Traits and History of the Basset Hound Dog Breed

The origin of the basset hound dog breed is quite controversial. It dates back as far as the 1500s when the French had a breed of hound with a strong body and short legs that they used for hunting rabbits. However, a large number of French hunting dogs with short, crooked legs, and the basset hounds we know today were bred in England in the 1800s, so its origins undoubtedly lie in Europe, between France and England.

Even the name is a mix between the two languages, in fact bass in French means bass while hound in English means hound. Basset hounds were selected both for their excellent nose and because hunters could keep up with the slow pace of these dogs. In addition to hunting rabbits and hares, they were also sometimes used to find the tracks of large wounded prey.

With the exception of their height and the shape of their paws, they are similar to St Hubert's dog. And in particular from a selection of so-called bassets, dogs with achondroplasia or dwarfism, such that they have the appearance of a normal-sized dog with short limbs. The bassets from which the basset hound is derived are the basset d'Artois and the normand, which today are a single breed, namely the basset artesien normand.

The United States, however, also claims paternity of the breed, as there have been numerous breeders for a long time, and in the United States it very quickly became a family dog, outgrowing its function as a hunting dog and is also much loved thanks to the ‘Fred the Dachshund’ cartoons that made it known to practically everyone and also the television commercials of a well-known shoe brand.

Character of the basset hound dog breed

The basset hound is a very calm and patient dog. It is really suited to families and children with whom it loves to play a lot. In short, it is an excellent companion dog, devoted to its owner even if it is not very expansive. He adapts well to the habits of the family and is an excellent companion for long walks, but also a great couch companion, where he loves to laze around a lot.

In fact, if left to his own devices, he is quite lazy and would tend to gain weight, so it is necessary, even forcing him, to take him out for a long walk every day. As a hunting dog, on the other hand, he is tireless. As it has been selected for moult work, it hardly ever quarrels with other dogs, not even with those of the same sex. Its peaceful disposition also extends to cats and other animals.

Training for this breed is indispensable; it is a stubborn dog and thanks also to its perpetually sad expression often manages to get what it wants. Its main character trait is stubbornness, so it is certainly useful to train it from puppyhood.

It is not a dog to keep if you are a first-time dog, given the difficulties encountered during its training. Overall, the basset hound requires special attention from its owner. From day one, he needs to receive breed-appropriate discipline, training and education.

He is not a good guard dog. Although he may bark, he is always happy to greet strangers. It cannot tolerate loneliness; left alone, it can easily become very noisy or destructive.

Appearance of the basset hound dog breed

The Basset Hound is a medium-sized dog, its height at withers varies from 33 to 38 centimetres and its weight can range from 25 to 30 kilograms. It is morphologically classified as a braccoid.

Its bone structure is heavier, in relation to its size, than any other breed, but its movements are loose and not at all clumsy. He is a well-balanced dog, with muscles well distributed and balanced throughout his body. The limbs, although short, are powerful and well placed and of considerable substance and, usually, the skin of the lower limbs may show folds at the paws. The tail is long, usually ending in white, and is carried high to form a sabre.

The head is long and well-proportioned, the muzzle is long and fairly tapered, with the skin forming folds at the eyes and forehead. The truffle is black, the upper lips of the mouth largely covering the lower ones. The eyes are large and have an intense melancholic expression. The ears are very long, exceeding the size of the muzzle and are perhaps its main distinguishing feature.

The coat is smooth, short and dense, and is close-fitting without long hairs on the legs and tail. The most common colours are tricolour, or red and white, black white and brown, but other colours are also permitted.

Health and care of the basset hound dog breed

The health of the Basset Hound is to be considered quite good, but unfortunately, in recent decades, it has been excessively subjected to intensive breeding. Its short, curved paws, which can barely support its massive, overly long body, belong to the breed standard.

Moreover, its ears often drag on the ground. This results in a high susceptibility to diseases of the eyes, ears, skin and back. It may also suffer from stomach torsion, and hip dysplasia. But despite these diseases, which are quite rare, this breed is generally considered very healthy and hardy compared to many others.

It has an average life expectancy of about 12 years.

Obesity is also a common problem in the breed, so a correct and controlled diet combined with daily exercise must be a priority.

As for coat care, this is very simple, just brushing a couple of times a week and a bath when needed.