hounds

The Wonderful Basset Hound is a Medium/Large dog that weighs anywhere between 45-75 pounds. Their height usually being 11″ to 15″. The Basset Hound is long and low and their height/weight ratio makes their already short legs look even shorter. In fact, their name comes from the French word “bas” which means low.

They are without doubt one of the most loving, patient and gentle dogs you could hope for which is one of the reasons they fit so well into family life. Coupled with their keen sense of smell and hunting instints you will also find them great hunting companions.

In 1885 the Basset Hound was recognised by the AKC, It’s colouring normally stems from a variety of Hound Dog breeds which is typically white & chestnut or sandy coloured. The fairly dense coat is short, straight, hard and smooth. Their coat is easy to groom and only requires an occasional brushing and shampooing.

This loving, gentle dog is perfect for family life. They are excellent and patient with small children, even if normal day to day life does not include children. They are affectionate with their family and love to be around them. Other dogs are never a problem for Bassets and neither are pets, although it is usually a good idea to introduce them to other pets in the home because they might chase them due to their hunting instincts.

Basset Hounds love nothing more than lazing around the house just relaxing, which makes them an ideal dog if you live in an apartment. They are more active outdoors and require regular play, exercise and time to run. If you don’t have a yard, you should plan to at least take them on a daily walk. They are fairly easy to train, but if they are on the trail of a scent, they will not pay any attention to you. For this reason, a fenced in yard is best. They have a tendency to gain weight, so monitoring their food intake and giving them ample exercise is important.

The Basset Hound originated in France and dates back hundreds of years. Their ancestry can be traced back to the Bloodhound. Originally used as hunting dogs, the Basset Hound uses its excellent sense of smell to track animals. Nowadays you see them mostly as family pets, but they are quite capable of being the hunter and are still used as such in certain places.

You would be hard pushed to find many dog breeds to match a Basset Hound for it’s gentleness and laid back attitude. They are the ideal dog for active families and for those that just enjoy an occasional walk provided their Basset Hound can have daily outside time.

It doesn’t matter if you have toddlers, young children or other household pets, the wonderfull Basset Hound fits perfectly in to any home.