This breed is a descendant of the Blood Hound, and has an excellent sense of smell. They do like to follow a scent and will sometimes ignore all orders if they have picked up a scent that is of interest to them. For this reason it is best they are kept on a leash when in public areas. Otherwise they are very obedient dogs, totally devoted to their family. They are constant shedders, so be warned if you are very house proud! They need a lot of exercise for mental stimulation, so at least one long walk a day is required. Otherwise they don’t need a huge amount of maintenance as grooming is simple and they do well when living even without an outdoor space.

Appearance

The Basset Hound is a heavy, bulky dog although it is very short. It has a large head with sad looking, soft eyes. It has a deep muzzle and the skin around its lips hangs loose and falls in folds. It has very long, lovely ears that hang towards the ground. They feel very velvety to the touch. It has a deep chest and large paws with full and round hindquarters. The coat is short and shiny and colours vary between black, tan, white, chestnut with sometimes marking of a soft sand colour. Grooming should be done with a bristle brush, and shampoo only on occasion when it is necessary.

Temperament

The Basset Hound is a very gentle, loving dog. It is never aggressive and always absolutely devoted to its owners. It needs to understand its place in the pack, but when it does, there are never any problems or troubles with Basset Hounds. They are not timid dogs, but are naturally peaceful and mild, rarely barking and always wanting affection. They do like to follow scents and will disappear if left of a leash in public, so it is always best to keep them on a lead, but generally speaking they are very obedient and well mannered dogs. They are great with children and enjoy being trained to do tricks.

Working and Tasks

Basset Hounds have an excellent sense of smell, which is a good attribute for a hunting dog. They can be used for hunting fox, hare and pheasant, seeking them out of the undergrowth. They are not very fast dogs so unlikely to scare prey out of reach as other quick and agile dogs can. They are ideal for hunters who are on foot. They can hunt either on their own, or in a pack. They enjoy being trained to do tricks for food, and enjoy the challenge that this brings. A firm but kind training technique is appropriate for these dogs.