CritterPages Home        Dogs Home        Search Dogs

Basset Hound

The lugubrious Basset Hound breed originated in France, where these dogs were bred to hunt in packs.  Their physique perfectly equips them to follow a scent close to the ground, and they hunt tenaciously with deliberate, but never clumsy, movements.

Breed Category

Hound

Temperament

Bassets are gentle dogs, occasionally stubborn, but mostly happy to fit in with family life, and they are particularly friendly with children.  However, their strong instincts do make them willful, so they are not easy to train.

Appearance

The bodies of Basset Hounds are normal in length relative to their head size, but they have short, stubby legs and large joints.  Some breeders believe they may be descended from "dwarfed" Bloodhounds.  Bassets are heavy-set dogs that bear their weight evenly on large paws and walk with a rolling gait.  With their large, domed heads and pendulous ears and dewlaps, Basset Hounds have a very serious expression.  The eyes are slightly sunken and droopy, so that the red of the lower eyelid is partially visible.  The coat is short, hard, and dense, and requires only minimal grooming.  Colors are black, white, and tan.

Size:    Height at withers 13-15 in

Weight:    40-60 lbs  

Exercise Requirements:    Moderate

Grooming Requirements:    Minimal

Life Expectancy:    10 years

Things to Consider

1. Prone to many hereditary diseases

2. Tendency to drool

3. Owners must pay special attention to their ears

4. Potential problems with obesity

5. Should not be walked by children

 

Source

Information taken from "DOGS: An Owner's Guide"

Writer and Editor: Helen Stillwell

Photo taken from www.akc.org