We are Jennifer Ruiz & Shelby Hayter (previously Miller), a mother daughter team located in Oregon, dedicated to this unique breed since 2004.
Bantu Basenjis is an AKC Breeder of Merit, and we pride ourselves in being a Preservation Breeder, striving to breed healthy generations of purebred dogs that are easily identifiable by the unique characteristics expected of a Basenji. The wrinkled forehead, tightly curled tail, and intelligent, inquisitive mind are key elements of the Basenji, and we hope to do our part to honor the breed standard so the Basenji may thrive for many generations to come.
Bantu Basenjis breeds on a limited basis as our puppies are lovingly raised in our home, not a kennel environment. All of our dogs are our family members first and foremost. We welcome you to contact us for additional information on adding a puppy to your family. We encourage you to educate yourself on the Basenji breed, and are always happy to be a resource should you have any questions. We are members of the Basenji Club of America and suggest you visit the website for additional information.
Jennifer and her husband Chris live west of Portland with half of the Bantu pack and volunteer in working with rescue. Jennifer is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator. She is always willing to work with the more difficult to place Basenjis that might not be a good fit for traditional rescue. Feel free to contact her if you have a dog in need. Chris has recently stepped into the role as a handler having watched Shelby for years.
Shelby and her husband Elijah are located in Southern Oregon with the other half of the Bantu pack. She is a busy mom to an active little boy, and enjoys earning trick titles with her dogs in her free time. Shelby enjoys mentoring new Junior Handlers interested in showing dogs and sharing her experience from her early days in the ring. She is also available on a limited basis to assist dog owners in the handling of their dogs at area shows. Contact her directly for a time to meet or to arrange a ringside pickup. Elijah is currently acting as Shelby's backup handler while Shelby is expecting their next future handler this fall and needs to take it easy for the next few months.
If you're considering adopting a rescue dog, have a Basenji that you need to re-home, or would like to possibly foster a dog in your home, visit the Basenji Rescue and Transport (BRaT) page to learn about the process and fill out an application.
