Questions And Answers

Q. What are the definitions of the abbreviations?

1. African Dogs - Basenji dogs imported into the United States, registered in the books of the American Kennel Club under a special dispensation, originated in Africa. These dogs were brought to the United States for the purposes of improving the health of the American basenjis on two separate occasions. They are slightly different in details of appearance and behavior. Ahmahr Nahr breeds one line that is part African.

2. AKC, the American Kennel Club, an organization promoting purebred dogs. It is a dog registry with member clubs which sanctions events which sanctions events. Its members are kennel clubs. It offers titles in confirmation, obedience, lure coursing, tracking and agility as well as other events in which basenjis do not participate.

3. BCOA – Basenji Club of America. The club sponsors and promotes the basenji in the United States. Its members are individuals. Membership must be sponsored and voted upon. Basenji Club of America produces a magazine called the Bulletin.

4. BCOC – The Basenji Club of Canada. This is a breed club for the promotion and welfare of the basenji in Canada. Membership is by application and must be approved. The Basenji Club of Canada publishes a newsletter.

5. BIF – Best in field, lure coursing. A dog who at the end of a lure coursing event prevailed over, not only the other dogs of his breed, but all other dogs, having the best score at a lure coursing event.

6. BIS – Best in show. The dog who prevails at the end of a confirmation dog show and is counted as having beaten all other dogs entered in the show. He has won his breed, he has won his variety group and is considered best or closest in perfection to his breed standard amongst all the group winners.

7. CERF – Canine Eye Registration Foundation. This is the certifying body to certify canine eyes as relates to various eye conditions after a certain age, in particular those such as relates to basenjis such as PRA, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and PPM, Persistent Pupillary Membrane. They issue reports as well. CERF’s certifications are to be done annuallyto be current.

8. CH – generally means an AKC confirmation champion.

9. CKC – Canadian Kennel Club - headquartered in Etibikobe, Ontario, Canada. It is a governmental organization which acts as a dog registry and promotes canine sports and health in Canada. It sanctions confirmation shows and dog performance events. Dogs registered with the AKC can be shown in Canada with a dual registration or with an ERN, Event Registration Number, issued by CKC and earn titles there.

10. CKC CH – a champion of the Canadian Kennel Club

11. DC – Dual championship - AKC’s title for dogs who hold a confirmation title and an additional performance title

12. FC – Field Champion – AKC lure coursing championship title

13. FCI Champion - A dog accorded a championship certificate by the FCI. The dog must have four (4) certificated wins in international competition at sanctioned shows held by FCI member clubs under judges from at least four (4) different countries earned as winner’s dog or winner’s bitch after the age of 15 months (as to two (2) of the certificates) having a critique rating of good or better.

14. FCI – Federacion Cynologique Internationale - This is an umbrella organization comprised of national kennel clubs. It is located in Thuin, Belgium. Most national kennel clubs belong to this organization. AKC does not. It is through its auspices that the World Dog Show is held in a different country each year; and it also holds world events and regional events in canine performance sports. It has and maintains internationally recognized breed standards which may differ in some instances from the AKC. Many breeds are recognized which are not recognized by the AKC. It is not, however, a breed registry. It does issue titles in confirmation and performance sports based on the wins at FCI sanctioned shows in member countries who are annually limited in number. It promotes breeding, health and maintaining appropriate standards.

15. FCM Champion - A champion of the Federacion Canofila Mexicana. FCM is the Mexican National Kennel Club. In order to hold this title the dog must be registered with the Mexican Kennel Club and obtain four (4) certificated wins, as winners dog or bitch, two (2) of which must be after the age of 15 months, bearing critique grades of good or better.

16. FCM – Federacion Canofila Mexicana – Mexican National Kennel Club headquartered in Mexico City which registers dogs in Mexico and fosters dog sports and dog health in that country. Sponsors, sanctions and holds conformation, obedience and occasionally performance events.

17. FCPR – Federacion Canofila Puerto Rico – This is the territorial Kennel Club of the territory of Puerto Rico which promotes dog health, confirmation and performance sports as well as acts as the dog registry in that territory. It hold AKC shows as well as FCI shows during the course of any year. Dogs must be registered or registration authenticated with the FCPR and can be shown there for FCI sanctioned shows.

18. FCPR Champion – Federacion Canofila Puerto Rico – the dog must earn four (4) certificated wins of winner’s dog or winner’s bitch in a show sponsored by the Puerto Rican Kennel Club, two (2) of which must be after the age of 15 months, earning critique grades of good or better.

19. JC – AKC title for junior courser, being the initial lure coursing qualification title of the American Kennel Club

20. OFA – Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals. This is a veterinary certifying body which certifies as to condition at a specified age various animal body parts through medical testing, issues a report and assigns a number to that dog with that report. The most common of these as relates to basenjis is an OFA hip rating, such as good or excellent. Ahmahr Nahr only breeds its own stock which are good or excellent in terms of OFA hip rating. A comparable system is the PENN Hip Rating.

21. SC – Senior courser title, second lure coursing qualification title of the American Kennel Club

22. SICALAM – Sociedad Internationale Canofila Latinoamericana. This is an umbrella organization of national member dog clubs for the region of Latin America. It is not a breed registry. It sanctions shows in member countries, issues titles and holds a regional championship annually. These titles require five wins under five different national judges at the winners dog or winners bitch level with grades of good or excellent.

23. Top Dogs and Top Dog Ranking. In confirmation and performance sports dogs are ranked by breed with numbers varying from the top 25 on up. In confirmation those rankings may be determined by dogs defeated at breed level, dogs defeated at group level, best of breed wins or by a systems of combined ranking of those three (3). There are various ranking or point systems used in the United States and Canada. A similar system is used determining the top dogs in other performance events, particularly lure coursing.

24. UKC – United Kennel Club – Alternate United States dog registry. Registers and sanctions confirmation and some performance events for dogs in the United States including breeds not recognized by the American Kennel Club. It also awards a confirmation championship and many other titles in performance events.

Q. When does Ahmahr Nahr’s have puppies?

A. Basenjis come into season generally only once a year, usually in the fall. The puppies are often born November through January and not available until they are eight to twelve weeks old with rather rare special exceptions due to regimens necessary for proper health, vaccination, socialization and training. Occasionally puppies are available at other times of the year at Ahmahr Nahr due to the fact that Ahmahr Nahr provides stud services to other breeders, particularly other breeders in countries whose dogs may come into season at different times than dogs do in the U.S. It is common that Ahmahr Nahr may receive a puppy back as part of the consideration at such a breeding. Occasionally even dogs living in the United States, in warmer climates such as Florida, may come into season early. Often times, Ahmahr Nahr owns bitches on a co-ownership with other breeders living in warmer climates and may have puppies available from those litters at different times during the year.

Q. How do I get a little girl puppy, little boy puppy, etc.?

A. Oftentimes, Ahmahr Nahr’s takes reservations for puppies, accepting a small deposit and placing you on a waiting list. It is difficult to get a little girl puppy because breeders and members of the basenji fancy want to keep those dogs or bid those dogs up in price for breeding. The same can be said of special colors such as brindle, tri or black and white. The predominant basenji coloration is red/white.

Q. What kind of health testing is done on your dogs?

A. We have veterinarians screen puppies for PPM and Coloboma. Older dogs are CERF tested for progressive retinal atrophy, PRA, initially when they are used in breeding and then annually thereafter. Breeding stock is x-rayed for hip displasya after they reach the age of two. Sometimes a preliminary x-ray is done between ages one and two. All dogs, once they reach the age of three years old, are strip tested on a regular basis for Fanconi syndrome. Our breeding stock is genetically tested for hemolytic anemia (HA). All of our breeding males have an OFA hip certification. Most breeding stock are CERF’d.Other testing is done on an "as needed" basis