The Basset Hound is a small dog that has physical characteristics that can be quickly differentiated when meeting one of them, usually being brown and white in color and with quite large ears, as well as short parts.
Although it is a small dog, it is included within the large breeds due to its high weight, since the weight of the animal can be between 20 and 35 kilograms, and it is highly recommended that it does not exceed that weight so that it does not have problems with weight. Mobility.
They are also dogs that have heavy and thick bones, which makes their growth period slower than in other breeds. In fact, it is estimated that it reaches adulthood in two years, while other breeds do the same in half the time.
Physical Characteristics of the Basset Hound
At first glance there are a series of physical characteristics that are very noticeable and characteristic of Basset Hound dogs, such as the following:
- They have short legs that are arranged to the sides.
- They have large ears that almost reach the ground.
- They have eyes that have an expression that seems to be always sad.
- They have a large mouth with prominent lips that hang to the sides.
- They have short hair attached to the body.
- The face is quite wrinkled and sometimes their eyes may not be visible.
- His barks are quite heavy, loose and relaxed, with a thick voice.
Origins of the Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a dog that has its origins in the 16th century in France, when soldiers resorted to the use of short dogs that had a great sense of smell and that were at an easy pace to follow in order to capture rabbits. That they would use as food.
Later they were crossed with the aim of improving the breed that is present today. Except for the height and shape of their legs, they are dogs similar to the Saint Hubertus dog.
This breed was selected for its sense of smell and sometimes for tracking large, injured prey. In the United States, the Basset Hound quickly evolved from being a hunting dog to becoming a companion dog, which is its main function today.
Basset Hound Temperament and Nature
The Basset Hound is a dog that is characterized by being calm and relaxed, spending much of the day lying down and activating its alert instinct only when it detects that someone is approaching. They generally get along well with children as well as other pets, regardless of breed or class.
It is a very friendly and sociable dog that likes to always be surrounded by people since it does not like loneliness. In addition, it is a breed that likes to dig a lot, so in gardens and fields they tend to drill a lot.
These are dogs that tend to be obese, since they are very gluttonous, which can become a major health problem, since having short legs, they may not be able to support the weight of the body. This can lead to problems with the spine and the extremities themselves.
For this reason, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and in adequate proportions, in addition to trying to exercise the animal with long and calm walks several times a day, walks in which it will also be able to make use of its instinct to explore.
Although they are not classified as guard dogs, they do bark a lot. They quickly warm up to strangers and are friendly.
Character and Intelligence of the Basset Hound
Basset Hounds are dogs that have a character that is characterized by being affable, which means that they can socialize with other animals such as cats and with other breeds of dogs, being familiar and a good option for animal lovers.
They are a breed that likes to be outdoors, so it is important to take them for walks, as this will make them feel free and enjoy themselves more than if they can hardly go out to explore.
Basset Hounds are quite intelligent dogs when it comes to capturing commands when they are trained, being able to quickly accept basic training commands. However, it is not easy to train them due to their placid and calm character, which makes them distracted. For this reason it is important to opt for positive training with incentives.
When it comes to hunting, they are dogs that are not interested in the press itself, and that are mainly dedicated to tracking them.
Caring for a Basset Hound
A Basset Hound needs a series of care that, like other dog breeds, has its particularities, which we are going to explain below:
Feeding
To start caring for a dog properly, it is necessary to always maintain a balanced diet, even more so in the case of the Basset Hound, it is important that it does not gain too much weight. For this reason, you should not exaggerate the amounts of food or the type of food, because if you become obese you will have serious problems and illnesses.
It is important that in this case the food is given in portions several times a day and according to the instructions of the feed manufacturer for that type of dog and age.
Cleaning
As for the cleaning and grooming of the dog, it is a breed in which special attention must be paid to the eyes, ears and nails. These last ones develop them enough and they are hard.
The animal’s fur is short and attached to the skin. Therefore, it should be brushed three or four times a week. This way it will stay smooth and shiny, making it look healthy.
As for the eyes, it is common for them to suffer from infections caused by always tearing. For this, it is important to clean the dirt that is generated around the eyes with a damp cloth at least three times a week. The same happens with the ears, whose interior must be cleaned at the same times.
It is also important to brush their teeth, so that you can prevent your dog from suffering from a tartar problem, which is the main cause of oral diseases that your dog may have.
Bath
By drooling frequently, they can give off an unpleasant odor. For this reason it is very important to bathe the Basset Hound at least once a month. However, the most advisable thing is to do it every 15 days and even weekly. In this way you can always be clean and without having to resort to the use of fragrances for it.
After bathing him, it is important to use a bristle brush that does not harm his skin. It can be left to dry in the open air or with a hair dryer at a moderate temperature.
Veterinary care
The Basset Hound is a dog that, like other breeds, needs basic veterinary care to maintain good health. For this reason, they must be vaccinated and always be aware of deworming them when appropriate.
As we have already mentioned, they are dogs with a tendency to gain weight. For this reason, it is essential that you maintain a good diet so that more serious health problems do not arise.
