Is There a Dog That Can’t Bark?
Is There a Dog That Can’t Bark? Yes, there is one breed of dog, the basenji (buh SEN jee), that you’ll never catch “barking up the wrong tree.” This strange little dog cannot bark at all. It does make noises, however. It growls, snarls, and whines, and when excited, it makes a sound resembling a yodel.
The basenji has another feature not found in other breeds of dogs. It has a habit of washing its short, silky coat with its tongue to keep itself clean, as a cat does. Because it isn’t a noisy dog, the basenji is a popular house pet.
Well known as the “barkless” dog from Africa, the Basenji attracts admirers with his short coat, small, muscular body, alert demeanor, erect ears, and tail curled tightly over one hip. A wrinkled brow gives him a quizzical and sometimes mischievous expression.