Basset Hound Dog Breed (Complete Guide)

The Basset Hound Dog Overview

Because of its long, heavy bulk and small legs, the Basset is simple to track on foot and has an advantage in dense cover. In relation to total size, the Basset Hound possesses the most bones of any breed.

This dog’s thick, tight coat shields him against brambles without allowing him to become entangled in them. The long ears are thought to stir up the ground fragrance, while the wrinkles trap the aroma around the face. The broad muzzle provides plenty of space for the olfactory apparatus.

Such space is not available in a small dog; only a large dog with reduced legs can combine short height with large nose size. The Basset’s movement is sleek and forceful, with its nose to the ground.

Basset Hound Highlights

Bassets, like all hounds, may be stubborn and difficult to train and housetrain. Crate training is advised.

Basset Hounds may attempt to pursue an interesting smell, regardless of the danger it brings to them. When you’re not in a fenced-in yard, keep your Basset on a leash. Take him to obedience class as well, and make sure he reacts well to the Come command. Train him with gentleness and patience. Hounds of all breeds tend to think for themselves and do not react well to rigorous training methods.

One of the main reasons that Basset Hounds are surrendered to rescue or adopted is because they “drool too much.” They also generate a lot of messes when they drink due to the loose skin surrounding their mouths. If you’re a picky housekeeper who can’t bear drool, a Basset Hound isn’t the dog for you.

Flatulence is common in Basset Hounds. Consult your veterinarian if this problem persists. A change in diet may be beneficial.

Obesity is a serious issue for Basset Hounds. They enjoy eating and will overeat if given the opportunity. They may develop joint and back problems if they gain too much weight. Portion out food according to your Bassett’s health, not the advice on the bag or can.

Basset Hounds are vulnerable to bloat (a potentially fatal illness), it is preferable to feed them two or three smaller meals each day rather than one large meal. Allow your Basset to exercise moderately after eating, and keep an eye on him for about an hour after eating to ensure he’s okay.

To help avoid ear infections, your Basset’s long ears should be checked and cleaned once a week. Because they can drag in puddles and gather up dirt as they drag the ground, you may find that you need to wash the ear flaps more frequently.

Basset Hounds can scream loudly, especially if left alone for an extended amount of time.

Even if your Basset Hound is strong and incredibly agile for having such little legs, it’s better to dissuade him from jumping out of a car, for example. Pick him up and support his back to keep him from being wounded.

As they grow, Basset puppies may have joint problems. Allow your puppy to play, but don’t let him go overboard, and discourage him from leaping on and off furniture.

Basset Hounds are not terrific swimmers because they carry two-thirds of their body weight in the front of their bodies. Don’t let your Basset Hound fall into a swimming pool since he can get into a lot of trouble.

Basset Hound Breed Features & Ratings:

Rated base on a 5 Star Scale
ENERGY LEVEL: 4 Star
EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS: 4 Star
PLAYFULNESS: 5 Star
AFFECTION LEVEL: 5 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO DOGS: 5 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO OTHER PETS: 5 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO STRANGERS: 5 Star
WATCHFULNESS: 5 Star
EASE OF TRAINING: 5 Star
GROOMING REQUIREMENTS: 5 Star
HEAT SENSITIVITY: 5 Star
VOCALITY 5 Star

Basset Hound Characteristics:

Dog Breed Group: Hound Dogs
Height: At the shoulder, it can stand up to 14 inches tall.
Weight: 50 to 65 pounds
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Type: Purebred
AREA OF ORIGIN: France
DATE OF ORIGIN: 1500s
OTHER NAMES:
Temperament: Affectionate, Devoted, Friendly, Gentle, Sweet-tempered, Tenacious
Activities: Field Trials, Conformation, Hunting, Tracking, Obedience, Rally
Color: XXX
Litter Size: 608 puppies
Puppy Prices: $800 – $1500 USD on average

Basset Hound Health:

Because Basset’s ears are long and floppy, it’s critical to examine them periodically to ensure that air circulation hasn’t caused an infection. Shaking the head or scratching the ears may suggest that a vet visit is required.

Responsible breeders screen for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, bleeding diseases, and luxating patella, a displaced kneecap once referred to as a “trick knee” in humans.

Brushing your dog’s teeth at least twice a week with specially prepared canine toothpaste is also an important component of Basset health care.

Basset Hound Grooming:

The hair on Basset Hounds is smooth and short, and it repels dirt and dampness. The skin is soft and elastic, giving the Basset the distinctive drooping hound dog look.

The Basset Hound breed standard includes all hound colors, but the most frequent are tri-color (tan, black, and white), black and white, brown and white, or red and white. Lemon and white is okay, but it is uncommon.

Because the standard states that any recognizable hound color is acceptable, blue Basset Hounds (actually gray) may be seen; however, this coloration is undesirable because it is the result of a recessive gene that has been linked to a variety of genetic issues, including periscoping intestines, skin allergies, and food allergies.

Basset Hounds are easy to groom, with the exception of washing their ears and facial wrinkles and wiping off the drool they leave behind. Their short coats keep dirt and wetness at bay.

Baths are rarely required (unless they have rolled in something extremely stinky), and a good rubdown with a bristle brush, a coarse cloth, or a hound glove is all that is required to keep their coats in good shape.

Basset Hounds shed all year, but if you brush them once a week, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Because Basset Hound ears are long and drag on the ground, they can become filthy. Because air does not flow efficiently in the inner ear, ear infections are also a problem.

Smooth the inside of your Basset Hound’s ears with a vet-recommended solution at least once a week, wipe down the outside of the ears to remove any debris, clean out the facial wrinkles with a moist cloth and completely dry them, and inspect his enormous paws for sores between the toes.

Clean your pet’s teeth at least 2 times a week to remove tartar and the bacteria that live inside it. Brushing twice a day is even preferable if you want to avoid gum disease and foul breath.

Once or twice a month, trim your nails. They’re too lengthy if you can hear them clicking on the floor. Short, cleanly trimmed nails keep Bassett’s feet in good condition and protect your shins from being scratched as he jumps up to meet you.

Basset Hound Exercise:

Basset Hounds are not as energetic as some other breeds, but they do require moderate exercise on a regular basis.

A daily walk at a moderate speed would usually suffice. Exercise will help Basset stay healthy and keep him from becoming overweight.

Bassets like canine company on their trips because the breed was meant to function in a pack with other dogs, and the breed can be somewhat playful.

They’ll usually settle down for a good night’s sleep after a stroll or play session.

Basset Hound Training:

Basset Hounds are a stubborn breed that can be difficult to teach. Scent Hounds of this species have evolved over time to hunt on their own and follow a track without distraction.

As a result, they may appear distant and uninterested in obeying your demands. A Basset may, however, be trained; it simply takes time, consistency, and persistence.

Early socialization with incentives is critical in puppyhood, and as the Basset matures, he and his owner can benefit from continuing positive obedience training.

Basset Hound Food and Nutrition:

Bassets have a voracious appetite and are prone to obesity. Rather than putting food available all the time, keep your Basset Hound in good form by measuring his meal and feeding him twice a day.

If you’re not sure if he’s overweight, give him the eye and hands-on tests.

First, take a glance down at him. There should be a waist visible. Then place your hands on the back of your dog, thumbs down his spine, fingers stretched downward.

Without pressing too much, you should be able to feel but not see his ribs. If you can’t, he should eat less and exercise more.

Basset Hound Temperament and Personality:

The Basset Hound breed is known as one of the most gentle and placid dogs.

This breed gets along well with other dogs, pets, and children, though children should be warned not to place too much strain on this breed and all dogs’ backs with their games.

The Basset is a placid dog on the inside, but it needs frequent activity to stay fit.

They want to investigate slowly and thoroughly, and they enjoy sniffing and trailing. These are talented and dedicated trackers who will not be swayed off their path.

As a result, they may get on a trail and follow it until they become lost. This dog is stubborn and slow to move.

When Bassets are thrilled on the trail, they let out a booming bay. The good-natured Basset is far too laid-back to ever be irritable.

He gets along with everyone, even children and other animals, and the only thing that gets him excited is a nice scent trail. He’s placid indoors yet vigilant enough to be a good watchdog.

When it comes to training, he, like many hounds, can be stubborn and responds best to positive tactics such as food rewards and food rewards.

Bassets are pack dogs who will be upset if they are left alone all day. It is beneficial to have the company of another dog.

Basset Hounds, like all dogs, require early socialization — being exposed to a variety of people, sights, noises, and experiences — when they are young. Socialization ensures that your Basset puppy develops into a well-rounded dog.

Basset Hound Care/Upkeep:

Despite having short hair, the Basset Hound will need to be groomed on a regular basis, and they can shed a lot.

A once-weekly brushing with a soft brush or shedding tool, as well as occasional washing, will be required to reduce shedding and to keep their skin healthy.

Basset Hounds, like most breeds, will require their nails cut on a regular basis.

Although they are not the most athletic (or fastest) breed, your Basset Hound will require regular exercise.

This breed will flourish on a regular schedule of moderate activity, like as a brisk walk, and Bassets are recognized for their endurance. Exercise will not only keep your Basset Hound healthy, but it will also prevent weight gain.

Basset Hounds were designed to work with other dogs; therefore this breed will thrive in the company of other canines.

It also means they may be highly playful and social, yet their disposition at home is frequently calm and low-key (they’re known to be a breed that enjoys long snoozes on the couch, especially after playing outside for any amount of time).

Bassets are a highly independent, stubborn breed, which makes training them difficult at times.

Basset Hounds and other scent hounds were bred over time to hunt on their own, which required them to follow a track without becoming distracted.

As a result, training will need more time, patience, and consistency, as Basset Hounds are often aloof and disinterested in obeying their owners’ demands.

This breed will respond well to rewards (given in moderation) and positive reinforcement during training sessions. They, like all dogs, should be socialized from a young age.

Along with their extraordinary sense of smell, Basset Hounds are recognized for being extremely devoted to their families, as well as friendly and patient with children and other pets (as long as the dog has been properly socialized).

Basset Hound Relationship with Children and Other Pets

Bassets enjoy being around youngsters and get along well with them. You’ll need to keep your Basset from being ridden or otherwise mistreated by them.

Constantly teach youngsters how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and small children to avoid biting or ear or tail pulling on either party’s side.

Teach your child never to approach a sleeping or eating dog or to try to grab the dog’s food. No pets should ever be left alone with a youngster.

Bassets, like pack dogs, enjoy the company of other dogs and can get along well with cats, especially if introduced at a young age.

Basset Hound Names

Rank	Boy Names	Girl Names
01	Max	Lucy
02	Charlie	Millie
03	Gus	Molly
04	Finn	Scout
05	Bear	Bailey
06	Buster	Chloe
07	Duke	Winnie
08	Ollie	Lily
09	Toby	Sophie
10	Tank	Sugar

All About Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is much more than a marketing gimmick.

The Basset Hound is a beloved family companion as well as a slow-paced but keen hunting hound, thanks to his tranquil attitude and short-statured yet aristocratic appearance.

Basset Hounds are definitely low to the ground. They typically weigh 50 to 65 pounds due to their thick bones and muscularity, although being little taller than 14 inches at the highest point of the shoulder.

They are, in truth, large dogs with short legs. Their small legs are due to a type of dwarfism known as achondroplasia.

Despite his huge size, the Basset feels he is a lap dog and will do everything he can to fit into yours. Bassets are scent hounds, which means they were bred to hunt by scenting their prey.

The Bloodhound only surpasses their incredible sense of smell. Basset Hounds have silky, short, and hard-textured coats, making them relatively easy to care for.

The majority of them are black, tan, and white, but they can also be open red and white (red patches on a white coat), closed red and white (solid red with white feet and tail), or lemon and white.

You may see a gray (sometimes known as blue) Basset on occasion, but this hue is generally undesirable because it is related to hereditary disorders.

Basset Hounds were originally bred to be hunting dogs, many of their characteristics have a function.

Their long, low-set ears drag the ground and gather up scents, while the loose skin around their heads forms wrinkles that trap even more of the scent of whatever they’re tracking.

Because of their tiny legs, they move more slowly than longer-legged dogs, making it easier for hunters on foot to track them. Their tails are long and upright, with a white tip at the end, making them easy to spot when the dogs are in tall grass.

Basset Hounds have large paws that curve outward slightly to offset the width of the shoulders. Basset Hounds are peaceful and sleepy about the house.

They are devoted to their people and have a pleasant, friendly demeanor.

They enjoy being with their family and get along well with other pets because they were bred as pack dogs.

Bassets despise being left alone for lengthy periods of time, and if left alone for too long, they may become disruptive and howl. Their characteristic baying bark is both loud and long-distance.

Basset Hound History:

Trust the French to create such a peculiar breed, with its “jolie” look, jolie meaning “pretty-ugly” or “unusually gorgeous.” The word Basset means “low,” and it refers to a separate level of hound by height in France.

Bassets are thought to be descended from the St. Hubert Hound, the ancestor of the modern Bloodhound, and were created when a mutation in the St. Hubert strain resulted in a short-legged or dwarfed hound.

Perhaps the dwarf hounds were kept as a curiosity and later bred on purpose after their capacity to track rabbits and hares underbrush in dense woodlands was noticed.

The Basset Hound was originally mentioned in an illustrated hunting book, La Venerie, authored by Jacques du Fouilloux in 1585.

According to the images, the early French Basset Hounds resembled the modern-day Basset Artésien Normand, a canine breed popular in France.

Basset Hounds were popular with the French aristocracy at first, but during the French Revolution, they became the hunting dogs of commoners who need a hound they could follow on foot because they did not have access to horses.

By the mid-nineteenth century, they had found their way to the United Kingdom. Lord Galway brought a couple to England in 1866, and they had a litter of five pups, but he didn’t show them, therefore they were largely obscure.

Sir Everett Millais then bought a Basset Hound named Model from France in 1874. Millais promoted the breed in England and began a breeding program at his own kennel as well as in collaboration with Lord Onslow and George Krehl’s breeding projects.

Millais is regarded as the “Father of the Breed” in England due to his efforts in publicizing the Basset Hound.

He initially showed a Basset at an English dog show in 1875, but it wasn’t until he helped put together a huge entry for the Wolverhampton show in 1880 that the public became aware of the breed.

A few years later, when Alexandra, Princess of Wales, kept Basset Hounds in the royal kennels, the breed became even more popular.

The Kennel Club of England recognised the breed in 1882, and the English Basset Hound Club was created in 1884.

Although the Basset presumably arrived in America during colonial times, the breed did not become popular in the United States until the early twentieth century.

Furthermore, the American Kennel Club (AKC) began registering Basset Hounds in 1885, with the first being a dog named Bouncer, although the breed was not legally recognized by the AKC until 1916.

The year 1928 marked a watershed moment in the history of the Basset Hound in America.

In that same year, Time magazine placed a Basset Hound on the front cover and printed a story constituting the 52nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden written as if it were told through the eyes of a Basset Hound puppy.

The Basset Hound’s allure was found, and the Basset Hound’s popularity skyrocketed from there.

Bassets made a great splash in mainstream culture in the 1960s, thanks to their presence in an advertising campaign for Hush Puppy shoes and the birth of the Fred Basset comic strip, which is still running today.

The Basset Hound is currently ranked 28th out of the 155 breeds and variations registered with the AKC, demonstrating his lasting popularity.

Basset Hound owners all around the United States commemorate their love of the breed in ways that are as distinct as their dogs’ appearances.

Picnics and waddles for Basset Hounds are popular in many areas, attracting thousands of Bassets and their owners. Some of these occasions even see the crowning of King and Queen Basset Hounds.

Most hold amusing competitions, such as determining which Basset has the best “waddling butt.”

These gatherings typically feature a wide range of Basset Hound memorabilia, which is frequently auctioned to generate funds for Basset Hound rescue organizations.

Where to Adopt Basset Hound:

Check your local animal shelters and rescue organizations for Basset Hounds in need of a long-term home.

Additionally, National rescue organizations, such as the Basset Hound Club of America, can be a great resource for finding your new best buddy.

More Dog Breeds and Further Research:

When selecting a dog breed, make sure to conduct your research. Talk to other Basset Hound owners, trustworthy breeders, and rescue organizations to learn more about this breed and its care.

There are many possible dog breeds to choose from, and with a little research, you can be confident that you’ll select the perfect dog to bring home.

Consider the following hound breeds if you want to learn more about different dogs:

Basset Hound Fun Facts:

Their name refers to their size.
They were bred to hunt.
They’re the second-best sniffers in the canine kingdom.
Their long ears serve a purpose.
So does their short stature.
They make great mayors.
Expect to give them a lot of baths.
Don’t throw them in the water.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What is it about basset hounds that makes them so vocal?

Basset Hounds do not seem to whimper as often as other dog breeds. Rather than a breed trait, it is frequently a training issue. Vocalizing is a method by which your dog attempts to communicate with you.

Are basset hounds obedient to their masters?

Basset hounds are very protective of their home and family. Strangers at the front door present a different scenario, despite the fact that they are pretty placid dogs who will love on practically anyone.

How much do basset hounds sleep?

What is the ideal amount of sleep for a basset hound? A puppy basset hound will sleep 16 to 22 hours per day, while an adult basset hound will sleep 13 to 18 hours per day. Basset hounds snooze a lot since they are not particularly active. Throughout the day, they will take numerous naps.