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Basset Hound
The Basset is gentle in disposition and devoted to master and family. He has a deep, baritone musical voice that is loved by hunters but not always by neighbors in an urban setting. Although normally placid, he has surprising agility and energy on the hunt. He is an independent dog by nature so needs discipline training in order to be an ideal housepet. He also needs a lot of exercise to avoid obesity.
Originally bred as scent hounds for areas with heavy cover, the Basset Hound is a "big" dog with short legs, huge ears, wrinkly skin, massive paws and droopy eyelids.  Basset hounds are notorious droolers and this is the number one reason for them being given up for rescue or adoption. Bassett's are well known for having a very keen sense of smell second only to the Bloodhound.
This is not a watchdog, but he will bark at the approach of strangers if taught to do so. The Basset is a great family dog. He is gentle with children and very tolerant of their activities. They love everybody equally and get along with most other pets. The Basset is extremely strong and heavy for his height and should not be considered by owners who want a small dog.
Photo courtesy of: Les Bassets Hound De L'Oree Chamboisine Breeder of champion Basset Hounds, France.
Basset Hound Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | Great Britain |
| FCI Classification: |
Group 6: Scent hounds and related breeds; small-sized hounds (with working trial). |
| Utilization: |
Scent Hound |
| AKC Classification: |
Hound |
| Size: | Medium |
| Personality: | With an almost clown like face, the Basset Hound is charming, calm and playful. Very friendly towards strangers, they hate to be left home alone. |
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Height: | 13-15 inches at shoulders (FCI), 14 inches maximum (AKC) |
| Colors: |
The AKC Standard: "any recognized hound color is acceptable and the distribution of color and markings is of no importance."
The FCI Standard: "generally black, white and tan (tri-color); lemon and white (bi-color); but any recognized hound color acceptable." The FCI standard is based on the standard of the member club of the country of origin or patronage. |
| Litter Size: | 8 to 10 puppies |
| Life Span: | 12 years |
| Grooming Requirements: |
Medium. Brush once a week. Check ears for infection and clean them regularly. |
| Shedding: | Basset Hounds shed much more than you might think. Their short coarse hairs come off on your hands when you pet them. |
| Social skills: |
Basset Hounds get along well with other pets. |
| Suitability for Children: | Very good with children. |
| Exercise Needs: | High. Basset Hounds need exercise more than they want it. Over eating without exercising may cause back problems. |
| Train Ability: | Basset Hounds can be very stubborn. Consistency and patience are the keys to successful training. |
| Health Issues: | Bone and joint disorders. Ear infections. Back problems can arise due to obesity. |
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Negative Characteristics: | Can be very greedy. Basset hounds are vociferous howlers when left alone or ignored. Big-time droolers. May wander from home to follow a scent and unfortunately, they are not very good at remembering from whence they came. |
COMMENTS
Bassets put those long ears to good use
Aside from the Basset's big leather nose and alrge wide-open nostrils, there are several other breed characteristics that enhance his ability to follow a trail for hours and hours. The Basset's are velvety in texture and hang in loose folds, with the ends curling slightly inward. They are supposed to be long enough to fall over the end of the nose. These ears, of course, touch the ground and stir up the scent on the trail. The skin over the whole head is loose, falling in wrinkles over the brow when the head is lowered. The lips are pendulous, too falling squarly in front and toward the back. The dewlap is very pronounced. The excess skin around the head, muzzle and flews all collect the scent and hold it around the dogs knowing nose.
Posted by rudi_marcus on Sunday, April 06, 2008
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