Basset Hound - Dog Breeds - facts Every Person Should Know

In this article we will firstly look at the simple stats of this great breed, then move on to an in-depth look at whether you will be suited to this dog.

Breed group: Hounds

Weight: 40-60 lbs

Height: 14 inches

Overview

The name of the Basset Hound has been derived from the French word "bas", which means low. The documentation available on these dogs shows that that they have their origin from the St. Hubert hounds in the Ardennes. These hounds brought to Britain in 1066 when the Normans invaded Britain. This breed was first known as the Bloodhound, a name given by the English. But later on this breed was crossed with the later-developed Basset Hound for the size to increase. The Bassets then started to become very popular, and had many admirers that included King Edwards VII and also Shakespeare. This breed was first acknowledged by the American Kennel Club in 1885.

Temperament

The Basset hound has a very sweet and gentle personality. This breed has a very calm demeanour that belies the inner strength hunting and tracking dog. Seeing that these dogs have a very kind personality, they are one of the most popular family dogs. The Basset hound has tremendous tolerance, and is a naturally well-mannered dog. They are very easygoing dogs. Due to the fact that they have a very kind personality, they are very affectionate toward their owners, and get along very well with children in the family. The Basset hound is also very friendly toward other pets and dogs in the family. This breed used to be a pack animal, and part of a pack - but not an aggressive breed due to this background. They are rather loving and cuddly dogs.

Care

The Basset Hound has a very short and smooth coat that has very low grooming needs. This breed can be brushed once or twice during the week to remove any loose or dead hair. This will also keep the skin circulated. When shedding, the hair will be removed more effectively by brushing and bathing the dog. The hair around should also be wiped and cleaned, because when these dogs hunt, eat or drink debris can get entangled in this area. This will in return cause fungus or bacteria to grow should this area be left unattended for a lengthy period of time.

Training

This is a very sensitive breed, so training should be done in a gentle and patient manner. Consistent training will have the best results with this stubborn breed. The Basset Hound is inclined to go off sniffing, and also completely disregarding his owners - therefore fun training techniques will work best. This breed loves food, and can be easily trained if there is food that can serve as a reward.

Health problems

A major health concern with the Basset Hound is obesity; as it puts a lot of strain on the inter-vertebral disk which forms a disease in return. Some other health concerns for these dogs are foreleg lameness, OCD, Entropion, Gastric torsion, foot cysts and infection as a minor concern.