Dingoes as pets....

What always struck me about dingoes is that even when they get regular, positive contact with people, they're still never that thrilled to see humans. They'll come over and check you out, but if you don't have any food on you, they lose interest pretty quickly. Do you think the small size of basenjis is important to their suitability as a pet?

 
Basenjis are certainly not gregarious dogs.  But once they get to know you, they are very happy to see you.  My basenjis enjoy getting petted, but there is a bit of a warm up time period.  I can also ask them to approach someone which is what I do in the nursing homes.  Once they've decided they like someone, they will go to that person of their own accord.  But they reserve the doughnut tail wags and yodels for really special people.  I can get my brindle to talk in public, but it's a different vocalization from his greeting for "his" people.  ("His" as defined by him, not me.) 
 
Small size - I don't  know.  I think it's helpful, but I think there are larger breeds that are just as primative - the Singer, the Teloman, etc.  Perhaps the Akita?
 
And yes, my foster basenji was a very sad story.  The owner had been active in the show community 30 years ago or so and had just disappeared.  Only to resurface with 200ish basenjis and 30 cats.  The cats were in such bad shape they were euthanized on site.  Most of the basenjis made it into foster homes and the basenji community really worked hard to make things happen.  And my little foster has a good home for the rest of her days. 
 
I also think that in the past 20 or 30 years, the basenji breeders have worked hard to improve the temperment of the basenji.  And it's interesting to hear current breeders compare the new African stock to the older lines. 
 
If you're interested in ancient cultures and their relationship with their dogs, I'd suggest a book called "Dog's Best Friend" by Ursula Birr.  There is a brief page about basenjis in a larger chapter on the dogs of Borneo.  The Borneo dogs look a lot like basenjis/Singers.  The book also talks about the desert greyhounds, Inuit dogs, Namibia dogs and Tibetian dogs.  Fascinating stuff really. 
 
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