Basset Hounds are not readily available in the Indian regions. They are highly adored and appreciated in the European countries, but their demand and popularity in the Asian countries like India are still mediocre at best. They have a medium tolerance to both heat and cold and thus are not able to very efficiently thrive in places with extreme temperatures (very high or very low). They are comfortable when the climatic conditions are moderate or temperate. If anyone is looking for a Basset Hound to raise in a place which has extreme climate conditions, then, he/she has to provide proper care and attention to these hush puppies so that they can comfortably survive without any harm happening to their health.
Basset Hounds are easily recognizable dogs with their heavy bone structure and short legs. They appear to be a little bulky because of their relatively short stature. They have a good endurance level and are also highly devoted. Official standards for a Basset Hound are given below:
Basset Hounds are more on the heavier side than they are tall which gives them a slight hefty appearance. The average weight of a Basset Hound is around 20-29 kg while its height is somewhere between 11-15 inches. Males Hounds are a little heavier and taller than their female counterparts.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
23-29 kg |
12-15 inch |
|
FEMALE |
20-27 kg |
11-14 inch |
They have a smooth and hard-textured coat which is shorter in length and their skin is loose and a bit elastic in nature. Their coat is available in a lot of different colors like black, tan, brown et cetera.
They have a heavy boned body which appears to be a little low-set and hung. The neck is slightly arched and is of good length which sits on quite powerful and well laid-back shoulders. The chest region is full and deep with well-sprung ribs. They have distinct forelegs which are powerful, short and possess heavily wrinkled skin. The hindquarters are rounded and are equal to the shoulders in width.
They have a well-proportioned domed head which is large in size. Their eyes are slightly sunken and soft and are mostly in brown or dark brown color. Their ears are set low and are very long with a velvet-like texture on them.
They have a well-made jaw region with large teeth firmly placed inside their mouth. Their muzzle is heavy, deep and is free from any snippiness.
Basset Hounds are extremely affectionate and friendly dogs who always ends up having a very strong bond with their owners. They are highly devoted and staunch in attitude and like to spend their time around their loved ones. But, this doesn’t mean that they are very easy to train and will obey every command given to them during the training process. They are in fact, a little bit stubborn when learning new things and need a patient and persistent trainer. But, apart from that, they are very gentle and sweet-tempered and one of the most adorable dogs out there. Key temperamental traits of the Basset Hounds are listed below:
While their name might sound a bit ferocious and intense, the Basset Hounds are one of the most affectionate and sweet-natured dogs in the world. They are very gentle and friendly to almost anybody including small kids, other canines and strangers.
They are supposed to be the descendants of the Bloodhounds and thus they have inherited some of their useful traits like their immensely powerful sense of smell. The Basset Hounds are considered to be one of the most popular and powerful scent hounds out there and they can track a scent for fairly long distances.
They prove to be a very good family pet with their even temperament and an adaptable and adjusting nature. They are not bothered by infants and any other pet living in the house and also doesn’t require a large amount of space or room for them. Grooming them is also not that hard because of their short coat.
Any owner would be very happy to bring these loving and adorable pooches into their homes and lives and it will be an overall fun and good time raising them and watching them grow into a distinct looking but highly cute doggy.
Basset Hounds can be divided into different types on the basis of slight differences in their overall appearance, their size et cetera. These types are:
Coming to the colors that the Basset Hounds are available in, they are listed below:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
***** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
**** |
Drooling Potential |
**** |
|
Barking Tendencies |
**** |
Energy Level |
** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
***** |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
***** |
Intelligence |
*** |
|
Child Friendly |
***** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
*** |
|
Grooming Needs |
** |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
**** |
Stranger Friendly |
***** |
|
Trainability |
*** |
Watchdog Ability |
* |
|
Tolerates Heat |
** |
Tolerates Cold |
** |
Any diet consisting of nutritious and high-quality material will be good for the health of this hush puppy. They can be given either the home-cooked meal or the commercially manufactured can food, whichever suits them the best. They should be given food in limited amounts as they are prone to obesity and any sign of it like sudden weight gain should be taken very seriously.
They are not very energetic and agile as some other breeds, but they do also require a decent amount of regular exercise to maintain their body and health. They enjoy small walks in a park with their owners, so a small stroll on a regular basis should prove beneficial for them as well as make them happy and cheerful.
Basset Hounds can sometimes think independently and thus training them can be a bit challenging. They can get easily distracted and may seem a little disinterested while getting trained. So, it is the responsibility of the trainer to make the training process fun and interesting for them. Also, the trainer must be patient and persistent and can employ positive reinforcement techniques while training the Basset Hound.
Basset Hounds do require a fair amount of grooming but because they possess quite a short coat, the overall grooming process is relatively easy. Brushing their coat about twice a week for short periods of time is more than enough to fulfill their grooming requirements. Also, occasional baths and trimming of nails should be done as deemed necessary. They are also, moderate shedders and sheds their coat occasionally. But a few times in a year, they shed their coat profusely and brushing them regularly during that time can prove to be effective in controlling the shedding process.
Basset Hounds possess long and velvety ears and hence the owner should regularly check and look for any signs of an ear infection. Cleaning of ears should be done regularly. Other common health-related problems found in the Basset Hounds are:
If taken care properly and kept healthily, the Basset Hounds require the assistance of a veterinarian quite rarely.
The Basset Hound is believed to be originated in France and was bred for hunting purposes. Their ancestors are considered to be the Bloodhounds which might explain their excellent sense of smell.
They were mainly used for hunting rabbits and their strong and powerful nose helped them track down their preys, and their short legs and low set body helped them to squeeze in under low and shallow places. They received the first half of their name from their appearance and size as Bas means ‘low’ in French and they get the other half from their ancestors, the Bloodhounds.
Their popularity increased when they were kept as pets by Napoleon III. And, after a controlled and careful breeding of the Basset Hounds around the year 1870, they began to be imported to other parts of the world and were instantly adored and admired by everyone.
