Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is believed to have descended from the Bloodhound. The dog started gaining popularity in the late 1800s, although the breed is old enough to have been mentioned by Shakespeare. The breed gets its name from the French term “bas”, which stands for “low”. The dog became famous in England shortly after it was first presented in France, and there were two groups of breeders in Great Britain, one intending to make a hunter out of the dog, and the other viewing it as a companion dog. American breeders seem to have found the middle ground as they came up with the idea of breeding a companion dog without any detriment to its hunting aptitudes.

Basset Hounds are cute and friendly dogs. They have an excellent sense of smell, which allows them to track game with great ease. These robust dogs have a deep chest and short legs. They have loose skin on the face and long velvety ears. Facial expression is intelligent and kind and somewhat sad. Despite their peculiar body proportions, these dogs have an easy gait, and it should not be clumsy. The tail is usually held upright, especially during runs, and it has a white tip.

Basset Hounds are loyal and friendly. They are excellent family companions, never showing unmotivated aggression, and are great playmates for children. Basset Hounds are very calm and poised dogs, but they have a stubborn trick, which makes some people think they are hard to train. Indeed, all they need to feel good about training is positive reinforcement and patience on the owner’s side. Basset Hounds do not show dislike toward strangers, and may get on well with other pets. They are good with non-canine pets in a case whereby they have been raised together with them. These dogs may chase unfamiliar animals, which is a manifestation of their hunting instinct. Basset Hounds should not be walked without a leash, because once they pick up a scent, they may follow it without much thought of returning home.

Basset Hounds feel well indoors, but they are only active outside. For this reason, daily walks and games are mandatory for this breed. Daily exercise will keep these dogs healthy and happy. They require properly balanced nutrition, because overfeeding may result in obesity and excessive load on the dog’s spine and limbs, which in turn can lead to serious orthopedic problems. Ears must be examined and cleaned on a daily basis. These dogs have very large litters, averaging 8 puppies. Basset Hounds live 12-14 years on the average.