The Basset Hound was a
popular breed of dog in Europe, used primarily for
the trailing of hare, rabbits, and even deer. The
early breed of the Basset Hound dates back to the
late 16th century where the dog was bred to be slow
moving but highly capable of smelling prey. By
walking slow but with precise smell, hunters and
trackers could follow behind without any difficulty
whereas other breeds were too fast.
Then in the mid part of the 19th century, a somewhat
different version of the same dog was produced in
France. These dogs were developed in two series with
the first being a lemon and white colored dog that
was prone to knuckling and the second series, a
beautiful tri-color that featured gentler or softer
eyes, a more prominent jaw line, narrower head, and
dome-shaped skull. Additionally, this second version
had an unusual look that provided far more
expression.
Becoming more and more popular
over the years for hunting, the Basset Hound finally
made its way into the show ring in 1875 in England.
However, just a few years later, the United States
also took note of this new and interesting breed.
Although the Basset Hound will forever be linked to
its amazing hunting abilities, it is also an
excellent dog used today for search and rescue
efforts, conformation, field trials, and obedience.
Temperament
If you are looking for a calm companion, the Basset
Hound actually makes a great choice. This particular
breed is extremely loyal to its family, has a
wonderful personality, is eager to please, and gets
along well with other animals and children. The only
real drawback is that the Basset Hound can be a
little bit on the stubborn side but other than that,
the breed is well rounded. Keep in mind that while
the Basset Hound loves to play and be with people,
it does need some down time to settle down.
Although this breed is not as active as you might
find with other breeds, the Basset Hound still
enjoys playing and daily exercise. In fact, most
Basset Hounds love to take long walks in the park or
even go on hikes. The barrel shaped body of this dog
can be deceiving, often leading people to believe
they are lazy and fat but in truth, the Basset Hound
is quite active, just with an odd shape.
Now, while you can teach a Basset Hound basic
commands by using the reward system, they are not
good with memory. In other words, unless you have a
treat to offer, this dog will simply forgot what it
was taught. This type of manipulation is actually
quite clever, but does lead to some challenges when
it comes to obedience training. Then, if your Basset
sees something he wants, he will likely bark or howl
to get your attention.
Size and Color
As mentioned, the Basset Hound has an unusual shape,
which can be deceiving. Typically, both male and
female will measure between 13 and 15 inches at the
withers. For weight, the breed can range anywhere
from 45 to 65 pounds, giving it the stocky build. As
long as the dog is not allowed to become overweight,
he will have a short but strong appearance.
The hair of this breed is short and smooth. As far
as color, the Basset is available in open red and
white, which means red spots on white fur, closed
red and white, or solid red with white feet and
tails, a lemon and white color, or tri-color, which
includes black, tan, and white, the most common.
Although you might see some Basset Hounds with a
blue or grayish coloring, the American Kennel Club
considers this a flaw.
The most prominent feature of this breed is the
sagging skin and drooping eyes, making the dog look
as if he were sad or tired. Other features include
low, long ears, strong, stocky necks, and long tails
that taper and curve just slightly. The heavy
looking body set on four short legs sets the Basset
Hound apart from other breeds, adding to its charm.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
When buying a Basset Hound, you need to get him set
up on a healthy food schedule. This means teaching
him from a young age that table scraps are
prohibited. The challenge here is that the Basset
will soon expect people food, meaning he no longer
wants dog food. Additionally, avoid feeding this
breed any type of chicken, pork, and fish bones,
especially when a puppy, which can become lodged in
the throat.
Set up a regular feeding time, and place for your
dog and always choose quality food. The one thing to
remember with a Basset Hound is that they can become
obese. Then, due to the structure of the body, this
adds a tremendous amount of weight on the legs and
back. To tell if your dog is within proper weight,
follow the normal range but you can also stand over
your dog, looking down. With this, you should not
see the stomach pushing out from the sides.
Additionally, while you do not want the ribs to be
sticking out, you should be able to feel them during
petting.
As far as grooming, not much is required to keep a
Basset Hound. However, with the long, droopy ears,
you should pay some special attention to keeping
them clean, thus reducing the chance of infection.
Typically, using a washcloth and mile astringent to
wipe out the inside of the ear is all that is
needed. The same goes for the eyes, which are
droopy. Because of the structure of the eye, weekly
cleaning with a washcloth and water will do.
You will also need to learn how to empty the dog’s
anal sacs or take him to the veterinarian about once
every two months. With this and many other breeds,
if the anal glands or sacs are not emptied on a
regular basis, they can become impacted and
infected. If you notice your dog scooting on the
carpeting, then you know the sacs are full. For the
coat, a weekly brushing and bathing is recommended
although you could go several weeks for the bath.
Other than this, keeping the toenails trimmed and
the teeth cleaned is all that is required.
Exercise Needs
Although the Basset Hound is a somewhat active dog,
they do not need an abundance of exercise. In fact,
when you buy a Basset puppy, you want to keep the
amount of activity to a minimum to avoid causing
damage to growing bones and muscles. Then around age
five to six months, provide some downtime for your
puppy after training periods or playtime. Keep in
mind that Basset Hounds love to walk but with the
short legs, they are not fast. Therefore, if you
take this breed for a walk, just provide him
frequent periods of rest.
