Pampered Dog Blog

With his long ears, stout build and droopy sad eyes, the Basset Hound is easy to distinguish from other dogs. Early records indicate that the breed descended from the St. Hubert hounds of the Ardennes. These dogs were brought to Britain by the invading Normans in 1066, and were later crossed with other hounds to increase their size.

The name, Basset comes from “bas”, the French word for low.

The Basset is one of the sweetest of all dogs. They are extremely loving with a real enjoyment of human company. They get on well with everyone, are even tempered and affectionate towards children and have no problem with other dogs, or even cats for that matter.

In fact, they are so agreeable that it is easy to forget that this is a hunting dog, and a very good one at that. These days though, Bassets are seldom seen as working dogs, and are more commonly family pets.

Caring for a Basset Hound could not be easier. They have a short and smooth coat, which means that they have minimal grooming needs. A brush down once or twice a week is all that is required to remove dead hair and keep the coat in tip top condition.

You should also take care to keep those long ears clean because they are a trap for fungus, bacteria and other debris. All it takes is a wipe down with a wet cloth once or twice a week to keep them healthy.

You’ll also want to trim the dog’s nails, particularly if he is not very active and they don’t get much wear. Be careful to avoid the quick as you clip the nails. Many dog owners are squeamish about this, and if you are one of them, you can ask your vet or dog groomer to do it.

As with all hounds, Bassets can be difficult to train. It’s not that they lack intelligence, but rather that they’ve been bred to think for themselves, and this can make them appear stubborn at times. The key is to be consistent and use positive reward based training. Bassets are sensitive souls and are easily hurt by harsh words and treatment.

Lots of patience will be required of you, because Bassets are easily distracted and always likely to trot off if they pick up an interesting scent. But persistent application will succeed in the end. Food treats are very important when training a Basset, because they love to eat. Pick the dog’s favorite treats as a reward, and it will definitely help.

Unfortunately, their love of food can translate to a number of obesity related diseases. A common concern with overweight Basset Hounds is vertebral problems, as the extra weight puts strain on the spine. Other health concerns include foreleg lameness, entropion, gastric torsion, and cysts on the paws. They may also be prone to osteochondrosis.

Bassets can be somewhat lethargic, but you must ensure that they get daily exercise to keep them in shape.If you’re looking for an affectionate, sweet-natured dog that is just a joy to be around, look no further than the Basset.

If you’re looking for a name for your Basset, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of cute dog names.