Bassett Hound
Is a Basset Hound Puppy Right for You?
For those that melt at the sight of big sad eyes it is
difficult to resist a Basset Hound puppy. These dogs have eyes
that could melt the hardest heart and a wonderful disposition
also.
The Basset Hound has an amazing sense of smell and is able to
track scents nearly as well as its ancestor, the Bloodhound.
These dogs are known to become so obsessed with a scent that
it will ignore its owner's commands. Basset Hounds were
developed to track scents in small areas that larger dogs
could not fit in.
The Basset Hound weighs approximately sixty pounds and stands
eighteen to twenty inches high. They can come in any AKC
recognized hound color, although a white base with brown and
black patches is the most common. This Hound has long, droopy
ears that nearly touch the ground when the animal is standing.
The undershot jaw, broad chest, and short legs combine to give
it a comical and clumsy appearance, but generally this animal
will move quite gracefully.
Basset Hounds make nice apartment animals aside from their
mournful vocalizations. These dogs do not care to exercise,
aside from scent tracking, but they do require daily exercise
to remain healthy. This dog must be walked daily even if it is
allowed to run in a fenced yard.
Basset Hounds do quite well with children and other pets. This
breed adores people and will do nearly anything to be with
them including enduring the torment of being dressed in silly
clothing so it is able to spend time with the children it
loves.
Basset Hounds are loving and devoted pets, but they do have a
very strong stubborn streak. These animals have often been
mistaken as being dumb but they are quite intelligent and will
choose to ignore commands that do not interest them. They can
be quite difficult to train and obedience school is suggested
with this breed.
Basset Hounds love to eat. This combined with no interest in
exercise is a poor combination so it is important to closely
monitor the animal's food consumption. If the dog becomes
overweight, ask the vet to suggest a food that will help him
lose weight.
This breed requires little grooming. The coat should be
brushed once a week to remove dirt and loose hair. It is
important to check the ears regularly to ensure that problems
do not develop because the air does not circulate well in
breeds with long droopy ears. Ear infections are one of the
most prevalent health issues with this breed. Spinal related
injuries and eye diseases are not uncommon either.
Those looking for a dog whose sole purpose is to please his
owners will find a perfect choice in the Basset Hound.
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