The Basset Hound

If you soften at the sight of big sad eyes, you may not be able to resist buying a Basset Hound puppy. These dogs have eyes that would melt even the hardest heart and a sweet and loving disposition to boot.

They have a keen sense of smell and can track scents nearly as well as its ancestor, the Bloodhound. In reality, this member of the American Kennel Club's hound group is apt to become so obsessed with a scent that he will disregard commands to come or heel.

Breeders developed the dog to be able to track scents in tight areas where the larger scent hounds could not fit.

This dog weighs about sixty pounds and stands between eighteen and twenty inches high. These dogs can come in any AKC recognized hound dog color, although a dog with a white base coat with brown and black patches is most commonplace.

He has long, droopy ears which almost reach the ground when he is standing. His undershot jaw, broad chest, and short legs relate to give him a comical and awkward appearance, but this dog can actually move very gracefully.

They are ideal apartment dogs, as long as neighbors don't mind their mournful vocalizations. These dogs actually don't care to exercise unless they are tracking a scent, but they must be given daily exercise to stay healthy.

To keep your dog in shape, you will have to walk with him, even if you have a fenced yard.

The Basset Hound and People

If you are looking for a pet who does well with children or other pets, then this dog is a wonderful choice. These dogs adore people and will do anything to be with them. More than one have endured the indignity of dressing up in frilly gowns just so he can spend time with the children he loves.

Although they are loving and devoted pets, they do have a stubborn streak. Some people mistake this stubbornness for an intelligence problem and think that their dog isn't clever enough to learn obedience. However, if you look closely at your dog as he is disobeying, you may just catch a mischievous twinkle in his big, sad eyes.

Your Basset Hound is more apt to obey commands that mean he is spending time with you than commands that don't interest him, such as the stay command. Since these dogs are a bit difficult to train, you may want to consider taking your puppy to obedience classes to get professional training help.

They love to eat. Since this chow hound behavior and their disinterest in exercise is a bad combination, you will need to keep a close eye on your dog's food consumption. If he does become overweight, ask your veterinarian to suggest a food that will help him slim down.

Basset Hound Health

Ear infections are one of the main health problems with this breed. Other commonplace health problems are spinal related injuries and eye diseases.

Grooming

The breed requires little grooming. Brush through his hair once a week to remove dirt and loose hair. You may also need to check his ears to be sure he doesn't develop any problems, since the air may not circulate well in such droopy ears.

If you want a dog whose sole purpose is to please his owners, then a Basset Hound is for you.

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