How much is that basenji puppy for sale is a very common question we are asked often.  There are many basenji puppies for sale ads, especially with the internet dog / puppy finder sites.  And the price for that “basenji puppy for sale” is equally baffling; how some basenji breeders could place their basenji puppies for as little as $350.00 and other basenji breeders at $1200.00 or more.  What make one basenji puppy worth more than $1000.00 over another?  Is it a better quality basenji puppy than the other? Not necessarily. Basenji Puppy for sale ads can be very misleading and likewise with some breeders.  The for profit breeders goal is to either promote a high sales volume with quantity and a low price or a low sales volume with a, “my product is special”, high price.

The truth is, price has no relationship with the quality of that basenji puppy for sale, though the extreme low and high price points often indicate there are questionable issues.  Finding the middle point for your area is a good start. When shopping for that, “basenji puppy for sale” it is best to ignore the pricing, and focus on the basenji puppy being offered.

Pricing for that basenji puppy for sale is affected by the local economy.  A basenji breeder in Seattle, where home prices are $380,000 plus and jobs pay well, paying $900.00 for that basenji puppy for sale is not unreasonable.  On the other hand, a basenji breeder in St. Louis, where home price are $120,000 and jobs pay accordantly, paying $500.00 for that basenji puppy for sale is consistent with the local economy.  These disparities in the economic areas do impact the cost of raising a litter of basenji puppies, including the value which a breeder places on their effort.  Does this mean one should purchase that basenji puppy for sale in St. Louis over the Seattle basenji puppy for the better value? No.

The first and foremost important point to consider when buying that basenji puppy for sale is the support which the basenji breeder can provide.  This diminishes with distance.  It’s not always possible to find a basenji breeder in your area; however, visiting the breeder to evaluate the basenji puppies’ parents 300 miles away is much easier than 2000 miles.  The benefits of purchasing your, “basenji puppy for sale” locally are endless, everything from guidance with grooming to the possibility of having to return your basenji puppy.

There are some legitimate reasons for one Basenji dog breeder to charge more than another within a give area.

1.    Established breeding program.
            Basenji dog breeders who have an established  breeding record often have sufficient homes for the basenji puppies which they breed, and often demand a premium price for their puppies.  Breeding records include multiple generations of  show championships, field trial performance, quality in temperament and low or zero occurrence of health issues.  These basenji breeders can substantiate their breeding records with decades of participation in the breed fancy, references from peer breeders and owners. Often the most reliable source for a basenji puppy.

2.    Show.
           Many the basenji dog puppies from reputable breeders and even some from less reputable sources have "show potential".  A term often used when a basenji dog is evaluated as just maybe having the necessary conformation to meet the demands of the show ring.  Then there are those special basenji dog puppies which are sure winners.  These basenji puppies tend to be the basenji breeder's first or second pick.    Often the basenji breeder will guarantee success in the show ring with such puppies.  You can expect to pay more for such a basenji puppy, including possible co-ownership conditions and the breeder retaining full or partial breeding rights.  If you are intending to show a basenji dog, it's very important to evaluate the breeding record of the breeder to ensure you are purchasing a competitive quality basenji dog.  Terms and conditions on purchasing a show basenji vary greatly.

3.    Import
            Some litters involve the use of Imported basenji dogs from out of the country.   This includes native African imports.  For an individual looking for breeding stock, quality basenji dogs of such litters are an valuable asset to a breeding program.  However, basenji dogs which are intended to be spayed or neutered have no greater value than  a litter involving no imports.

4.      Breeding Stock
            Quality basenji dogs sold by an established reputable breeder as unaltered for  future possible breeding often demands a premium price.  The price often includes co-ownership conditions and show terms. The basenji breeder often retains partial breeding rights and provides mentorship.

One has to be careful that the basenji breeder truly warrants a premium price for that special basenji.  There are many irresponsible breeders which place a high value on their basenji dogs, expecting a high return.  These basenji dog breeders often boast about their establishment, quality of their basenji dogs, health testing, the willingness to place unaltered basenjis for breeding stock, however, when scrutinized, they have no peer review of their breeding program, do not participate in activities to prove out their breeding stock, and have not been mentored by creditable basenji dog breeders.  Purchasing that basenji puppy for sale from such is not advised.   If you are paying a premium price for your basenji puppy, then you should expect a quality bred basenji dog with all the references.

The cost of breeding a litter of basenji dogs vary greatly.  However, it does not  necessary justify an increase value in the basenji puppy for sale.  There are basic expenses which all responsible breeders occur.  Such as health testing, veterinary care, stud fees, etc.  On occasion, a breeder may choose to breed to an expensive stud, or utilize frozen semen and the associated cost, however if the basenji puppy you are purchasing is intended to be spayed or neutered, these additional costs are irrelevant.  It does not make the puppy more valuable than that from another responsible basenji dog breeder with in your area.  However, if that special stud has a history of producing healthy, long lived basenji dogs with superb temperaments, this merits consideration when comparing to similar priced basenji puppies for sale in the same area.

Likewise, there are some legitimate reasons for basenji puppy dogs to be priced lower than that of the established breeders in a given area.

New Breeder
            Basenji dog breeders new to the fancy often do not have the demand for placing their basenji puppies for sale, as would a established basenji breeder.  Often homes which they took reservations for fail to come through, it is usually the result of a lack of experience in evaluating homes.  There are  new basenji breeders who are very responsible, do all the necessary home work, and breed a quality litter.  it is not unusual for these new basenji breeders to be mentored by more established breeders.  A basenji puppy from one the breeders can be an exceptional value.  However, the basenji puppy buyer must take more care in confirming the qualification of such basenji dog breeders, given the lack of established references.

Surplus
            On occasion, the number of basenji puppies for sale exceed the demand.  This is further aggravated by the  basenji dog's unique breeding cycle of only having one litter per year and the cycle being a seasonal event.  Ninety percent of all basenjis cycle in September and November, with basenji puppies born in December and January.  This sometime creates a surplus if homes were not previously established prior to breeding, or larger litters were consistently produced in the same year.   Responsible basenji breeders do make efforts to place their basenji puppies at the ideal age.  Sometimes there is willingness to reduce the purchase price for a good home during these surplus years.

The purchase price for that "basenji puppy for sale"  is an incidental cost, even at a  thousand dollars plus.  The cost of owning a dog has been rising, especially in veterinary care.   A health problem in your basenji dog, or even that wash cloth they just ate, can result in veterinary expenses in the thousands.  It's not unusual to expect to spend $10,000 plus over the life of a healthy basenji dog, this greatly increases with behavior or health problems.

When shopping for that "basenji puppy for sale" the buyer must weigh many factors before even considering the purchase price.  It is recommended that you contact at least two responsible breeders, choose the litter which you are most interested in, then factor in the purchase price.

Please browse the Jumoke web site for more basenji information.  The site is a work in progress so check back often.  We are always interested in feed back and suggestions to improve the site, with the goal of adding basenji information to assist the prospective basenji owner and current owners.