Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is originally of French lines. The breed has flourished for centuries in Europe, primarily in France and Belgium where they were used mainly for the trailing of rabbits, deer, and other game that can be trailed on foot or taken to the ground.

In the United States, they are mainly used for hunting rabbits. The accuracy of the Bassets nose is second only to the Bloodhound. The Basset is very gentle, loyal and devoted to its family.

By the mid 19th century, the two largest breeders of Bassets in France were producing dogs that were slightly different from each other. One breeder mainly had lemon and white markings, while the other produced dogs of the true hound colors. It was of the tri color stock that Lord Galway imported a pair to England. The following year a mating of these two produced a litter of five puppies, but there was no public exposure of them, and no interest in the breed was stirred.

In the United States, it was thought that George Washington was the owner of Basset Hounds present to him as a gift after the American Revolution. In 1884 and 1884, English importation's were made by American fanciers of the breed.

It was not until February 1928 when real attention was given to the breed. That is when Time Magazine published an issue with a Basset Hound puppy on the cover.

Basset Hounds should not exceed 14 inches tall, and should carry the hound color. Their coat is hard, smooth and short, with sufficient density to be of use in all weather. Their skin is loose and elastic-like. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885.

Bassets are fairly laid back dogs and don't require a great deal of exercise. A decent sized fenced in backyard should be sufficiant. Bassets don't do well in kennel type situations and will bark (bay) very loudly if not happy when left alone. This will be a problem if you have neighbors close, and especially if you live in an apartment. Make sure your Basset Hound has plenty to keep himself busy with (toys/bones) while you're away from home.

Allowing your Basset Hound offlead is not a wise habit to get into. They're scenthounds, and if they smell something interesting they're going to take off following the scent trail and will ignore your calls. Even if your dog tends to obey you all the time, it's not worth the risk of him wondering off- don't allow him offlead unless in a confined area.

Health problems associated with the Basset Hound include dwarfism (achondroplasia), glaucoma, von willebrand's disease, thyroid problems, patellar luxation, hip and elbow dysplasia,fragmented medial caronoid process, panosetitis (growing pains), and skin allergies. Some Bassets may have a foul "doggy" odor, and typically the cause is poor diet. Usually switching the dog to a high quality food should ease this problem however it may take 4-6 weeks until you notice any changes.

Bassets tend to also get ear infections easily. It is important to check the ears weekly for any build-up or signs of infection.

Bassets also tend to drool a great deal and when they get a drink of water they tend to drip water from the sides of their mouth all through your house. If you are a clean fanatic, I don't recommend a Basset.

The majority of Basset Hounds snore- and some snore very loudly. If you're a very light sleeper and cannot tolerate snoring, you may want to train your Basset as a puppy to sleep in a different area than you.


If you're not aware of how loud some Basset Hounds can be, please watch this video