Dog Breeds > B > Basset Hound

Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound. The name Basset derives from the French word "bas" meaning "low" or "dwarf".

Appearance
These dogs are around 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 inches) in height at the withers. They usually weigh between 20 and 30 kg (45 and 65 lbs). They have smooth, short-haired coats. Although any hound color is considered acceptable by breed standards, Bassets are generally tricolor (black, tan, and white), open red and white (red spots on white fur), closed red and white (a solid red color with white feet and tails), and lemon and white. Some Bassets are also classified as grey, or blue, however this color is considered rare and undesirable.

They have long, low-set ears and powerful necks, with much loose skin around their heads that forms wrinkles. Their tails are long and tapering and stand upright with a curve. The breed is also known for its hanging skin structure, which causes the face to have a permanently sad look; this, for many people, adds to the breed's charm. The dewlap, seen as the loose, elastic skin around the neck and the trailing ears help trap the scent of what they are tracking.

Basset Hounds are a large dog on short legs. They were originally bred by the French to have achondroplasia, known as dwarfism. Their short stature can be deceiving: Bassets are surprisingly long and can reach things on table tops that dogs of similar heights cannot.

Temperament
The Basset Hound is a very calm and companionable breed, but they are often very stubborn. They are an especially loyal breed. Around strangers, Bassets are friendly, and most are gentle with children.

While Bassets love food and may be less energetic than some breeds, they will exercise regularly if given the chance. Most Bassets enjoy activities that use their natural endurance, like long walks or hikes. They also enjoy tracking games that let them use their powerful nose.

Therefore, the stereotype of overweight and lazy Bassets is misleading. Rather, owners who believe their Bassets are supposed to be lazy will likely end up with overweight dogs that get exhausted easily, and owners who keep their Bassets active will likely have trim and happy hounds. Still, Bassets are excellent beggars. Their mournful appearance causes owners to be sympathetic and give them extra food; owners should resist this temptation.

Like other hounds, Basset Hounds are often very difficult to obedience train. Many Basset Hounds will obey commands when offered a food reward, but will "forget" the training when a reward is not present. Bassets are notoriously difficult to housebreak.

The breed has a strong hunting instinct and will give chase or follow a scent if given the opportunity. They should be trained in recall; failing that, they should be kept on a leash when out on walks.

Bassets might howl or bay rather than bark when they want something or to suggest that they think something is wrong. They also use a low, murmering whine to get attention, which sounds to many owners as though their Bassets are "talking."

History
Basset Hounds are an aristocratic breed of French lineage, a descendant of the St. Hubert's Hound, a dog similar to the present-day Bloodhound. Friars of St. Hubert's Abbey in medieval France desired a shorter-legged dog, capable of following a scent under brush in thick forests, as hunting was a classic sport of the time. Both Bassets and St. Hubert's Hounds were bred to trail, not kill, their game. Bassets were originally used to hunt rabbits and hare. The first application of the word "Basset" to a breed of dog can be traced to an illustrated text on hunting written by Fouilloux in 1585.

Early French Bassets closely resembled the Basset Artésien Normand, which is still a breed today though it is not recognized outside of France. Because many short-legged dogs from this time were called basset and record-keeping from this time was sparse, it is difficult to speculate which of these breeds have bloodlines in common with today's Basset Hounds. It is commonly believed that Marquis de Lafayette brought Basset Hounds to the United States as a gift to George Washington.

In 1863 the Basset Hound reached international fame at the Paris Dog Show. At that time there were two common Bassets, those with a rough coat (Basset Griffon) and those with smooth (Basset Français). The dogs were further classified by the length of their legs. The two popular Basset breeders at this time were M. Lane and the Count Le Couteulx.

In 1866, Lord Galway imported a pair of Le Couteulx Bassets to England, but it was not until 1874 that Basset Hounds were widely introduced there by Sir Everett Millais. The Kennel Club accepted the breed in 1882 and the English Basset Hound Club was formed in 1884. The American Kennel Club first recognized Basset Hounds as a breed in 1885. In 1935, the Basset Hound Club of America was organized in the United States. The current American breed standard was adopted in 1964.

Health
In comparison to other breeds, the Basset Hound is an especially healthy breed, but there are some illnesses to which they may fall prey.

They are a deep-chested breed, and are therefore prone to bloat. Many bloodlines are genetically prone to glaucoma, luxating patella, and ectropion ("cherry eye"). Young Bassets occasionally develop panosteitis. Older Bassets occasionally develop Von Willebrand disease. Long dogs on short legs can easily develop back pain, especially if excessive weight is already a concern. Hip dysplasia can be a problem in Bassets. Due to the breed's short legs and large mass, Bassets may be susceptible to arthritis as they grow older. Grey Basset Hounds are more likely to be born with medical problems, and it is advisable not to purchase these.

Also, the life expectancy for an average Basset usually lies between 8 to 12 years of age, but there are extreme cases where they live beyond 14 years old.

Care
Bassets tend to shed a lot, but do not require frequent brushing. Like the Bloodhound, they are a "wet mouthed" dog and tend to drool. As Basset Hounds often overeat, feedings should be regulated to prevent weight gain. Long ears are prone to infection if not cleaned regularly. The pronounced haw of the eyes can become dry and irritated. Trailing bellies and massive paws will carry and track dirt to the despair of many owners. Untrimmed toenails can cause damage to floors and furniture, and create posture difficulty leading to back pain.

Miscellaneous
In 1928, Time magazine featured a Basset Hound on the front cover. The accompanying story was about the 52nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden as if observed by the Basset Hound puppy. This prestige is often seen as the event which made the Basset Hound a popular part of American pop culture.

Famous Bassets
Basset Hounds have had prominent roles in movies and television.

Cartoon characters
The cartoon character Droopy Dog, originally created in 1943 by Tex Avery
Fred Basset, the main character in the comic strip Fred Basset, created by Alex Graham in 1963
Rosebud the Basselope from Berke Breathed's comic strip Bloom County.

Films and TV
Cleo, in Jackie Cooper's 1950s TV show The People's Choice
The Basset Hound simply called "Dog" from 1970s TV series Columbo
Fred, the companion of Cledus in the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit
Flash, the dog owned by Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the 1980s TV series The Dukes of Hazzard . A life-sized replica named "Flash" was used in dangerous situations.
Quincey, owned by Luther in the 1990s sitcom Coach
Sammy from the TV series That's So Raven
Some Bassets in Hats in Nanny McPhee
Socrates, the companion of Maxine Gray in the 1999-2001 seasons of the drama Judging Amy
Gabriel, Batou's basset hound in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

In advertising
The logo for Hush Puppies brand shoes; Basset Hounds are occasionally referred to as "Hush Puppies" for that reason. The dog used in the photos was named "Jason".

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