Why Do Basset Hounds Have Such Long Ears?

The basset’s eaves are remarkably long. But why actually? The odd answer is given quickly: so that he can smell better.

As soon as a crime occurs and the culprit is still on the run, there is one member of the special operations team who is head and shoulders above all other investigators in one thing: the basset hound can sniff like no other! Only the Bloodhound is superior to it in its ability to follow tracks with its nose and track down what you are looking for – whether criminal or rabbit.

What really catches the eye, however, is less the basset’s nose than its ears. They are so remarkably long that the dog has to be careful not to trip over them. Especially if the nose is close to the ground in sniffing mode, this could happen.

The ears as sniffing funnels

By the way, the ears don’t help when hearing. On the contrary: the heavy hanging earpieces tend to prevent the dog from acoustically perceiving its surroundings. But they help Captain Super nose in another thing: smelling!

The shape of the ears is similar to the Bloodhound and the Beagle. It helps the dog sniff in three ways:

1. The long ears hang so low on the dog’s head, especially when sniffing, that the dog hears rather poorly. Distractions from noise simply block the ears. This allows the dog to concentrate fully on the smell.
2. The long eavesdroppers also roam the ground when tracking. In doing so, they whirl up coarse as well as fine particles that can carry odors. This makes it easier for the dog to follow the trail.
3. When the Basset Hound tilts its head down to use the sniffing machine, its ears almost form a funnel around the dog’s face. The smells cannot escape at first, but rather are concentrated. This way the dog can take it in intensively.

So if someone asks why the basset hound has such long ears, the answer is unequivocal: so they can smell better!