Basenji dogs have flat larynxes, which means we can’t bark – hence the name African Barkless Dog – but we can do something much, much cooler! When we’re excited or trying to get your attention, we make a sound that’s similar to a chortle. This long, drawn out noise is very distinct – and unlike anything you’ve ever heard from a pup. If you’re not a fan of yappy pooches, your search for a barkless dog ends here!

Remember learning about ancient civilizations in history class? Turns out, Basenjis were around for all of that! We’re thought to be one of the oldest dog breeds, with depictions of us turning up in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Babylonian art. When these civilizations collapsed, we managed to stick around in the wild, living on the banks of the Nile and Congo rivers. Eventually, we became a pawpular hunting dog in Central Africa, particularly the Congo. My name, meaning “village dog,” comes from Lingala and Swahili, and we sighthounds are often called the Congo dog. Our speed, sense of smell, and astute eyesight made us great at hunting prey in ancient Egypt. We’re even known for being furbulous at vertical jumping, which helped us peer over high grass to find the creatures we were looking for. Today, we work out our hunting instincts with some good old-fashioned lure coursing. In 1895, a group of humans brought a pair of us to England in hopes of breeding us there, but unfortun