Basset Hound Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care Guide & Traits

The Basset Hound is a hunting dog, but when kept as a family pet, they’re usually happier sitting in front of the fire or getting attention at home than out running around. If you can keep your Basset Hound active and ensure they don’t put on too much weight, you will get a loving and loyal companion who will get along with all family members. The breed is known for being remarkably friendly and will get along with most visitors and strangers, too.

Breed Overview

Weight is the Basset Hound’s greatest enemy. So, while they are considered a good choice for novice owners because of their blend of loving nature, companionship, and intelligence, you need to stick to a controlled diet and regular exercise regimen to ensure that you have a happy and healthy pup. Although they are prone to several illnesses, most can be avoided through regular exercise and a good diet.

Read on to see whether a Basset Hound is the right breed of dog for your home and your family.

Basset Hound Characteristics

Basset Hound Puppies

You can ask your vet for breeder recommendations, join breeder registries linked to the kennel club, and look on social media and online to find local breed groups and associations. Remember that choosing an experienced breeder does not guarantee that you will get a healthy puppy, and you should always perform your own diligence by asking the necessary questions when selecting a breeder.

Visit the breeder’s premises and ensure that you meet the parent dogs before you agree to part with your money. Try to ensure that the dogs have not been overbred and that they are kept in good condition. Meeting the mother is also a good idea because until you take the puppy home, usually between 10–12 weeks after birth, the puppy’s mom will provide guidance and training to your dog. A well-behaved mother who gets along well with people and other dogs will likely pass her traits on to her puppies.

If you have small children, try to meet the new puppy with the whole family. This will ensure that you all get along, and it can prevent a lot of heartache in the future.

You should ensure that the parents have had the appropriate health checks and screening completed. With Basset Hounds, ask for screening results for hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, von Willebrand’s disease, thrombopathia, and poor eyesight.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is renowned for being a friendly dog. They enjoy interacting with their family, both humans and animals, and they’re usually happy to befriend visitors and strangers.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

In many ways, the Bassett is an ideal family dog. They enjoy playtime with the children and adults but will also want plenty of sleep. They will settle down at bedtime and when you’re watching TV. You may find that you have to persuade them to go for walks. Laziness is a big problem for this breed, and it can lead to the Bassett becoming overweight, especially if they eat too much.

It is worth noting that while the Basset Hound is short, it does not mean they are slim. One can weigh as much as 80 pounds, which is more than enough to injure small children, so playtime with kids should be supervised.

• See Also: Will a Basset Hound Be Good with My Kids? Facts & FAQ

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

The Basset’s reputation for befriending everyone doesn’t stop at humans. They get along with other dogs because they have been bred as pack-hunting animals. It is especially easy to introduce your Bassett to other dogs when they are young. They have a strong prey drive since they used to hunt animals like rabbits, and they may chase or threaten smaller animals like mice, rabbits, and hamsters.

Things to Know When Owning a Basset Hound:

The Basset Hound is known for being everybody’s friend. They get along with people of all ages, can live with dogs and cats, and are not known to be overly demanding dogs. However, they may not be suitable for all owners and families.

Basset Hounds are prone to putting on weight and can suffer from a few genetic conditions. Below, we’ll discuss what you need to consider before owning a Basset.

Food & Diet Requirements

The Basset Hound has thick bones and carries a lot of weight on a relatively small frame. They need a good diet to help ensure that their frame can successfully support their body without injury.

A good quality dry kibble will provide the protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals the Basset needs. You will need to feed approximately 2 cups of food per day, but weigh your dog and check this against the food measurements to ensure that you’re serving the right amount.

If you intend to feed wet food, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to determine how much, and if you are feeding a combination, reduce the amount of both accordingly. Because the Bassett is prone to putting on weight, don’t forget to take into account any treats and training tidbits that you feed. They may not look like much to you, but a handful of treats can contain a lot of calories.

Exercise

The Basset Hound can run all day when hunting, and some demand regular and moderate levels of exercise. Others would rather sit at home or lay in the yard, but you must take your Bassett out for regular exercise. Although they don’t require intensive runs, they will benefit from around 45 minutes of walks per day. The Basset can benefit from agility classes and stamina-based canine sports.

Training

The easiest dogs to train are those who are intelligent enough to pick up commands and desperate to please their owners. They also need to be attentive, have good concentration, and not be lazy.

The Bassett fulfills most of the criteria. They are certainly intelligent, so if you can turn training into a game, you can keep the dog’s attention for more than enough time to get basic training down. The only issue is the dog’s laziness. It’s best to train your dog when they’re not tired, keep sessions to a minimum, and, if necessary, use their love of food to your advantage.

• See Also: How to Potty Train a Basset Hound: 8 Tips & Tricks

Grooming ✂️

The Bassett is a loving dog, but allergy sufferers may not want to get too close. They are known for being a profuse shedder. However, if you brush the short coat every week, they shouldn’t leave too much hair on the furniture. They only need occasional baths, and the coat does an excellent job of repelling water and dirt.

The Bassett has very long ears that reach down to the ground, so they get dusty and dirty. Air does not circulate inside the ear, either, which can lead to a higher incidence of infections. Wipe down the ears using a recommended cleaning solution, and take similar action to clean their facial creases.

You must maintain Bassett’s dental hygiene by brushing their teeth at least three times a week, ideally daily. If you start when your dog is a puppy, the process is much easier when the dog gets older and bigger.

Health and Conditions

Basset Hounds are prone to certain genetic conditions. When choosing a breeder and puppy, ensure that you see screening results for joint dysplasia, hypothyroidism, von Willebrand’s disease, thrombopathia, and certification to declare the parent dogs’ eyes normal. This won’t guarantee good health for your dog, but it reduces the likelihood of these conditions.

One of the most common genetic conditions in Bassetts is gastric dilatation-volvulus, commonly called bloat. It is prevalent in dogs with deep chests, especially deep-chested dogs receiving their food in a single meal.

Feed your Bassett over two or more meals daily to reduce the likelihood of this painful and potentially lethal condition. The signs include lethargy, depression, restlessness, and weakness. You should get veterinary treatment as soon as possible to prevent the worst.

Male vs Female

Basset Hounds are considered good family pets. Males tend to be an inch or two taller and a few pounds heavier than females. Some owners claim that females are more independent and males are more playful. Females can be more challenging to train, but males and females are considered excellent pets for novice owners.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Basset Hound

1. They Are Named for Their Size

The word Bassett comes from the French word “bas,” meaning short or low, and the breed is undoubtedly low to the ground. They measure an average of 14 inches tall, but don’t let their low-to-the-ground stature fool you because they can weigh as much as 80 pounds.

The Basset Hound is French, as the etymology suggests, and the breed was first introduced when aristocrats wanted a variant of the Bloodhound that they could use while hunting. The resulting Basset Hound was used to hunt smaller animals like rabbits and hares, and their short stature and enhanced sense of smell made them formidable trackers.

2. Basset Hounds Are Exceptional Scent Hounds

Having been bred from the Bloodhound, it is little surprise that the Basset Hound is a skillful scent hound. In fact, with more than 200 million smell receptors, they are the second-best scent hound. Only the Bloodhound is better equipped.

The section of the brain that deals with scent recognition and tracking is 40 times larger in the Bassett than in a human. Even the dog’s floppy ears are designed to help with the tracking and following of scents. As the Bassett runs, the floppy ears direct scents towards the nose, while the jowls or dewlaps under the chin trap the smell so that they can better recognize it.

The Bassett’s short stature allows them to keep their noses to the ground and follow a smell without tiring. However, not every element of their physique is designed for optimal hunting. The short stature and short limbs mean that the Bassett is not a good swimmer, so they will not rival a Spaniel in this respect.

3. Bassets Are Skilled Singers

They also have the perfect physique for hunting and the lungs of a skilled singer—a loud one, at least. The Bassett is a pack hunting dog, and they use howling and baying as methods of communication with the other dogs.

Unless you use your Bassett for hunting and need them to tell you where to find game birds, howling is one habit you will want to control quickly. Fortunately, the dog is intelligent and is considered easy to train. Be consistent with positive reinforcement training, and never use physical reprimands to train your dog.

Pet dogs tend to howl because they are bored or lonely. Your Bassett could be suffering separation anxiety. You can take your Bassett to training classes to learn basic commands and techniques and how to train positive behavior and eliminate negative behavior, such as howling.

Final Thoughts

The Bassett is a highly skilled scent hound, originating from France where they were bred down from the Bloodhound and used to hunt and chase animals like rabbits. Today, the breed is a popular family pet that will usually befriend everyone. They get along with seniors, children, and other dogs, and although they require moderate exercise, they’re less energetic than most hounds and hunting dogs.

The Bassett sheds heavily all year, but it can be managed with weekly brushing. However, you must also regularly clean their ears and facial skin folds to ensure a comfortable and healthy dog.

Considered intelligent and usually keen to please their humans, the Bassett is easy to train. If you are looking for a good all-around family dog that is not too demanding but is happy to bond with all family members, the Basset Hound is ideal.

You may want to read this next:

• Male vs Female Basset Hounds: What Are the Differences?
• Miniature Basset Houndog Breed Info: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock