Appearance
Basenjis are small, elegant-looking, short-haired dogs with erect ears, a tightly curled tail and a graceful neck. Some people consider their appearance similar to that of a miniature deer. A Basenji's forehead is wrinkled, especially when the animal is young. Basenji eyes are typically almond shaped, giving them the appearance of a serious squint.
Size
Males typically weigh 24 pounds (11 kilograms) and stand 17 inches (43 centimeters) at the withers. Females are 22 pounds (10 kilograms) and 16 inches (40 centimeters). They are typically a square breed, meaning they are as long as they are tall. The Basenji is an athletic dog and is deceptively powerful for its size. They have a graceful, confident gait like a trotting horse, and skim the ground in a "double-suspension gallop", with their characteristic curled tail straightened out for greater balance when running at top speed.
Coat and Color
The Basenji is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI, World Canine Federation), Kennel Club (KC), American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) in the following standard colorations: red, black, tricolor (black with tan in the traditional pattern), and brindle (black stripes on a background of red), all with white. There are additional variations, such as the "trindle", a tricolor with brindle points. Other colorations exist in the Congo such as liver, shaded reds (sables), "capped" tricolors (creeping tan) and piebald marked dogs.