The Wonderful Basset Hound - A Family Favourite

July 18th, 2009 at 8:51am

The Wonderful Basset Hound is a Medium/Large dog that weighs anywhere between 45-75 pounds. Their height usually being 11″ to 15″. The Basset Hound is long and low and because of their build this makes their already short legs look even shorter. In fact, the Basset Hounds name comes from the French word “bas” which means low.

They are without doubt one of the most loving, patient and gentle dogs you could hope for which is one of the reasons they fit so well into family life. Coupled with their keen sense of smell and hunting instints you will also find them great hunting companions.

Recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885, the usual colors for the Basset Hound are a variety of hound colors, but they are typically white with chestnut or sand colored markings. The fairly dense coat is short, straight, hard and smooth. Basset Hound grooming is easy and only requires brushing and shampooing every now and then.

This loving, gentle dog is perfect for family life. They are excellent and patient with small children, even if normal day to day life does not include children. They are affectionate with their family and love to be around them. They are great with other dogs and pets as well, although it is usually a good idea to introduce them to other pets in the home because they might chase them due to their hunting instincts.

They are easy going and fairly inactive when they are inside, making them great for apartment life as they enjoy relaxing and laying around inside. Having said that they do enjoy playing and require regular, exercise and time to run. If you don’t have a yard, you should plan to at least take them on a daily walk. They are fairly easy to train, but if they are on the trail of a scent, they will not pay any attention to you. That’s why it is important to have your yard fenced in. They have a tendency to gain weight, so monitoring their food intake and giving them ample exercise is important.

The Basset Hound originated in France and dates back hundreds of years. Their ancestry can be traced back to the Bloodhound. Originally used as hunting dogs, the Basset Hound uses its excellent sense of smell to track animals. Nowadays you see them mostly as family pets, but they are quite capable of being the hunter and are still used as such in certain places.

You would be hard pushed to find many dog breeds to match a Basset Hound for it’s gentleness and laid back attitude. They are the ideal dog for busy family life and for those that just enjoy an occasional walk provided their Basset Hound can have daily outside time.

Whether you have small children or other pets or dogs, the Basset Hound can fit into just about any type of family dynamic with little to no adjustment problems.