Bassett Hounds as Pets

Everybody loves the Bassett Hound! These lovable, short-legged dog with floppy ears gets along well with those around them and are welcome in many homes.

Bassett Hounds were originally bred in France during the Middle Ages by monks for hunting purposes. The word Bassett is derived from the French word "bas" which means low. Eventually these dogs were bred to the hound we know in England where they were even mentioned by Shakespeare in one of his plays. It is claimed the fame of the breed truly came in 1863 when it debuted at the Paris Dog Show.

The dog excels at hunting with a nose that is so keen that George Washington himself may have owned a few. It is a great hunter when flushing prey from their den and even in the open country. The Bassett is really adept at fox, opossum, rabbit, and pheasant hunts whether alone or in a pack.

The appearance of the hound is easily recognizable. He is short-legged, with a heavy bone structure and a large head. Most Bassetts are less than 14 inches tall, and weighing in at 45 - 60 pounds. Contrary to popular belief these dogs are not small! The skin on the head is fairly loose and creates several folds on the skull. Two prominent features of the breed are the eyes and the ears of the dog. The eyes are usually dark in color with a soft, sad appearance which prompts many "ahs" from pet lovers. The ears are very long creating the appearance of a clumsy short dog about to trip on its own ears.

The coat on the Bassett Hound is extremely short and very smooth. The skin is very elastic and loose on the body, and can be easily pulled up in bunches. Colorings are usually combinations of white, brown, and black. Officially any hound colorings are accepted by the kennel clubs though. The coat also sheds very heavily for a short-haired breed, and this deters some potential owners.

Overall the Bassett has a very sweet, peaceful disposition and makes a good family pet. The dog is extremely tolerant and very loving making it great for families with very small children. The one negative part of their personality is the tendency to be very stubborn. This sometimes makes training the dog tough, but with consistency and patience you can mold this breed into a well-behaved pet.

This is one dog breed which does well living in an apartment. When indoors the animal tends to be fairly mellow to the point of laziness. Yet when outdoors they will run for hours if given the opportunity. So it is very important to ensure the dog goes out frequently and gets plenty of exercise. You also need to groom them daily to reduce the shedding of the coat. It is also very important to ensure the coat under the chin is dry and clean otherwise Bassetts tend to get yeast infections this way.

Care must be taken in feeding this breed to make sure not to overfeed the dog. If given the chance Bassetts will be lazy and any extra food will pack on in harmful weight. This weight will put extra pressure on the legs and spine which can result in lameness and paralysis.