Majestic Tree Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison

The Majestic Tree Hound is a fairly new crossbreed dog. While the actual breed is very recent, the stem stock goes way back to medieval times.

The dog’s heritage goes back to the St. Hubert Hound named after Francois Hubert. He bred the best scenting hounds in Southern France.

In fact when France experienced political unrest that resulted in emigration to the United States, they brought their dogs, among them hound dogs which were then crossed with other dogs. Bloodhounds, English Foxhounds, American Coon and Big Game Hounds have all contributed to the Majestic Tree Hound after a long time of breeding to bring forth a hound that had sharp scenting abilities as well as a balanced temperament.

The origin of the Majestic Tree Hound is the United States.

Today they are not seen much outside the United States. The first Majestic's were registered with the National Kennel Club in April 1980.

The Basenji is an old breeds of domesticated dog and the dog was discovered by Westerners in the Congo region of West Africa in the 19th century. The word ‘Basenji’ means ‘dog of the bush’ the Congo area of Africa. The Basenji falls into the hound category as a hunting dog.

The dogs were first imported into England and the United States in the 1930s.The Basenji Club of America was started in 1942, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1943. The new additions also introduced the brindle color pattern to the Western Basenji.

The Majestic Treehound is a large sized working dog. This dog is a cross between the Bloodhound and the Black and Tan Coonhound. Both male and female stand at roughly 61-76 cm in height and weighs in at about 33 – 50kg.

If you want your dog to become a parent, you can expect between 2 to 6 of the cutest puppies.

The coat is smooth, short and dense and comes in a number of colors such as black, black and tan grey and white as well as red and blue ticking.

The dog has sunken brown or yellow eyes, particularly long, floppy ears, a deep chest and a long tail. The tail is set high and is thick at the base and is essentially carried in accordance with the dog’s mood. The tail is never carried over the back. There was a time when the tail of the Majestic was docked, giving him an attractive, compact look. They are powerfully built dogs with a dignified look to them.

Temperament:

The Majestic Treehound has always been a most fearless and adept hunter and he is a dog that just loves being busy. They are also loyal and devoted companions for their human families.

He is a huge dog but he is gentle, good natured and kind with children and is also willing to get on well with pets in the home. You won’t find him being much of a guard dog though because he is just too friendly for this.

He is a dog that is going to need regular exercise, and his sheer size and exercise requirements will make it that he is better off living in the countryside than in the city.

He is an intelligent dog who will be easy to train. Training and socialization will be good for him as he knows exactly how to behave in different situations. He doesn’t want to be left on his own for too long because he bonds closely with his owners and wants to be around them constantly.

A Variety of Strange Features

Described as being catlike, this is an unusual dog to say the least. The reason for this is that he doesn’t have a bark but rather emits a characteristic noise which is likened to a chortel and a yodel. The Basenji is a medium sized dog but he isn’t robust looking. He is a lightly built dog of 40 – 43cm in height and his coat is short and sleek. He has long legs which help with being quick and agile and his shortish tail curls over his back and he has naturally upright ears.

A Quizzical Expression

As we’ve said, this is an unusual dog, and his wrinkled head gives the dog a quizzical expression. Another strange feature is that not only is this dog breed looked upon as being somewhat primitive, the odd thing about these dogs is that the female only comes into heat once a year. Another somewhat unusual aspect of this self-confident, friendly dog is that unlike other dogs which have a typical dog odour, this canine is odourless, making him a particularly excellent household pet.

His coat comes in different colors and this can be red and white, tan, tan and white as well as black and white or tri-color. These particular dogs are well known for their excellent eyesight and their excellent sense of smell.

This large attractive dog has a gentle nature and is loving and affectionate towards his human family, getting on well with children and other pets in the family.

As with most little dogs, this big dog doesn’t like to be left alone for a long time. With training and socialization he becomes obedient and amicable, knowing how to behave well so that he can be taken anywhere.

Treat this loving dog with love and care and he is guaranteed to make you a splendid family pet.

The Basenji is an affectionate dog with his family, but he doesn’t take kindly to strangers. If he is socialized when young, he’ll be fairly friendly with other pets in the family too. The Basenji is an intelligent dog but not particularly easy to train, and will require patience as he has a will of his own.

These short-haired dogs are clean-living with grooming habits similar to a cat. They shed just a little too. They love their human family and will make a good watchdog because they are courageous dogs, ready to defend what they love.

This is an unusual dog, and not everyone will appreciate him as a pet as he is independent, obstinate and determined to do his own thing. If you’re a single person or a family who spends a lot of time outdoors hiking, swimming and hunting – then the Basenji can make an affectionate devoted, loyal companion.

The Majestic is a robust breed, and with good food and exercise he can live to be between 10 and 13 years of age.

It has been discovered that like many other dogs, he can battle with hip dysplasia. Large dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia. It is an abnormal formation of the hip socket. It’s a serious condition that can cause arthritis and lameness.

Hip dysplasia often begins when a dog is still a puppy. One of the symptoms is difficulty with getting up after lying down, pain in hip joints and even loss of muscle mass. You will need to get your pet to the vet. The vet will perform a complete physical exam on your dog and then talk to you about treatment.

Basenji are generally healthy dogs. As with most other canines, these dogs are also prone to health disorders such as canine hip dysplasia. Check your Basenji for hereditary eye diseases which can lead to blindness.

Fanconi Syndrome

This is a kidney disease where your pet will urinate out the protein he so badly needs. He’ll be excessively thirsty and the disease mostly sets in from 4 years of age. It is an inherited kidney disease which can be fatal.

Preventing Health Problems

Many health problems can be partially- or totally prevented by the way you raise your puppy, and the lifestyle you provide him with. By doing everything you can to give him good food, a dry, warm space to sleep, lots of activities and exercise and plenty of love and attention, you’ll have less health problems.

Grooming:

Occasional brushing, perhaps twice a week, will be enough to maintain this dog’s short coat. The long ears tend to drag on the ground, collecting dirt and moisture, and the ears particularly will need to be washed or wiped down and checked inside for infection.

Exercise:

This is a dog with high exercise requirements. A walk a day for him is a good thing but it won’t be enough – he will need some rough and tumble games and want to join you on hikes, swimming and jogs.

Diet:

Majestic Tree Hounds require nutritious food. If you want to use commercially manufactured food, make sure its the better one as some of the cheaper brands put fillers, preservatives and colorants in and this can cause a whole lot of damage for your dog.

Buy quality food for your pet. The idea is to keep things simple for your big dog so that he doesn’t succumb to digestive problems. Apart from top quality kibble, homemade food will be excellent for him. Boiled chicken cooked in some coconut oil with some brown rice and pasta and some cooked or raw vegetables will be delicious for your dog. You can add it to his dry kibble. Remember to ensure he always has cool, fresh water.

Grooming

Basenjis are fastidious – much like a cat, and they like to be licking at their coats to keep themselves clean. They have a short coat, and this will need to be brushed once or twice a week to get rid of loose hairs and to also stimulated skin oils throughout the coat to keep it shiny and glossy.

As with all dog breeds, the Basenji‘s ears should be checked over and his nails regularly trimmed.

Food

The Basenji needs high quality dog food, regardless of whether you food him commercially manufactured foods or you make your own. If you aren’t sure about how to feed a dog properly to maintain good health, speak to your veterinarian. Dog food needs to be appropriate to the dog’s age and his breed type. Certainly it can be wise to learn what human foods can be dangerous for your dog. Clean, fresh water from bowls which are regularly cleaned should be accessible at all times.