Basset Hound Puppy

It takes a long experience and true devotion to be a good owner of a Basset Hound Puppy. The Basset Hound is a unique breed of dogs, famous for its affectionate disposition and enviable intelligence. However, these dogs are no easy cake for inexperienced people, because they have a stubborn streak and it is quite difficult to get them to perform in the desired way. They require consistent and patient training, and they do not respond to rough handling.

Despite their sad look, Basset Hound Puppies are very lovely and vivacious creatures. They thrive on interaction, and appreciate exercise. Basset Hounds cannot do without a company, and they tend to be good with other pets. If you are absent from home all the time, a good breeder may recommend you to keep more than one dogs. It should be noted, however, that males are likely to exhibit dominance toward other males.

Basset Hounds are not supposed to be short with strangers, as they haven’t been bred as guard dogs. Historically, they were supposed to hunt fox, rabbit, hare and other ground animals by scenting and tracking. Basset Hounds are designed for so called “pack hunting”, when not one but a group of dogs is used. They have a superb sense of smell, which is only second to that of the Bloodhound. This can be a real problem for pet lovers, because their nose can distract dogs during training sessions. This may be one of the reasons why Basset Hound Puppies are so difficult to train.

Basset Hounds are small dogs, standing 12-15 inches high at the shoulder and weighing 50-60 lbs. They stand on short and powerful legs, and have an outstandingly long body. The coat is smooth and short, and it usually comes in various combinations of white, tan and black. The breed standard is not strict on proportions between these colors. Basset Hounds have folded skin on the face and around the neck. The facial folds make the dog look a little sad. The eyes are brown, and the ears are very long. All Basset Hound Puppies must have their ears examined on a regular basis in order to prevent infection.

In order to retain health throughout life time, Basset Hounds require balanced nutrition. They should not be overfed, because excessive weight is likely to contribute to serious skeletal deformities and lack of stamina. Gastric torsion is another common disease resulting from improper feeding. A Basset Hound Puppy is better off with three moderate meals per day rather than one big meal per day.