Lucky is the dog who travels with “build in cushions,” however, we can’t think of any that walk around with pillows strapped to their sides (unless you count the fortunate dogs whose owners have a bed ready for their dogs’ comfort):

A group of Shih Tzu at a dog show, photo by Luboslav Ivanko Dreamtime

While our post is about cushioning, it’s the kind that nature (and a preservation breeder) provide; that aspect of a Basenji’s head that makes it look like a Basenji, and not, say, a Whippet. In other words, what we call “type.”

A Basenji’s muzzle should be not be pointy and sharp like the working end of a pencil, but softly rounded. What creates this appearance are the fatty whiskey deposits on the dog’s “snout.” The cushions may not directly serve this purpose, but loose skin on a Basenji’s face (which includes these pads) allows the dog to move through dense, thorny bush country without tearing their skin.

The Basenji’s isn’t the only breed standard to mention cushioning on the muzzle (AKC standards for the Pumi, Tibetan Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, Shih Tzu and to some degree, the Japanese Chin, all mention this), but the Basenji’s is the only hound standard to do so.

Photo by Edvinas Bruzas