Origin: Zaire
Size: Small Dogs
Breedtype: Purebred
Rank: 87
Type: Hound Dogs
Height: 1 foot: 4 inches to 1 foot: 5 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight: 22 to 24 pounds
Color: Brown, Tan, Black, White, Gold
Temperament: Affectionate, intelligent and playful
Features: short coat, small &muscular body, erect ears and tail curled tightly over one hip. A wrinkled brow gives him a quizzical and sometimes mischievous expression.
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Popularity: Medium
Litter: 5
Intelligence: High
Agility: High
Trainability: Very Low
Energy Levels: Very High
Exercise Needs: Very High
Sensitivity: Medium
Shedding: Very Low
Drooling: Very High
Grooming: Very High
Good for Novice Owners: High
Adapts to Apartment Living: Very High
Tolerates Being Alone: High
Cold Weather Tolerance: Very Low
Hot Weather Tolerance: High
Playfulness: Low
Family Friendly: Very High
Kid Friendly: Very High
Peer Friendly: High
Stranger Friendly: Very High
General Health: Low
Potential For Weight Gain: Low
Prey Drive: Very High
Barking/Howling tendency: Very Low
Wanderlust: Very High
Intensity: Very Low
Concerns: None
Snippets: They were discovered by Westerners in the Congo region of West Africa in the 19th century. The first imports to Britain and USA failed as all of them died.However in 1930's they were successfully imported.They are the oldest domestic dog breeds. They are independent thinkers and see no need to follow or obey humans hence hard to train. They are intelligent enough to be escape artists.They don't bark continuously too, its because its agility and intelligence the hunters preferred to have them as pets