The Basenji originated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa and known as the "dog of the bush". It's also been called other names such as "savage dog" (or mbwa shenzi), "wild dog" and "dog that jumps up and down" (or m'bwa m'kube and mbwa wa mwitu). And yet despite its glaring name of being called "savage" or "wild", the Basenji's reputation as intelligent, courageous, silent, and fast was prized by African locals.
The early introduction of the Basenji to Europe and North America did not come without setbacks as earlier attempts to breed these dogs resulted in a number of deaths in the 1920's. A decade later, the Basenji was successfully established in England and in the United States. It wasn't until 1943 when the Basenji was officially recognized by the AKC.
Today, Basenjis are bred as companion animals, although they have a peculiar temperament that many owners will find undog-like. They tend to howl or yodel that is unlike the typical bark that dogs have. Basenjis may not like being with other non-canine animals like cats, being in wet weather or damp conditions and are not easily trained. According to the 1995 edition of The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, the Basenji is the least trainable dog breed ranking only 78 among the 79 breeds ranked for intelligence. However, the Basenji's low scores doesn't make the breed incompetent or unfit for pet owners looking for a companion, its true intelligence lies on its internal drive to seek out prey, food and freedom in its own terms.
On the plus side, for pet owners wanting a dog with low maintenance needs Basenjis have minimal grooming requirements due to its short coat and lack of the typical "doggy" odor.