Basset Hound Information about the Breed and its Characteristics

The Basset is part of the Hound group, used today for both hunting and as house pets. Purebred Bassets can turn out to be quite expensive, especially for owners who intend on taking them to dog shows.

The Basset Hound is a dog that needs more attention than other dog breeds, but they are extremely lovable and great companions.

Breed Characteristics and General Appearance

Bassets are big dogs in terms of size and have short legs. Two definable characteristics of the breed are the Basset Hound’s extremely long ears and its ‘sleepy’ eyes. They are also heavy dogs, with long bodies and short in height, which puts them into the medium-sized dog category.

The average life expectancy in Bassets is about 12 years and the puppy breeding average is of about 8 pups per birth. However, there have been Basset dogs that gave birth to even 15 puppies.

Average Temperament

Basset Hounds usually get along with anyone, with people and dogs alike and they are sort of easy-going. Bassets love to cuddle and they are extremely affectionate.

Although they love their owners, listening to them is a whole other story as they can sometimes be stubborn and temperamental. Usually Basset puppies can be rather wild and more difficult to train than puppies from other breeds.

Basset Hounds are also great companions and they love to sit in their owner’s lap.

Grooming

Bassets are pretty easy to groom and apart from the fact that they drool they are clean dogs. Bassets need to be bathed about once a month and they should also be brushed often since they are shedders.

A very important part of the Basset’s grooming is cleaning their ears. This breed's ears need to be cleaned one time per week to avoid getting ear infections.

Exercising

The breed has a tendency to gain weight and is, therefore, supposed to be fed only twice or thrice per day. Bassets are not excessively active and shouldn’t be taken out to exercise for long periods of time; exercising for 60-80 minutes per day will suffice.

This is why these dogs must also not be over-fed since they can easily pass from being heavy to obese. It is also important to remember that Bassets shouldn’t exercise much once they become adults because they can hurt their joints.

Because of their long body, Bassets shouldn’t be allowed to go up and down the stairs until they’re 18 months old.

Breed Training

A Basset Hound can be pretty hard to train as it can be very stubborn, sometimes lazy and have a poor memory. Since they are hunting dogs, Bassets can be quite agile and more active than most people think, that is, if they’re truly interested in a particular activity.

The most difficult part of Basset Hound training is housebreaking, but this can be done with calm and persistence. This breed’s training should constantly be done in a positive manner, without harsh methods or punishment.

Breed Standard Height and Weight

The Basset Dog originated in France in the XV century. Their name comes from the French word “bas” that means “small”. The breed was also used for hunting in Medieval Ages, by monks. Bassets are medium-sized dogs.

Their height is usually in the 13-15 inches range, and the standard weight for the breed is a little over 8lbs and no more than 12.3lbs. The Basset dog is said to be a mix of 3 other breeds, Bloodhound, Foxhound and Dachshund.

Health

Bassets are prone to bone and joint disease. By 6 months of age they can develop Wobblers Syndrome and if they eat too much without exercising they can have back related health issues.

A Basset Hound doesn’t need supplements either, since calcium, for example, can cause its bones to grow and determine abnormal developments in the dog’s bone structure.

Suitability

Bassets are great dogs for any type of owner who can offer them a lot of attention. They’re not aggressive dogs, but they do tend to bark a lot. They are compatible with other pets and they’re great around children as well.

The Basset Hound is the right breed for an owner who wants a dog that is sociable, calm, and playful but with a serious look on their face and most of all humorous. They can adapt to any environment and they love spending time indoors as well as outside.

For more information and everything you need to know about the Basset Hound, check out the highly recommended Basset Hound eBook and audio package today!