Mary Allen
The most famous description of the Basset Hound comes from Shakespeare, who described it as “a midsummer night’s dream”. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity and exercise needs, training, and care of the Basset Hound dog breed in the profile.
At the sight of a basset hound, many people only ask what really hangs most deeply on the dog: the eyelids, the ears, or its affluent belly. As a basset lover, you can easily put up with the stupid grin of these ignoramuses: This dog may not be a classic beauty, but its character is a dream and ultimately it is the inner values that count.
General Appearance
The fur is short and smooth, bi- or tri-colored. Typical characteristics of the breed are short legs and particularly long ears. Height: 33 to 38 cm, weight: 25 to 28 kg.
Behavior and temperament
The Basset is a good-natured dog that gets along with people and animals alike. Basset owners say the dog has a great sense of humor. In any case, he is a great buddy for big and small and has a very big heart.
Need for employment and physical activity
The basset loves long, leisurely walks with plenty of opportunities to sniff around. Due to his physical condition, he is not suitable as a sports companion dog.
Upbringing
If you expect total submission and unconditional obedience, you should stay away from a basset hound. He’s too smart and stubborn to be made into a puppet. You can forget drill, but polite requests and high-calorie arguments are gladly accepted.
Maintenance
The fur is easy to care for, but the extremely long ears and sensitive eyes require special attention.
Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases
He tends to gain weight quickly and can also get back problems due to his physique. So he shouldn’t have to climb stairs. Eye problems are also common, as are ear infections.
Did you know?
The best-known description of the Basset Hound comes from Shakespeare, who described it as a “midsummer night’s dream” and immortalized it in a poem.