Hound group · France
Basset Hound
Also called Basset, Hush Puppy.
What makes them remarkable
“Basset” comes from the French word for low: this scent hound was developed to hunt close to the ground.
- Charming
- Patient
- Low-key
- Stubborn
- Friendly
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 18 to 29 kg40 to 65 lb
- Lives
- 12 to 13 years
- Energy
- Low
- Trains
- Low
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a Basset Hound
Hound breeds. Recall is the whole game. Build it on a long line before you trust it, and never punish a slow return.
Back Protection
Start here
Never let them jump on or off furniture. Use ramps and keep them at a healthy weight to protect their spine.
Food Motivation Works
Bassets are highly food-motivated. Use this to your advantage, but carefully portion treats to prevent obesity.
Short Training Sessions
Their stubborn nature means they bore quickly. Keep sessions under 10 minutes and end on a positive note.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Basset Hound and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to hunt by scent or sight, often far from the handler. Independent, with a nose or eyes that override you.
Gets on with
- ChildrenVery High
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersHigh
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-60 minutes daily. Prefers leisurely walks with ample sniffing time. Not a jogging companion.
- Grooming
- Moderate maintenance. Weekly brushing, regular ear cleaning, and attention to skin folds.
- Drool
- High
- Coat
- Short, Smooth, DenseTricolour, Lemon and White, Red and White, Black and White
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
Severe
Long spine and short legs make them prone to back problems; avoid jumping and stairs
Ear Infections
Moderate
Long ears require frequent cleaning to prevent infections
Obesity
Moderate
Love food and have low activity levels, making weight management crucial
Where they come from
History
Developed in France from the Bloodhound lineage. The name comes from the French word "bas" meaning low. Originally bred for hunting rabbits and hare.
- Flash · The Sheriff of Nottingham's loyal hound
- Fred Basset · Comic strip character known for his dry wit and observations
Similar breeds
All breeds
Bloodhound
Its tracking reputation goes back to hounds bred by monks at the Saint-Hubert monastery in Belgium.
Large · Hound
Black and Tan Coonhound
This American tracker combines ancestry from Foxhounds and Bloodhounds, with a nose put to work after dark.
Large · Hound
Cirneco dell'Etna
This Sicilian rabbit hunter takes its name from Mount Etna, the volcano near its homeland.
Medium · Hound
Dachshund
“Dachshund” means “badger dog”: that long, low body was bred for hunting underground.
Small · Hound