Basset Hound: Dog Breed Information, Facts and Pictures

Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Litter size: 6–8 puppies
Coat: Smooth, short and close
Temperament: Tenacious, Friendly, Affectionate, Devoted, Sweet-Tempered, Gentle
Weight: Female: 44–60 lbs (20–27 kg), Male: 51–64 lbs (23–29 kg)
Colors: White & Chocolate, Blue Belton, Tri-color, Black & Brown, Lemon & White, Red & White

With its elongated body and good-natured expression, the Basset Hound seems rather droll at first glance. His character also matches the outward appearance: Balanced, good-natured and sometimes stubborn, the Basset Hound enriches family life with its loveable nature. His leisurely manner may sometimes obscure his true origin, the hunt. To this day, the Basset Hound has retained both its hunting instinct and a surprising joy of movement.

The Basset Hound is originally from France, where it was probably bred by monks as a hunting dog in the Middle Ages. The ancestors of the Basset Hounds are the now extinct Basset d'Artois and the Basset Artésien Normand, which arrived in England in the second half of the 19th century. Also, a bloodhound was crossed in 1892 to improve the sense of smell of the breed. Outside of the UK, the basset hound spread then especially in the US, where he was bred in the meantime as a pure fashion dog with over-emphasized breed characteristics. In the meantime, emphasis is again placed on balanced breeding.

In the classification of the largest cynological federation "Fédération Cynologique Internationale" the Basset Hound is led in the group 6 "running dogs, welding dogs and related breeds" and therein in the section 1.3 "small running dogs". He reaches a withers height of 33-38 cm. The Basset Hound is a low-pitched dog of considerable substance, with a well-balanced appearance and a powerful effortless gait. He has short, straight and thick hair and is mainly bred in the colors black-white-brown and lemon-white. Possible but also all other running dog colors.

The Basset Hound has a domed skull with a prominent occipital bone. The stop is moderate; The bridge of the nose runs approximately parallel to the cranial line. The skin on the head is loose and tends to wrinkle on the cheeks and forehead. The lips are snug, and the catch should not be sharp. The eyes are diamond-shaped and of dark color, they show a calm and serious expression. The ears are set low and extend in length slightly beyond the top of the catch. They are supple and have a velvety texture. The Basset Hound has a long muscular neck that is well bent and shows a not too pronounced dewlap.

The Basset Hound has a wide, straight back and slightly curved loins. The chest is deep, but should allow enough freedom of movement. The tail is long with a vigorous approach. She is carried upright in a light bow. The Basset Hound has short, strong forelegs with slanted shoulder blades and tight elbows. The hind legs are very muscular and appear in the rear view almost spherical. The hocks are deep, the knees are well angled. On the runs a slight wrinkling is possible.

The Basset Hound is a calm and balanced dog in the house, who convinces as a family or companion dog with his unobtrusive behavior. He also behaves generally friendly to strangers. In dealing with his owner or his family, he shows affectionate and meek. However, the former self-hunted Basset Hound has preserved a certain independence until today and therefore special emphasis must be placed on a consistent education.

The Basset Hound is a strong and enduring dog that has retained its good qualities as a hunting dog to this day. Particularly noteworthy is his excellent sense of smell, which allows the Basset Hound to work reliably and persistently in welding work. Although he is not a fast dog, the Basset Hound still shows a good hunting instinct and an outstanding endurance. Especially in the hare hunting, he is able to persist the small game persistently over a long period of time. Even a Basset Hound, which is kept as a family or companion dog, requires a lot of daily movement and enjoys the freewheel. Only with the appropriate amount of exercise will he prove to be a calm and well-balanced dog in the house.

The Basset Hound is used according to its original use until today as a hunting dog. Especially in stalking, he performs with his high stamina and surprising maneuverability valuable services. It is suitable for track hunting in difficult terrain as well as for welding work.

As a family and companion dog, the Basset Hound is also very popular. However, despite his apparent clumsiness, he needs a lot of exercise and appropriate work every day. The education of the idiosyncratic Basset Hounds also requires a high degree of consistency and patience. Although the Basset Hound copes well with different living conditions, it is only partially suitable for living in a flat, because he has problems with climbing stairs due to its small body size and length. A house with a garden, however, would ideally satisfy the urge to move Basset Hounds.