Origin: France
Height: Under 14 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: 50-65 pounds
Exercise Needs: Low
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 8-12
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Moderate
Common Misspellings: Bassette Hounds, Bassett
Hounds, Basete Hounds, Basette Hounds
Alternate Names: Hush Puppy
Immortalized as the Hush Puppy for many, the
Basset Hound is perhaps one of the most easily
distinguishable dogs in the world today. With
his soft brown eyes, long velveteen ears and
solemn expression, he is the sweet and gentle
dog that everyone just wants to hug and dote on.
Make no mistake, however, this wily scent hound
uses that to his advantage and can be quite
demanding, when it comes to wanting his share of
the attention.
Originating in France during the 6th century,
it is believed that the Basset Hound is cousin
to the statuesque Bloodhound, the two being
descendants of the famous St. Hubert hounds. The
general consensus is that the Basset was a
mutation of the St. Hubert hounds, which
produced a dwarf variety which bred true to
type. Discovering these unique little hounds to
have their own uses, the breed was most likely
cultivated and crossed with other varieties of
hound, the end result being a short-legged
working dog that possesses scenting abilities
that are rivaled only by his cousin, the
Bloodhound.
The Basset Hound quickly found favor with
hunters, as his short-legged build made him much
easier to follow while on foot, than the taller
and leggier hounds. Additionally, the Basset
Hound’s low-to-ground body and long, droopy
ears, helped him to pick up scents better. In no
time, he found his place as a very useful small
game hound, and was employed in the hunting of
hare and rabbit across the European countryside.
Even today, he is still used for the very same
purposes.
There is no missing this unique little hound.
Possessing the heaviest bone structure of all
the breeds, regardless of his short frame, the
Basset Hound adult can prove quite the handful
and weights of up to 65 pounds are not uncommon.
While his legs are very short and thick, the
Basset Hound has a very elongated body type,
thick tail and large head. Many will joke that
he’s a big dog whose legs have been sawed off.
The Basset Hound can be found in any recognized
hound color, with no importance placed upon
markings, pattern, or amount of coloring. Some
of the more popular shades in the Basset Hound
include the lemon, tri-color, and blue-tick
hounds. With a coat that is smooth, short and
dense, they are well-suited to life in all
climates so long as they have humans to bunk
with.
It doesn’t take much time in the presence of
a Basset Hound in order to determine that they
tend to be very lazy, laid-back individuals, who
are content to live and let live. These are very
patient dogs, when it comes to children and
other animals, and most will tolerate a great
deal before they decide they’ve had enough and
plod off to find a quieter spot to lay down.
They will endure much more than many other
breeds, though one should still monitor any dog
with children (or children with a dog, for that
matter) as accidents can still happen.
The couch potato of the dog world, the Basset
Hound tends to avoid anything and everything
that feels like physical exercise. Quite often
prone to obesity, it is very difficult for these
massively-built canines to travel for long
distances, without having to stop and take
frequent rest stops. While he is a determined
individual, his short legs limit how much ground
he can cover and, while he’s never listen to
someone telling him he’s “husky,” the Basset
Hound body can often be quite a weight for those
short, stubby legs to heft about. To keep your
Basset Hound healthy, be prepared to feed him a
healthy diet and take him for short walks, far
more frequently than you would a large breed
dog.
Overall, the general care of Basset Hounds is
relatively simple - a good brushing, once or
twice a week is all he needs to keep his coat
shiny and healthy, removing any loose dander
from his skin. Bathing the Basset Hound only
needs to be done when he begins to “smell like a
dog,” and is usually preformed once or twice a
month. Nails should be given special attention
because, do to the lack of activity in the
Basset’s general routine, they can tend to grow
very long in a short amount of time.
The other area that needs careful attention is a
Basset Hound’s ears. Due to their length and the
heaviness of the ear, Basset Hounds are prone to
dirty ears and various infections that can cause
great discomfort in the form of itchiness or
pain, a distinctive odor, discharge and, if left
untreated, can complicate hearing. For this
reason, their ears should be cleaned out at
least once a week, a practice that you should
start with your Basset Hound puppy, in order to
get him accustomed to the feeling.
Basset Hounds are notoriously stubborn and
can quite often be prone to “selective hearing.”
Never make the mistake of thinking that Basset
Hound puppies are “too dumb” and don’t know what
you’re asking of them - chances are that they
know, perfectly well, but doing it just isn’t
very high up on their list of priorities. For
the best results, enroll your Basset Hound in
obedience classes as soon as possible - while he
may not be one for learning tricks and jumping
through hoops, you can most likely teach him
some basic commands, which will make things much
easier for both of you.
Like any breed of dog, the Basset Hound is
subject to a variety of health concerns. Your
best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Basset Hound puppy, check around with several
breeders and ask about the various health issues
that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A
reputable breeder should be well-versed in the
health concerns and should be able to give you
more details, as well as showing you the sire
and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the
health problems that can affect Basset Hounds
include:
- Glaucoma
- Thrombopathia
- Hypothyroidism
- Hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
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While a very friendly and affectionate dog,
the Basset Hound is still not the dog for
everyone. First of all, his size is very
deceptive and while he may be under 14 inches
tall, it can be difficult for a healthy adult to
lift a 65 pound adult Basset. Your own health
should be a major factor in deciding on one of
these unique dogs, as you will be responsible
for properly caring for him.
The Basset Hound is not a heavy exercise
project, but he will require frequent walks and
he does tend to demand attention. The Basset
Hound loves company, even if it is just someone
to sit on or lay beside. If you’re considering
one of these dogs, ensure that you have time to
spend some quality time with your new best
friend. If you choose a Basset Hound and treat
him right, this Hush Puppy will prove a worthy
companion.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Basset Hound dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Basset Hound information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Basset Hound dog breed, while avoiding
the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to
capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know
of a Basset Hound information site that offers unique, quality
information and photos of the Basset Hound breed, please contact us
with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can
consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Basset Hounds are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Basset Hound pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what
these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you
decide if you really want to become a Basset Hound owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of Basset Hound dogs, Basset
Hound puppy photos, funny Basset Hound photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Basset Hound is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Basset Hound breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Basset Hound puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy
a puppy from a responsible Basset Hound breeder, you may need to pay
more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be
well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store
or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal
of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up
falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring Basset Hound breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the Basset Hound breed and is in it for the love of
the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of
getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Basset Hound
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Basset Hound clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even
more about the Basset Hound dog breed, help you locate a responsible
Basset Hound breeder, or help you find a Basset Hound dog or puppy
in need of a second chance for a loving, forever home. We've
compiled the following list of Basset Hound clubs and Basset Hound
rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Basset Hound puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your Basset
Hound. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few days
or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide on
just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A
serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange
love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Basset Hound puppy over
the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what
type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet
names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful information
resources, while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set
up with the sole purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this
popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Basset Hound puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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