Freedom dies without a bark

The basenji is one of the oldest breeds of dog. The breed dates back to ancient Egypt. A hound, the basenji doesn’t bark; it yodels. Perhaps that is the key to survival over the millennia. Most dogs do bark. We expect them to. A guard dog not barking was the key to Sherlock Holmes solving a mystery of a missing racehorse. In the story, Holmes brings this up while discussing the case with a detective from Scotland Yard.

The detective: “Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?”

Holmes: “To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”

The detective: “The dog did nothing in the night-time.”

Holmes: “That was the curious incident.”