Basset Hound

The Basset Hound comes from French lineage and is name mean “low”. The Basset Hound breed was deliberately bred by the friars at St. Hubert’s Abbey in medieval France for achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism.

They wanted a dog with short leg and a strong body that could track a prey under the brush in dense forests. Known as the “Hush Puppy” dog, is descended from the St. Hubert’s Hound and is essentially a hunting dog much too gentle to be a guard dog.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

11 – 15 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

45 – 65 lbs

Color(s)

Basset Hounds are generally tricolor (black, tan, and white), red and white (red spots on white fur), or lemon and white.

Coat

The weather resistant coat of the Basset Hound is hard, soft, and should always be short.

Life Expectancy

About 8 – 13 years..

Personality

The Basset Hound is extremely strong and heavy for his height and it’s not a little delicate dog. Peaceful and quiet the Basset Hound love being around people and does exceptionally well with families with children and other animals. The Basset Hound is very gentle, obedient and devoted to his master but they are often very stubborn.

Care

Relatively a healthy breed the Basset Hound may suffer from ear canker, glaucoma, genetic epilepsy and bloat. Do not over feed these dogs because to much weight places too great a load on he’s long and heavy spine, also is preferable to give them two or three small meals a day instead of one big large meal. The Basset Hound is a constant shedder (more than most short haired dogs) so brushes its smooth coat with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. Clean he’s ears once a week and trim toenails on a regular basis.

Training

Like other hounds, Basset Hounds are notoriously difficult to housebreak and obedience train since they are “stubborn”. However they do well with consistent, firm but sympathetic handling and positive reinforcement, so fun techniques work best. The Basset likes to do tricks for food, but he’s attention will drop if a reward is not present.

Activity

Normally a lazy breed and very inactive indoors, the Basset will do okay in an apartment. However, outdoors they tend to show great endurance in physical activityand will run and play for hours in a safe, fenced in area.