What does each club give for Height at the withers in the Basenji?

FCI, Male: 43 cm; AKC, Male: 43.2 cm; UKC, Male: 43.2 cm; KC, Male: 43 cm; CKC, Male: 43.3 cm; FCI, Female: 40 cm; AKC, Female: 40.6 cm; UKC, Female: 40.6 cm; KC, Female: 40 cm; CKC, Female: 40.8 cm.

Basenji breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.

Size

Size
Measure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Height at the withers, male	43 cm	43.2 cm	43.2 cm	43 cm	43.3 cm
Height at the withers, female	40 cm	40.6 cm	40.6 cm	40 cm	40.8 cm
Weight, male	11 kg	10.9 kg	10.9 kg	11 kg	11 kg
Weight, female	9.5 kg	10 kg	9.5 kg	9.5 kg	10 kg
Height to length	No ruling	No ruling	1	No ruling	1

Conformation

Conformation
Form	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
BiteScissors bite	Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)	Standard (“Evenly aligned with a scissors bite”)	Standard (“meet in a scissors bite”)	Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)	Standard (“Must be level with scissors bite”)
BiteOvershot	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Overshot or undershot bites”)	No ruling	Fault (“Overshot or undershot mouths”)
BiteUndershot	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Overshot or undershot bites”)	No ruling	Fault (“Overshot or undershot mouths”)
DentitionFull dentition	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“A full complement of strong, white, even teeth”)	No ruling	No ruling
Ear carriageErect (prick)	Standard (“Small, pointed, erect and slightly hooded”)	Standard (“Small, erect and slightly hooded”)	Standard (“The ears are small, erect”)	Standard (“Small, pointed, erect and slightly hooded”)	Standard (“Small, pointed and erect of fine texture”)
Ear setLow	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Fault: Low-set ears”)	No ruling	Fault (“Low set ears”)
Eye shapeAlmond	Standard (“Dark, almond-shaped; obliquely set”)	Standard (“almond shaped, obliquely set and farseeing”)	Standard (“They are almond-shaped, obliquely set”)	Standard (“Dark, almond shaped, obliquely set”)	Standard (“almond shaped, obliquely set and farseeing”)
Eye shapeRound	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Fault: Round eyes”)	No ruling	Fault (“Round eyes”)
StopSlight	Standard (“Stop: Slight”)	No ruling	Standard (“There is a slight stop”)	Standard (“with slight stop”)	No ruling
Muzzle shapeSnipy	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Faults: Coarse muzzle. Snipey muzzle”)	No ruling	No ruling
DewlapPronounced	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Faults: ... Dewlap”)	No ruling	Fault (“Dewlap”)
Neck shapeArched	Standard (“proudly carried on a well arched neck”)	Standard (“proudly carried on a well arched neck”)	Standard (“carried proudly upon a well-arched neck”)	Standard (“proudly carried on a well-arched neck”)	No ruling
ToplineLevel	Standard (“Back: Short, level”)	Standard (“Topline-Back level”)	Standard (“The back is short and level”)	Standard (“Balanced with short, level back”)	Standard (“the back level”)
Tail setHigh	Standard (“TAIL: High set”)	Standard (“Tail is set high on topline”)	Standard (“The tail is set high on the topline”)	Standard (“High set”)	No ruling
Tail carriageCurled over the back	Standard (“Curls tightly over spine”)	Standard (“lies well curled over to either side”)	Standard (“lies, well-curled ... over to either side”)	Standard (“Curls tightly over spine”)	Standard (“curled tightly over to either side”)
Tail carriageDouble curl	Alternate (“with a single or double curl”)	No ruling	Alternate (“(in a single or double curl)”)	Alternate (“with a single or double curl”)	No ruling
FeetOval	No ruling	Standard (“Small, oval and compact with thick pads”)	Standard (“The small, oval, compact feet”)	No ruling	No ruling
HocksWell let down	Standard (“Hock: Well let down”)	Standard (“hocks well let down”)	Standard (“The hocks are well let down”)	Standard (“hocks well let down”)	Standard (“hocks well let down”)
ChestDeep	Standard (“Chest: Deep brisket”)	No ruling	Standard (“The chest is deep”)	Standard (“deep brisket”)	Standard (“The chest should be deep and of medium width”)
ChestBroad	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Wide chest”)

Markings

Markings
Marking	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Socks	Standard (“The white should be on the feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“The white should be on feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)
Chest patch	Standard (“The white should be on the feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“The white should be on feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)
White tail tip	Standard (“The white should be on the feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“The white should be on feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)
Stockings	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and white collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar are optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and white collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar optional”)
Blaze	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and white collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar are optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and white collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar optional”)
Collar	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and white collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar are optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and white collar optional”)	Alternate (“White legs, blaze and collar optional”)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
Procedure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Dewclaw removal	No ruling	Standard (“Dewclaws are usually removed”)	Standard (“Dewclaws are usually removed”)	No ruling	No ruling

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

Basenji colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Basenji color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Basenji in Black, White, Tan, and Red. Standard patterns: Bicolor, Tricolor, Brindle, and Reverse brindle.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“Pure black and white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“pure black”)	Standard (“Pure black and white”)	Standard (“Pure black and white”)
White	Standard (“The white should be on the feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“The white should be on feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“The white should be on the feet, chest and tail tip”)
Tan	Standard (“black and tan, and white with melon pips and tan markings”)	Standard (“Black Tan & White”)	Standard (“tricolor (pure black, chestnut red and white)”)	Standard (“Black, tan and white with tan melon pips and mask”)	Standard (“black and tan, and white with melon pips and tan markings”)
Red	Standard (“red and white”)	Standard (“Red & White”)	Standard (“chestnut red”)	Standard (“Red and white”)	Standard (“red and white”)
Blue	Not recognized	Alternate (“Blue Cream & White”)	Fault	Not recognized	Not recognized
Mahogany	Not recognized	Alternate (“Mahogany Tan & White”)	Fault	Not recognized	Not recognized
Cream	Not recognized	Alternate (“Cream & White”)	Fault (“Creams”)	Not recognized	Not recognized
Albino	Not recognized	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“Albinism”)	Not recognized	Not recognized
Patterns
Bicolor	Standard (“Pure black and white; red and white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“all with white feet, chest and tail tip”)	Standard (“Pure black and white; Red and white”)	Standard (“Pure black and white; red and white”)
Tricolor	Standard (“black and tan, and white”)	Standard (“Black Tan & White”)	Standard (“tricolor (pure black, chestnut red and white)”)	Standard (“Black, tan and white”)	Standard (“black and tan, and white”)
Brindle	Standard (“brindle: red background with black stripes”)	Standard (“Brindle & White”)	Standard (“brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red)”)	Standard (“Brindle and white: red background with black stripes”)	Standard (“brindle: red background with black stripes”)
Reverse brindle	Standard (“brindle: red background with black stripes”)	Standard (“Brindle & White”)	Standard (“brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red)”)	Standard (“Brindle and white: red background with black stripes”)	Standard (“brindle: red background with black stripes”)
Sable	No ruling	Alternate (“Sable & White”)	Fault (“shaded”)	Not recognized	No ruling

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Dark brown	Standard (“Dark”)	Standard (“Dark hazel to dark brown”)	Standard (“dark in color”)	Standard (“Dark”)	Standard (“Dark”)
Hazel	No ruling	Standard (“Dark hazel to dark brown”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“Black nose desirable”)	Standard (“Black greatly desired”)	Standard (“A black nose is greatly desired”)	Standard (“black nose desirable”)	Standard (“Black nose desirable”)

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Alternate: Registrable with the club but not described by its breed standard, such as an AKC alternate color.
Fault: Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized: The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Basenji's colors can change over its life.

Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

Published standards

Back to the Basenji guide Grooming styles for the Basenji