Basset Hound

Show Breed

Find

Compare with

Size: Medium to Large
Other Names: Basset
Country of Origin: France
Accreditation:
American Kennel Club (AKC): Hound
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC): Hounds
United Kennel Club (UKC): Scenthound
Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC): Hounds
The Kennel Club (KC): Hound
Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA): Hound
National Kennel Club (NKC): Recognized
New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC): Hound

Basset Hounds are large dogs with short, heavy, powerful legs. Their head is large and well-proportioned. They have long, downward ears and powerful necks, with much loose skin around their heads that forms wrinkles. This hanging skin structure causes the face to occasionally look said, which for many people, adds to the breed’s charm. Their tails are long and tapering and stand upright with a curve. Their feet are massive, very heavy, with tough heavy pads.

A short-legged house hound with a wash-and-go coat, a deep bay, and a nose that wants long, slow walks more than a tiny third-floor flat.

The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are a cross between the Bloodhound, the Regular Artisien Normand, and the Basset Artisien Normand. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt rabbits by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound. The name Basset is derived from the French word "bas", meaning low; and "basset" literally meaning "rather low". Their short stature can be deceiving. Bassets are surprisingly long, and can reach things on table tops that dogs of similar heights cannot. Because Bassets are so heavy and have such short legs, they are not able to hold themselves above water for very long, and should never be made to swim. They make great pets.

Height: 12-15 inches
Weight: 35-70 pounds
Color: Varied; generally tricolor (black, tan, and white), open red and white (red spots on white fur), closed red and shite (a solid red color with white feet and tails), honey and white (honey colored back, light brown spotty nose and legs, light brown tails with white tip), and lemon and white.
Coat: Smooth, short, hard and shiny. A rough-haired hound is possible.
Lifespan: 10–12 years
Litter size: 6–8 puppies

Temperament

Basset Hounds are typically easygoing at home and stubborn on a scent. They have a deep voice and will follow a trail out of an unfenced yard. They need more walking than their short legs suggest.

Training

Training is a touchy topic when dealing with the Basset Hound breed. Trainers must be persistent with this breed in order to achieve a well-mannered dog, as Bassets have a tendency to listen to their noses instead of verbal commands. While this can lead to stubbornness, it also means they are highly food-motivated (particularly fragrant foods) and tend to respond well to treat-based positive reinforcement methods. Owners need to make the training process lively and entertaining to allow the Basset to learn more efficiently.

Care and grooming

If Bassets ears are allowed to dangle on the ground or in food on a daily basis, they are capable of developing chronic and potentially fatal ear diseases. Because of their droopy eyes, the area under the eyeball will collect dirt and become clogged with mucus. It is best to wipe their eyes everyday with a damp cloth. This helps to lessen the build-up of mucus and associated irritation.

Shedding

Moderate; the short coat sheds year-round.

Health

Basset Hounds are prone to ear infections, glaucoma, intervertebral disc disease, elbow dysplasia, and bloat. Keep them lean, clean the long ears regularly, and limit jumping off furniture.

Crosses that include the Basset Hound

These hybrid pages list this breed as a parent. Open a name to see the other contributing breed.

Top

Creature.com accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the advertisements placed on the Creature.com website or for the contents of any website to which a hypertext link from Creature.com links. The Seller Ads and links to products and/or services are provided as a service, and Creature.com gives no warranties, expressed or implied, about the information and/or policies of the Seller Ads or the linked-to webites, or of the information shown.

Creature.com is the sole owner of the services and of all information provided by and posted to the Creature.com website. The use, reproduction, or storing of content for any purpose other than to contact a Seller, purchase a product or service, or compare prices is prohibited. You cannot use the information provided by Creature.com to recreate a directory, rebrand the informaton or redistribute the information in any way. Information provided by Creature.com is for individual, non-commercial use only. All information, processes and content contained within and that make up the services are the sole property of Creature.com. You may not reproduce, duplicate or redistribute any information provided by Creature.com for profit or personal gain of any kind. You may not frame any content or pages contained within the Creature.com website unless expressly granted permission by Creature.com.