The Basset Hound dog is famed for its “Hush Puppies” appearance but it is more than just the face of a brand.
The
name Basset Hound comes from the word ‘bas’ in French which means low,
befitting the low posture that the Basset has.
They
are excellent hunters and have an impressive sense of smell.
They
may be short but have the strength of large-sized dogs.
They
were initially bred to hunt small animals such as rabbits, mice etcetera and
are still used for the same in most parts of the world. But they have also
found a home in many families due to their loving nature.
Colors: Lemon & White, Black & White, Tri-color, White & Chocolate, Black & Brown, Red & White.
At A Glance
class="wp-block-heading">Size (2/5)
These are
moderately heavy dogs. The Basset Hound weight for males is about 23-29
kgs standing 30-38 cms tall whereas the female counterparts are 28-36 cms tall
weighing 20-27 kgs.
Before you
bring a Basset Hound home, you should know that they are very heavy dogs
despite their size.
So if you have
a two-story house, it may become difficult for the Basset in its old age to
climb stairs and you will have a hard time carrying it upstairs.
Affection Level (2/5)
They are known
for their extremely tolerant behavior, calm and collected temperament and
affectionate nature towards their family.
Basset Hounds
make great family pets. They are loving and caring; they easily form individual
bonds with family members and are very possessive of them.
Apartment Friendly (2/5)
With the right
training and car, these sloppy eared pooches make great compliant partners.
They do not
require tedious grooming and care, thus they make the best fits for urban
residents.
Their
adaptability is excellent and they can live in apartments or perhaps smaller
spaces too.
Cold Weather Tolerability (2/5)
Bassets do not
do well in cold weather. They can live in mildly chilly areas but it is not
advisable in extremely cold temperatures.
If you are living in an apartment make sure
your dog is warm and cozy in the winters.
Do not leave
them out for too long in the cold or snow. Also, they love to wear sweaters, so
you can play dress-up with cute Christmas sweaters!
Hot Weather Tolerability (2/5)
Their soft and
shiny coat does get them through most seasons without any trouble.
However, if it
is too hot in the summers, you should keep your Basset inside your house. They
do not respond well to extremely hot temperatures.
It may affect
the health of the Basset Hound adversely.
Barking Tendencies (4/5)
Bassets are
not known to be chatty but they do get lonely if left alone for long periods in
the day.
So, it is best
to be with him for most of the day.
They start
howling and barking too loud, when in solitude, as a call for their owners or
company. This may create problems for neighbors, who might raise an issue.
Cat-Friendly (4/5)
If you’re
looking for a Basset Hound to be a part of your family and you already have a
pet cat, you can go ahead and get one.
Dog-Friendly (5/5)
Extremely
tolerant and unbothered, to be candid, the Basset Hound temperament is
perfect for having other dogs in the family.
Bassets are
rather loving and caring then spiteful; they welcome other dogs and make very
co-operative pets.
Exercise Needs (2/5)
Basset Hound
exercise needs are moderate and do not require much of your time.
A 20-30-minute
walk should suffice, a few games of fetch and you’re good to go.
However, you
must take your Basset out on the walk daily as it will keep them healthy, will
prevent any bone/joint diseases and will also keep them mentally active.
Grooming Needs (1/5)
Despite the
short hair, you will have to brush it regularly to avoid any kind of matting
from prevailing.
The usual
bathing, nail clipping, and brushing comprise of the Bassets grooming routine.
Cleaning the
ears, the eyes and the teeth are also vital to maintain good health.
Playfulness (2/5)
These dogs are
very low-maintenance. They are always low on energy, lethargic and not very
playful.
They are also
extremely slow walkers so this might make daily walks longer than they already
are.
Trainability (2/5)
Basset Hound
training
is a very tedious and hard task.
But if you are
patient, you can hope for your basset to come around.
Intelligence (4/5)
Bassets are
very smart indeed but they are also known to have a mind of their own.
This can make
them difficult to train.
Mouthiness (4/5)
Even though
this breed is not highly energetic, they are prone to chewing.
Bassets also
drool a lot which is a task to clean up after.
Price Group (3/5)
The Basset
Hound price averages anywhere from $1,200 to $1,500.
Abo>About Basset Hounds
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Basset Hounds are caring, loving and quite laidback in
nature.
Initially bred to become small game hunters, chasing rabbits,
they are now lazy family dogs that will not move an inch if there is no
incentive.
They have long ears and big, sad eyes that make them look
sorrowful and serious at all times.
Bassets are very friendly towards strangers; they are very
welcoming and acquainted with other dogs and pets.
The average Basset Hound lifespan is of 10-12 years.
The Basset Hound originated in the sixth century in France.
France is known for its creation of many hounds.
Most of these hounds had tall versions and short versions
too, which were under sixteen inches.
“Bas” translates to low in French. Thence, the name Basset
Hound.
Basset Hounds and it’s long-legged cousin, Bloodhound, are
descendants of the famous St. Hubert hounds.
The long ears of the Basset helped him stir up scents, hence,
packs of Bassets used to drive small prey from dense forests to open ground so
that they could be shot by hunters.
Till today, Bassets are used for the same in the countries of
England and France.
SizeSize
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The Basset Hound size is moderately small. They have short
legs but are very heavy inbuilt.
An average-sized Basset male stands approximately 35 cms tall
weighing 26 kgs and a female Basset is 32 cms tall weighing 23 kgs.
So basically, they are big dogs on short legs.
The unusual body composition of the Basset Hound is a form of
dwarfism called Achondroplasia.
Bassets are bulky dogs and short in height, this makes them
slow maturing dogs. More often, they do not reach their full size until they
are two years old.
They are easily recognizable because of their short and
crooked legs, large heads with long hanging ears and wrinkled foreheads.
The tail is gaily and it curves up; the body is short and
that gives the basset a rectangular appearance.
The common Basset Hound colors are tricolor, red or
white, white and black etcetera.
Trainabil>Trainability
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Basset Hound dogs are not ones to train. They are extremely
stubborn dogs, emphasis on the extremely.
Bassets will not adhere to basic commands like “no” and “come
here”.
They have an independent mind of their own which sometimes
will work against you.
Especially if you are trying to train him.
Bassets are listed among the top 15 stubborn dogs by Top DogTips.
All said and done, you will need to maintain your patience
and temperament to establish a connection with your Basset, who is extremely
loving but also obstinate.
Grooming>Grooming
k-image">
Basset Hounds are easy to groom but because of its unusual
body structure you may have to take a little extra care of your basset.
You can bathe your basset as regularly as you wish, with a
dog shampoo. Thorough rinsing is important.
You should avoid getting any shampoo inside the ears or the
eyes of the Basset, so make sure you place some cotton balls inside the ears.
Nail clipping for Bassets must be done every 10 to 14 days to
avoid any problems such as soreness or stress on the feet.
You can take your
Basset to the vet regularly or ask the vet to teach you how to clip the nails.
You should brush your Basset’s teeth regularly and check for
any plaque or tartar formation.
The long ears of the Basset do not allow any circulation of
air; making it prone to infection. You can clean the Basset’s ears once a week
with a mild astringent.
Because of its droopy haw, the Basset Hound eyes are
prone to irritation. They should be cleaned regularly and carefully.
Common DiseasesCommon Diseases
">
The Basset Hound health is quite sound, not all
Bassets have these diseases but if you are going to adopt/purchase one, you
should be aware of the diseases they are prone to.
TARGETING THE BONES
PATELLAR LUXATION
This disease
is also known as “slipped stifles”, which is very common in most dogs.
The patella
has three parts – the thigh bone, knee cap, and the calf. When these three are
not in line, it can cause patellar luxation.
This could
cause lameness in the leg or gait. This condition prevails at birth although
the misalignment does not occur until much later.
Having this
condition could lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease.
HIP DYSPLASIA
This condition
is very common in Bassets.
This deformity
in the hip joint could be a result of factors such as genetics, environment,
diet etcetera.
This condition
is heritable. This could affect daily life; movement may be painful for the
Basset.
This could be
treated with some medication or in severe cases, surgery might be required.
PANOSTEITIS
This is also
called Wandering or Transient Lameness. This elusive ailment that is sometimes
seen in young Basset Hounds.
Its primary
sign is sudden lameness and a Basset Hound puppy usually outgrows this
problem.
The severity
of the lameness can vary. Most vets often misdiagnose this condition with hip
dysplasia or elbow dysplasia or some other more severe diseases.
If
misdiagnosed, the vet could perform a surgery on your Basset that is not
required.
TARGETING THE EYES
CHERRY EYE
This condition
occurs when the gland beneath the third eyelid protrudes and looks like a
cherry in the corner of the eye.
Your vet may
have to remove the gland.
GLAUCOMA
This condition
is very common in Basset Hounds.
Glaucoma is a
disease where pressure builds up inside the eye.
If not
detected and treated early this condition could lead to blindness.
Take your
basset to the vet if you notice him squinting, tearing or rubbing his eyes.
EYELID AND EYELASH PROBLEMS
Bassets are
prone to the turning out of the eyelids also called in ectropion, resulting in
a dry cornea causing the lashes to dig into the surface of the eye.
Removal of
this problem can be done surgically, consult the vet as soon as you see signs
of this in your Basset.
TARGETING THE BODY
Gastric Tension
This is a life-threatening situation that can affect large
and deep-chested dogs like Basset Hounds.
This could arise if they are fed large meals or they eat
rapidly or they drink too much water after eating.
This condition also called “bloat”, is common among other
dogs.
It occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and
then twists.
The dog is unable to vomit, to get rid of the excess air in
the stomach. Blood pressure drops severely and the dog has a concussion.
If the dog isn’t taken to the vet, it can die.
Check for a bloated stomach or excessive drooling. Your dog
could be breathless, depressed and lethargic. If you see these signs, call the
vet immediately.
EAR INFECTIONS
The Basset has
long ears that do not allow sufficient air circulation to the inside of the
ear.
This could
lead to the development of infections inside the air.
To prevent this,
you should clean their ears, every week. Take your Basset to the doctor if the
ears smell weird or seem inflamed.
OBESITY
This is a
serious problem for long-backed breeds just like the Basset.
You should
find out how much you need to feed your dog and stick to the portions to
regulate the Basset Hound health.
Feeding
Feedingass="aligncenter">
An average Basset needs 1700 calories daily to sustain
himself. But be careful as to what you are feeding your Basset as they are not
active dogs.
If you feed your Basset too much, it could become obese.
Feed him twice a day and in moderate proportions. Try to
stick to this routine. But if you forget dinnertime, your Basset will remind
you anyway!
You can feed him dry kibble food or home-cooked food such as raw
meat with white rice.
If you need help with Homemade Dog Food, click here.
Vaccination And Care
Vaccination And Carecoding="async" src="https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/qK7qxsEK66p-r_rTXS2qD9btDBU=/960x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/basset-vet-Stockbyte-Jupiterimages-GettyImages-86495329-569bc3c93df78cafda96aded.jpg" alt="VACCINATION AND CARE"/>
Distemper vaccine
This severely
affects the organs of the Basset Hound such as the spinal cord, respiratory
system, brain, and intestines.
The common symptoms of having distemper are high fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.
Pravo
This disease
spreads through the infected dog’s hair or feet. It is fatal.
Basset Hounds
are prone to this virus.
Signs that
your dog could have this are bloody diarrhea, depression, vomiting, fever, etc.
Rabies
This is a very
damaging virus; it deteriorates the brains of all mammals.
Dogs secrete
large amounts of this virus in their saliva and thus, a dog is infected with
rabies when it is bitten by another dog.
Signs that a
dog has rabies can be seen in behavioral changes such as restlessness and
aggression. They become hypersensitive to touch, light, sound, etc.
Hepatitis
Infectious
canine hepatitis is a very serious condition caused by a highly infectious
virus that affects the liver.
It develops
extremely quickly in puppies and dogs.
Symptoms of hepatitis are vomiting, lethargy, fever, abdominal pain and an enlarged liver.
Vaccination can be a huge field to cover. Read our Guide To Dog Vaccination to have a better understanding of how vaccines work in dogs.
Bassets make the perfect companions for a child in search of
a playmate. Bassets are very kind and well-natured.
You can trust them with your children, they are very playful.
Their silly antics will provide you with hours o
entertainment. Having a child at home will be better for the Basset as they
love to be playful and active.
Having a basset at home could really help enrich family life.
Dogs:
Basset Hounds get along with other dogs very well. They are
not competitive or aggressive which makes them receptive to other dogs.
Cats:
Fortunately, Basset Hounds are very friendly and receptive to
cats too.
They are slow-moving, low and quite calm which are perfect
traits for living with cats.
However, you should monitor your cat’s behavior and take care
accordingly.
Overview
Basset H>Overviewndly dogs that make perfect companions for families.
They have a
very laidback attitude towards physical activities but they are playful
whenever they want to be.
They are not
easy to housebreak; you really have to have the patience to train your Basset
because they are very obstinate.
They are very
trustworthy with children; they get along with other pets and cats too.
They have a
very strong sense of smell; they were companions of hunters back in the 16th
century.
They are very
loyal and are best suited for apartment living.
Something Fun About Basset HoundsSomething Fun About Basset Hounds
"aligncenter is-resized">Basset hound
Basset Hounds are the second-best sniffers in the canine
kingdom after their long-legged cousin the Bloodhound.
Their long ears trap smells and help them pick up smells.
They have a lot of trouble swimming.
They are considered the most melodious breed.
Marylin Monroe had a Basset Hound.
This was all about Basset Hounds.
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