All about the Nigerian local dog breeds called Ekuke or Bingo

by Staff writer

Ekuke is a name used to refer to a group of local dog breeds found in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Because of their striking features, such as a long snout, erect ears and an elongated slender body, many have come to recognize the ekuke as a distinct dog breed.

But in actuality, this is false.

The ekuke (also called Bingo) comprises about 4 common dog breeds, and sometimes cross-breeds.

These dog breeds were initially designed to survive hot climates and made excellent companions to travelers journeying through deserts.

The name Bingo could have come from an old nursery rhyme “A Farmer Had A Dog” of unknown origin which goes:

There was a farmer who had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.

There is another claim that “Bingo” could also be a mispronunciation of the Australian wild dog ‘Dingo’ by Africans.

Here are some of the breeds that make up the class of dogs called ekuke:

1. Basenji

The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that originated in central Africa. Basenjis have reportedly lived with humans for thousands of years. They have pricked (upright) ears and tightly curled tails and enjoy sitting at the feet of their masters. Basenjis were originally kept for hunting small game by tracking and driving the game into nets.

 
An article called “The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, Ph.D.” once ranked the breed #78 out of 79 in intelligence, the second to lowest rank. However, some people now consider this an unreliable list, as it focused on only the dog’s ability to listen to a first command.
 
Some consider independent dogs such as Basenjis and Afghan Hounds more intelligent than obedient breeds because of their freedom of thought and ability to recognize which actions benefit them, and which simply please another.

2. Azawakh




Originating in West Africa, the Azawakh belong to a class of hunting dogs known as sighthounds (also called gazehounds) that primarily hunt by sight and speed, rather than by scent and endurance as the scent hounds do.

The Azawakh is a tall and thin dog breed with a very short coat that is almost absent on the belly.

Unlike most other sighthounds, the Azawakh easily develop an intense bond with its owner, even though can also perform independently from its master. With those they accept, Azawakh are gentle and extremely affectionate.

 
With strangers many are reserved and prefer not to be touched, but are not inherently aggressive. Although raised to protect livestock, they do not have innate aggression toward canines or humans unless they are threatened.

3. Greyhound


The Greyhound is also a sighthound. They are tall, slender, graceful and smooth-coated dogs characterized by swiftness and keen sight.

It is a gentle and intelligent breed whose combination of long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine and slim build allows it to reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour, making them the fastest dog breed and one of the fastest animals in the world.

As a result of this, greyhounds have been used in dog racing for many years.

Beyond their speed and grace, people love greyhounds for their sweet, placid nature.

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22 Comments on “All about the Nigerian local dog breeds called Ekuke or Bingo”

  1. Why is it that Chihuahua is not always big? I think that Ekuke is quite big considering it's natural genetics so it can't be bigger than it's nature. Most of the Nigerian breed of dogs are quite bigger than some foreign dogs. Perhaps you mean their heads;their heads are that way because of that powerful designer called Nature. Nigerian dog breeds are beautiful, smart, neat and lovable companions.

  2. I exactly got what you mean, thanks for posting. And, I am too much happy to find this website on the world of Google. great site

  3. This is good information. I actually though the local breeds have a particular name, only to find out they are actually a product of cross breed

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  7. dogs who have had an awful encounter can have relationship with specific kinds, hues, sizes; or types of dogs or with the particular way somebody looks; or a specific word or motion – and we can just think about what the trigger will be Dog Friendly Cafes

  8. Because of the task they are made for, can a big Dog run at a speed of 7km per hour? It weight will slow it down or even make it tired

  9. THE aren’t usually people don’t put in effort to train them like they do with foreign breeds but with my experience with them I think they are as smart or even smarter than most foreign breeds

  10. How much are they worth , I have cute puppies for sale but nobody seems interested because they are the local breeed. I

    1. Please I need this to buy. They must be big now. When you have the local breed puppies again, contact me via Instagram @thecraftyhousewife_ng. Thank you

  11. Wow, I had no idea about the fascinating Nigerian local dog breeds known as Ekuke or Bingo! Thank you for sharing this informative post. It’s always great to learn about different dog breeds from around the world. I’m curious, do these breeds have any unique characteristics or traits that set them apart from other breeds? Would love to hear more about their history and popularity in Nigeria. 🐕🌍https://www.stalbertcleaningservices.ca/

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