Fred Basset.

Bruce

The Basset Hound is a short, relatively heavy dog. They are an old breed, a direct descendant of the Bloodhound and their nose is almost as outstanding! Their name comes from the French word ‘bas’ which means ‘low.’ Some say that the Basset Hound originally came from ‘genetic dwarf dogs’ that were born in different litters of hunting dogs.
Their popularity began when a Basset Hound was first presented in a Paris dog show back in 1863. They were even mentioned by Shakespeare, who described their ears as ‘ears which sweep away the morning dew.’ It didn’t take long for them to become popular in England, then to America where they felt they could be companion dogs, show dogs and hunters. In 1885 they were recognized by the American Kennel Club as dogs that can hunt in pack or alone and were brave enough to hunt in the den or out in the open. Although their reflexes are slow they have a superb sense of smell and were good for hunting fox, hare and pheasant. Because they are slower to move on their feet they were also easier for their hunters to keep up with and were less likely to scare their game out of reach.
It is believed George Washing owned Basset Hounds.

The Basset Hound fits well into a family lifestyle. They are a very sweet, peaceful and devoted dog who is naturally well behaved. They are never vicious or harsh and would only show behavioral issues if they felt they were the pack leader, they require a firm and confident owner who can set rules and stick to them. They are a mild mannered dog but not timid and are great with children and very affectionate with their owner. They can be difficult to house train but with patience and positive reinforcement they can be taught anything. It can be difficult to keep their attention if their nose becomes distracted!
The Basset can easily gain too much weight so do require daily, long walks – this will also help to keep them mentally stimulated. Off leash should only be considered in a safe, secure environment, if their nose picks up a scent they may not even hear you calling them back! If given the chance they will run and play all day long. Their weight needs to be closely monitored so along with good exercise their food should be of good quality and not over fed. Too much weight puts a lot of stress on their spine and legs and they are prone to paralysis, they are better to be kept on the lighter side. Another issue for the breed is Bloat so it’s best to feed them multiple smaller meals during the day instead of one large meal.

Their smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom though their ears should be cleaned regularly as well as having their toe nails clipped.

---