THE YODELER
MABC/NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2005/JANURARY 2006
Our Cover dog this month is one of the Benin Babies Wafi who is co owned by
Robert Dean. Wafi is waiting for Santa.
CLUB NEWS
The clubs AKC lure trial is scheduled for April 29 & 30. Tentatively, roll call will
be at 8:30 and over at 9:00. Everybody should check the premium. Day of
trial entries will be accepted. Sid Sher is the Field Trial Chairmen and
Elizabeth "Leeza" Lundell is the Field Trial Secretary. We are asking that all
club members please set aside these dates to come out and help. The judges
are Vanessa Johnson and Jonathan Jordan. With a third judge to be named at
a later date. We need club members to set aside the dates and come out and
help with the trial. They should let Leeza or I know that they are available.
Leeza Lundell Senjidogseml@netscape.net, Sid Sher SherKugawa@aol.com .
Treasury Notes. Dec. 2005
Beginning Balance
Checking
Deposits (membership fees/renewals)
Withdrawals - Newsletter
- Trophies
- Carroll County AG Center fee
Ending Balance
Business Savings
Total Club Assets
YTD Expenses
Newsletter
Tax Preparation
Association Fee
Insurance
AG Center Rental
Club Directory
Trophies
Corporation Fee
Total
2,570.14
33.00
(69.29)
(56.44)
(125.00)
2,352.41
2,117.84
4,470.25
430.73
130.00
50.00
615.00
425.00
205.78
356.44
25.00
2237.95
If you have legitimate expenses relating to the MABC, please forward them,
along with corresponding receipts to:
Dave Genson (MABC Treasurer)
2440 Prices Distillery Road
Clarksburg, MD 20871
or
Email – dgenson@msn.com
As you can see the cost of the newsletter per year is a lot so from this point on we will be emailing the
newsletter to anyone who has a email address to save on expenses.
DUES REMINDER – The new year is coming up fast and your Mid – Atlantic Basenji Club dues are due on
1/1/06 and are going to be considered delinquent on 1/30/06 at which time you will not be receiving the
next newsletter. If you paid for three years last year you are paid up till the year 2007. If you do not know
if you paid for three years please contact Laura Gilchrist at Tammen@aol.com she can check for you.
SAD NEWS
Mark Baime's mother passed away December 1, 2005. If you'd like to send him an email, his
address is Barkless@aol.com. Send all cards and condolences to Mark A. Baime
259 English Place Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Mark was our judge for the fund match this year.
BASENJI BRAGS
MYSTICALS FIRE AND BRIMSTONE – Bred and owned by Dolores Harman took Winners Dog at the Old
Dominion Kennel Club show on 10/2/05.
CH MYSTICALS HIGHER POWER OF KARNAK - Bred and owned by Dolores Harman took Best of
Breed at the Old Dominion Kennel Club show on 10/2/05. Took Best of Breed at the Warrenton Kennel Club
show on 10/01/05.
CH SERENGETI SALLY FORTH – Owned by Sue Siroki took Best of Opposite Sex at the Old Dominion
Kennel Club show on 10/2/05. Took Best of Opposite Sex at the Warrenton Kennel Club show on 10/01/05.
EL JACK’S MISDEMEANOR KUGAWA – Owned and Bred by James Hicks took Winners Dog and Best of
Winners at the Warrenton Kennel Club show on 10/01/05.
AKC CH/ MULTI BIS/MULTI RESERVE BIS/UKC GRAND CH TAMMEN’S
CAT IN THE HAT, CGC, AOM – Owned by Laura Gilchrist Bred by L & L
Gilchrist & Susan Coe took Best of Breed at the Warrenton Kennel Club on
9/30/05. Took Best of Breed and Group 1 at the Old Line State Dog Club on
10/25/05 and the went on to take his third Best in Show under international
judge Chris Kelley.
UKC CH TAMMEN”S N AKUABA T.YON – Owned by Laura Gilchrist Bred by
Laura Gilchrist & Susan Coe took Best of Breed and a Group 2 at the Old Line
State Dog Club on 10/25/05. Took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at
Catonsville Kennel Club on 10/14/05.
REVEILLES ENCHANTED PASSPORT – Owned by Kelly & Claire Wisch Bred by Damara Bolte ntook
Winners Bitch and Best of opposite sex on 11/18/05 at the Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers Association.
Took Winners Bitch, Best of Winners and Best of Breed at the Mispillion Kennel Club show on 11/13/05.
Took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at the Salisubury Maryland Kennel Club on 11/12/05. Took
Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia on 11/20/05.
ITZYU THE RED BARON – Owned and Bred by Lisa Auerbach took Winners Dog and Best of Opposite Sex
at the Mispillion Kennel Club show on 11/13/05. Took Winners Dog at the Catonsville Kennel Club on
10/15/05.
WAKAN EURYNOME – Owned and Bred by Toni Ackerman took Winners Bitch,
Best of Winners & Best of Opposite Sex at the Catonsville Kennel Club on
10/15/05.
AKC CH/ UKC GRAND CH AKUABA THE OPULECENT PEARL JC, CGC- Bred by
Susan Coe Owned By L & L Gilchrist. Took Best Veteran at the Salisubury Maryland
Kennel Club on 11/12/05.
NOTE Pearl has come through surgery to remove a 2lb tumor from her
abdomen well and hopes to return to the Veterans Ring this spring.
KISA LAST TANGO IN VIRGINIA – Bred & Owned By Kim & Dana Byrd took Winners Bitch and Best of
Opposite sex at the Gloucester Kennel Club of Virginia on 11/06/05. Took Winners Bitch and Best of
Opposite Sex at the Langley Kennel Club on 11/5/05. Took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at the
Tidewater Kennel Club of Virginia on 11/04/05. Took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at the Upper
Potomac Valley Kennel Club show on 10/22/05.
KISA CASH N CARRY - Bred & Owned By Kim & Dana Byrd took Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best
of Breed at the Langley Kennel Club on 11/5/05. Took Winners Dog and Best of Winners at the Upper
Potomac Valley Kennel Club show on 10/22/05.
ELDORADO A SHOT IN THE DARK AT KISA – Bred by Sheila Lund & Pam Geoffroy & Terray Boomir,
Owned by Kim & Dana Byrd took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at the Middleburg Kennel Club
10/30/05. Took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite at the Laurel Highlands Kennel Association on 10/21/05.
KISA N’ AKUABA’S DANCING IN THE MUD – Bred By Kim Byrd & Susan
Coe, owned by Jane Johnson took Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex at
the Hatboro Dog Club on 10/7/05.
CH KUGAWA’S SOPRANO REVEILLE – Bred & Owned by Sid & Sue Sher
took Best of Opposite Sex at the Warrenton Kennel Club on 9/30/05.
LATE BRAGS FROM THE BCOA NATIONALS
Akili’s Kwinana CD – Bred by Betty White and Owned by Jeff & Scotti
Sloanaker got High In Trial at agility-preffered Jumpers and Weaves at the
BCOA Nationals.
JOKUBA-ASIA’S FOUR FREEDOMS – Owned by Jeff & Scottie Sloanker
took a third in a big Open Red/White dog class at the BCOA Nationals.
THE LITTER BOX
On May 27, 2005 Ch. Kugawa's Soprano Reveille (Sophie), owned by Sid & Sue Sher, gave birth
to 5 puppies, 3 boys and two girls. The sire was Ch. Kugawa's Star Travler (Travis). The pups
were all red and white as Travis is pure for red. Sid and Sue are keeping one girl, Seeker, to
show and course.
One of the pups was sold to a couple who own a winery in Virginia, Chris and Lisa Pearmund.
Even at this young age he has become the unofficial greeter for the winery. When he is not trying
to run away with the customers by climbing in their cars (or the UPS and Fed Ex trucks) he has
his "office" under the wine tasting bar. The pup has been renamed Redman. The winery is
located just north of Warrenton, VA just off Lee Highway, Rt. 29. If you would like to taste some
fine Virginia wine I am sure Redman would love seeing you as well.
Ask Wheezer
Write to Wheezer at Askwheezer@hotmail.com
Dear Wheezer,
My human gets extremely agitated when I scoot my butt across the floor when I
need to get to that hard to reach spot. Any suggestions?
Itchy in Indiana
Dear Itchy,
Shag carpet or Berber works best for my money. And if your owner gets upset with the scooting technique, try the old
reliable “Sit and Spin”, but watch out for the rug burns!
Dear Wheezer,
My Basenjis sleep all day and then run and play until midnight or later? Is there anything I can do to change this
pattern?
Sleepless in Shepherdstown
Dear Sleepless,
What’s wrong? Jealous? Just kidding! First, move far away from anywhere named Shepherdstown. That can’t be good
on any level. Next, try to get home during the day for lunch and take them for a walk and leave plenty of toys for them
to play with while you’re out. Anything to break up the routine. Your dogs love you and are resting up to play with you
when you get home. Basenjis aren’t your normal breed. We need love and attention just like you (even more!).
TOY TIME WITH TRY-TRI
This is not a toy that was tested this time but a pet care product. We
tried out a product which has been on the market for a few years now
called a stink stopper. It is a neat little black light which is suppose to
illuminate old urine & new urine. Well the tester tried this on old urine
in a litter box and it did not illuminate it, followed the dogs out at night
to where they go on the concrete did not work on new urine either, also
tried it on a dog bed which had gotten urinated on it did not work. But
it did illuminate lint very well.
TryTri’s advice on this item is save your $$$$$$$ for dog bones instead.
THE CULINARY HOUND
CHRIS DANKER’S LIVER BROWNIES
1 cup liver, ground in food processor
1 cup corn meal
1 cup wheat flour
½ cup water
small amount of garlic powder
Mix items together. Spread in well greased baking pan and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. When
cool, cut into small squares.
Here is one for the humans in your life to try.
TAMMEN’S SINFUL CHOCOLATE CAKE
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
16 ounces (16 squares or 1 pound) semisweet chocolate
9 eggs, separated
1 ¼ cups sugar
Garnish (optional)
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inh springform pan, line the bottom with a round of waxed paper cut
to fit, then butter and flour the paper.
Place the butter and chocolate in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and set over low heat. Stir frequently until
completely melted. Set aside and let cool.
Beat the egg yolks for a minute, then slowly add the sugar and continue beating until thick and pale. Add
the cooled butter-chocolate mixture, and stir until thoroughly blended. In another bowl beat the egg whites
until they are stiff but moist and stand in peaks that droop slightly. Drop the chocolate mixture over the
whites, then gently fold together until thoroughly blended.
Remove one third of the batter and refrigerate it.
Spread the remaining batter evenly in the prepared cake pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the
oven and let cool for about 30 minutes, then turn out onto a serving plate to cool completely. Frost the
cake with the reserved batter, then garnish with slivered almonds and serve with whipped cream if you
wish. Another garnish which works well is a light dusting of powered sugar.
BASENJIS R’ US
Dear Santa,
Here's a Christmas wish, to make my Christmas glow,
All I'd like for Christmas is simple Best In Show.
If that's too much, dear Santa, then my heart would loop-de-loop,
If you'd see fit to give me a placing in the Group.
In fact, I'd be quite satisfied, and not show too much greed,
If you'd be kind and generous, and give me Best of Breed.
Dear Santa, I'd be merry and really feel quite rich,
If you'd arrange a gift for me - Winners Dog or Bitch!
But I'd be joyful, Santa, and I'd dance the Highland Fling,
If my pup would just be happy and behave in the ring!!!
Author Unknown.
**************************************************************************************************
FLEA CONTROL
Sent in by Roberta Kosek & Nelson Kahler
I learned about this product called "Flea Treats" through the Basenji Companions Club members group email. Many of the members swear by this product. I've been using K-9 Advantix for years with much
success. Haven't seen a flea since ...I can't even remember when! I think I may try it out. Get it into their
systems now since it's not the height of flea season. Go to www.fleatreat.com for complete information.
Many of the B-Com members are into totally natural foods and holistic methods for their dogs. They are
very quick to pass on any helpful information, too. So I thought I'd share this with you.
Khufu's been a very good boy. It's not a perfect world (yet) but, I've observed much improvement in the
way the 3 of them get along. No "human" problems.
Hope all is well with all of you.
Roberta
***************************************************************************************
The Avuvi Project
By Robert Dean
The Avuvi project dates back to 1999, when I first noticed that many of the dogs imported from Benin (and
neighboring Togo) by aid workers were virtually indistinguishable from Basenjis. Through Peace Corp
volunteers I began mapping dog populations across Benin (and more recently, Togo). I discovered that
there are large pockets of
Basenji-phenotype dogs
throughout the Guinean coastal
area.
Descendants of the 1998 Mono district imports bred in the United
States. The black and white is the dam of the two red and white
littermates. (L to R): Ophelia’s Indiana Bones (Indie), Avuvi Inki
(Ophelia), and Ophelia’s Blake Tahoe (Pontouf).
The area lies on or near the
migration path established by
Dr. Peter Savolainen in his
studies. Benin, with its lack of
exploitable resources, has vast
areas undisturbed by European
colonialism. About the size of
Pennsylvania, Benin is one of
the poorest of African nations.
Most of its population outside
the cities and towns lives the
lives of their ancestors of
centuries ago. Hunting is still
the mainstay of many of the
smaller villages and the dogs
are an important part of this
activity.
I initially worked with dogs imported from the Mono district by Jim and Mary Roy. I produced a test litter
that caught the attention of other Basenji fanciers. Over the years the project has grown as more people
have become interested and more resources have become available.
Last summer we imported six puppies from the northern Atlantique
district. The area was selected because the dogs from this area are of
homogenous type and the risk of European contamination is small. The
pups were intended to be a random selection of dogs from the area to get
an idea of the inherent variations we might encounter. Nestor Djossou,
the young man who selected the pups, is a native who hasn’t the slightest
idea what a “Basenji” is. He was instructed to select native pups from
hunting stock. Chris Starace, a former Peace Corp volunteer, traveled to
Benin and shipped the pups to me in Virginia. Despite being a random
selection of dogs, these pups proved to be excellent examples of the
Basenji phenotype.
Viche (Fon: “My child”) takes
a well-deserved roll in the
dirt. She lives in Lissegazoun
and is a well-respected
hunter. She has just weaned
a litter.
One bitch, Hontongnon (Fon: “Friends are good”) is from the village of Ayou
and was whelped on 2/15/04. The other five are from the village of
Lissegazoun and are from three different litters. Ekanye (Fon: “It is their
problem”), a tri male, was whelped on 2/10/04. Afonhaan (Fon: “So you woke
up”) is the other bitch. She and the others, Wafi (Fon: “Come here!”),
Enagnon (Fon: “It will be good”), and Kuoabo (Fon: “Welcome”) were whelped
on 3/8/04. Three were placed with trusted Basenji breeders and the rest were
placed with pet owners who agreed to the project terms.
Sonagnon (Adja: “The
future will be good) is the
three month-old son of
Sonassou (Adja:
“Tomorrow will be here”).
Sonassou is an excellent
hunter. They live in the
village of Adjadji.
As with the Mono district dogs their DNA was submitted to various research
projects, including Dr. Savolainen’s migration study and Dr. Johnson’s Basenji
DNA bank. They have tested negative for PkD and have all had CERF exams.
As they mature they will be screened for the various genetic defects that are
known to inflict the Basenji breed. Their physical and behavioral development
will be observed and noted. Once they reach sexual maturity we will begin
breeding them amongst themselves to explore recessives.
In the
meantim
e our
studies
of the
Beninese dog populations have
widened. Nestor Djossou has
traveled to many remote villages
photographing and documenting the
dog populations. He is procuring DNA
samples from the lines of the
imported dogs and other select dogs.
We are sending him a video camera
so that he can document how the
dogs are used in hunting. And we
continue to work with Peace Corp
volunteers, widening the area of
study.
Remote interviews of the natives via
correspondence and proxies have
Three of the 2004 imports engaging in lure practice. Avuvi
yielded a wealth of information on the
Ekanye (Anda) was making his move as Avuvi Afonhaan (Honey)
dogs. For instance: although the
blind-sided the lure. Avuvi Enagnon (Kudo) closes from behind.
females have an annual estrus, they
tend to produce litters bi-annually. This probably is due to limited resources and the female’s need to
recover from producing a litter. Also, we’ve been told parents will not mate with their offspring under
normal conditions.
One outstanding item gleaned from the interviews is the
longevity of these dogs. Despite the hardships and dangers
the average lifespan of the dogs which survive to adulthood is
said to be about 15 years. This could be an important
indicator of the absence of genetic defects.
Minhouda (Fon: “Who have I?”) lost her
leg in a hunting accident. She lives in
Lissegazoun.
In these small villages where people live in mud huts without running water, sewage, or electricity there are
no breeding programs. But natural selection is not the only force operating on the dog populations. Dogs
with behavioral problems are removed from the gene pool by the people or by other dogs. And dogs which
prove of more worth to the village or their owners receive better care. The functions of these dogs include
keeping vermin from the villages, acting as companions and protectors of the children, and hunting. Of all
of these functions, hunting is the most respected.
The manner in which these dogs are used to hunt varies considerably. In some instances the dogs are used
to track prey. Once the prey is spotted the
hunter shoots it (crossbows are the most
common weapon). If the wounded prey runs
off then the dogs pursue and bring it down. In
other cases the dogs may hunt and bring down
the prey directly or drive it into traps. For
dangerous animals, the dogs are sometimes
used to bait the animal into the open where it
may be shot.
At some point in the near future we will return
to Benin forearmed with knowledge we have
gained. We will travel directly to the areas of
interest and Basenji-knowledgeable people will
select stock for importation.
Mahudagba (Fon: “God is great”) with her 9 week-old
It will take years of evaluating and testing the
litter in Soyo. This is her 2nd litter. She is owned by a
stock before we can reach any conclusions. If
Christian family. Most of the natives practice Vodun.
the stock proves healthy and suitable, then
consideration may be given to whether it is of any worth to the Basenji breed. But right now the project is
still in its infancy.
***************************************************************************************
Gassy Dogs
Fennel seeds grind with coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. Serve 1 teaspoon level with as little food or
broth as possible; or better yet make a tea cover 1 tablespoon of the ground seeds with 8 oz of boiling
water allow to steep until completely cooled off then squirt or spoon 1/2 – 1 ml(about 1/4-1/2 pipettte
dropper) directly into mouth. If not possible add to small amount of food. I just give them a use teaspoon
full in their mouths.
If you don't have fennel it says try dill seed, anise seed, caraway seed, chamomille, catnip or peppermint.
The tea I put in a baby food jar and keep for a bit
I got these ideas from Whole dog journal http://www.whole-dog-journal.com
Laurie and the furkids
WINTER TIPS
Yes, winter is on its way fast. Just a little reminder some common sense rules.
Keep all anti freeze out of your basenjis reach it is very toxic to them even in the smallest amounts.
Your dog may find himself with aching feet from walking on salt-laden walks and driveways. The chemicals are irritating
to dogs feet and are also harmful if licked off. Always rinse your Basenji’s paws in warm water after he goes outside to
remove any trace of salt.
In freezing weather, never leave your Basenji or any other dogs outside for longer than a few moments.