|
 The
Basset Hound is a wonderful breed of dog, loving,
comical, intelligent, and great with children and
other animals. For some reason, many people
misunderstand this breed, which is why we wanted to
provide some answers that might help. It is true
that the Basset Hound looks sad and lazy but the
truth is that this dog is very happy, content,
loyal, and actually relatively active.
1. I’ve heard that it’s
important to keep the Basset Hound from jumping –
why is that?
This breed has more bones in the body than any other
dog breed. The results are bowed legs that can be
damaged or even permanent crippled. Therefore, it is
important to keep a Basset from jumping from heights
or doing too much climbing. For this reason, we
recommend you keep stairways, balconies, patios, and
decks blocked off, and take care if your pet gets up
and down beds, couches, and stairs.
2. Is the Basset Hound healthy and how long will
it live?
Overall, this breed is very healthy although you do
need to remember the bone issue. Other possible
illnesses specific to the Basset Hound is a bleeding
disorder, which is genetic, turned eyelids, and
allergies. By keeping this breed on a healthy diet,
keeping exercise to the appropriate level, and
providing it with a safe, loving home, you should be
able to enjoy your Basset between 10 and 12 years.
3. How many puppies does the Basset Hound usually
have?
On average, a mother dog will have about eight
puppies. However, larger dogs have been known to
have 13, 14, and even 15 puppies. Because of the
body structure of the Basset Hound, one that is
pregnant is almost comical.
4. Is this breed a good watchdog?
The temperament of the Basset Hound is that of being
affectionate, quiet, highly devoted, and calm. You
will also find the Basset Hound being a great choice
for people with children and/or pets. Now, if you
want a guard dog, the Basset should probably be
overlooked but if you want a watchdog, one that will
alert when people approach the house, a dog that is
protective over its family, the Basset does
relatively well. Again, this breed is generally
quiet but they are also loyal.
5. What events does the Basset Hound compete in
through the American Kennel Club (AKC)?
This breed is quite intelligent and agile. Because
of this, dogs competing in show and tracking and
field are actually very talented. For instance,
common AKC events include obedience, tracking,
agility, and field trials. The agility category is
the newest, which involves the dog participating in
reaching places, crawling through spaces, and other
things that challenge their normal build. For
tracking, the dog uses its natural intelligence,
determination, and incredible scent to find things.
6. Where does the name “Basset”, originate from?
The name is actually a derivative of the French word
“Bas’, which means low or low-slung, referring to
the body type of this breed. This type of dwarf
breed was initially used for searching out prey due
to being low to the ground and having a keen ability
to smell.
7. Are Basset Hounds good for confirmation
showing?
Yes and in fact, they are considered among the best.
For one thing, this breed is extremely easy to
groom. Literally, a bath, brush, cleaning of the
ears and eyes, and nail clipping is all you need for
show unlike other breeds that take hours upon hours
to prepare. Although quiet, most Basset Hounds have
great personality. Therefore, when they end up in a
show ring in front of hundreds, if not thousands of
people, this personality comes to life.
8. We’re looking for a low or none shedding dog
and someone told us the Basset Hound was a great
choice – is that true?
Unfortunately, you have been given some
misinformation. Although the Basset Hound does have
a short, smooth coat, the truth is that this breed
not only sheds but also sheds a lot! The best way to
keep the shedding to a minimum is to brush the coat
daily, using a hound’s glove or currycomb.
9. Do Basset Hounds make good walking or jogging
partners?
As far as jogging, we do not recommend this, again
because of the stress it places on the dog’s bone
structure. However, the Basset does like to take
walks, although you may need to make frequent stops.
Now, if you plan to take this breed to the park or
the woods to hike, make sure you keep it on a lead
since its natural desire is to sniff and go.
10. I’ve heard that of all dog breeds, the Basset
Hound is one of the laziest – am I correct?
No, the truth is that while the Basset Hound is
calm, not overly excitable, it is definitely not a
lazy breed. In fact, a healthy Basset would enjoy
playtime, exercise, and other daily activity. You
will even find that some dogs within this breed
become bored, which then causes problems with
destruction such as chewing.
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