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club, has declined over the past decade, with the breed ranked 71st in 1999, decreasing to 84th in 2006, and to 93rd in 2011.<ref name="akcdogreg">{{cite web |url= http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm |title=AKC Dog Registration Statistics |work=AKC.org |publisher=American Kennel Club |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120511200854/http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>