Basset Hounds are friendly, outgoing dogs who enjoy human companionship. They are not particularly demanding when it comes to exercise requirements, but they need regular daily walks. They do not have an excessive amount of energy and do not require much more than a daily walk around the neighborhood to stay healthy and happy. Due to their size, however, care should be taken when taking them for walks so as not to trip over them if they stop suddenly.
History of the Basset Hound
The first mention of this breed was found in 1790 when an official standard was put forth by hunters in France who wanted a dog that could work well in the brambles and underbrush while hunting hare or rabbit. They were also used as tracking dogs during wartime so soldiers could follow wounded soldiers or enemy troops on foot or horseback without being detected by enemy forces.
Basset Hound Appearance
The Bassets have a deep chest and heavy body with low-set long ears which are the hallmark of this breed. They have wide heads with hanging lips and strong muzzles with large teeth. Their eyes are dark brown in color and are covered by long eyelashes.
The hind limbs are shorter than the front limbs, which makes them appear as if they are sitting when standing up or walking. Their coat is short, hard, dense, and coarse to the touch with colors like fawn or black & tan (or brindle). Their ears stand erect when alert but droop when relaxed making them look sad even when they are happy!
Basset Hound Personality
The Basset Hounds are friendly, gentle, affectionate, and obedient dogs. They are lively, playful, and curious but also very laid back and easygoing. They do well with children due to their tolerant nature and enjoy being around people as much as possible.
Bassets are very patient dogs who are not easily provoked into aggression or anger; however, they do like to bark so they can be considered “talkers” by some standards!
They strongly dislike being alone so if you don’t have time for them during the day or if you work long hours then this may not be the best choice for you!
Bassets are also notorious for being difficult to housetrain and many owners give up trying because it takes so long to succeed with this breed – it takes patience!
Basset Hound Training
The Basset Hound is known as an extremely gentle dog that rarely gets aggressive or bites anyone without good reason. This makes it easier for you when training your puppy because it won’t take much effort at all before he’s trained up nicely.
However, although bassets are easy to train, they can also be stubborn sometimes which makes training them even more challenging than it would be with some other breeds of dogs such as Labrador retrievers for example.
Basset Hound Rescue Organizations
If you’re looking for a Basset Hound rescue dog, searching on PetFinder.com is the first place you can look. If you’re searching for a purebred pup, take a look at Puppyspot here. Or, you can check the following organizations:
- ABC Basset Rescue
- Arizona Basset Hound Rescue
- Carolina Basset Hound Rescue
- Golden Gate Basset Rescue
Is the Basset Hound Right for You?
The Basset Hound is a great family dog if you’re looking for a low-key, laid-back canine companion. These hounds are affectionate, gentle, and slow-moving. They’re also quite stubborn and require patience during training. If you’re looking for an active pet that can go on long walks and runs with you, the Basset Hound is not the right breed for you. Bassets are best suited for those who enjoy spending time at home relaxing with their dog.