Dog breed

Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is a low, heavy scent hound with long ears, a mournful expression and one of the best noses in the dog world. Bred to track hares through dense cover, at home it is a gentle, sociable and somewhat stubborn companion. The breed does, however, face serious health challenges linked to its build.

FCI Group VI · Scent hounds · standard no. 163

Weight: 18–29 kg
Height: 33–38 cm
Lifespan: 12–13 years
Origin: United Kingdom

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Photo: Bonnie van den Born, http://www.bonfoto.nl, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Basset is a good-natured, easygoing dog that rarely shows aggression. It likes people and usually gets along great with children and other dogs; the AKC rates its attitude toward both at the top of the scale. At the same time it has the nature of an independent tracker: once it catches a scent, it can completely ignore your calls and follow its nose for miles. Training therefore takes a lot of patience and food as motivation; a Basset negotiates rather than obeys. At home it can be lazy and happily sleeps through most of the day, but that does not mean it does not need exercise. It has a deep, booming voice, which it uses to bay when it is bored or left alone. It is not a guardian in the classic sense, though it will bark at visitors.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Basset Hound for?

The Basset Hound suits a calm family with children or another dog that enjoys unhurried walks, accepts stubbornness and drool, and is ready to look after the ears and eyes regularly. It can live in an apartment if there are not many stairs. Do not choose it if you want an obedient dog that runs off leash, live next to neighbors who are sensitive to howling, or want a jogging partner.

Pros

very gentle and sociable
great with children and other dogs
calm indoors
short coat

Challenges

stubborn and hard to train
howling and loud baying
health problems caused by its build
drooling and ear care

Size and looks

Size and looks: Basset Hound
Height at the withers	males 33–38 cm, females 33–38 cm
Weight	males 18–29 kg, females 18–29 kg
Lifespan	12–13 years
Coat	short
Colors	tricolor (black, white and tan), lemon and white, other hound colors
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Classification	Group VI: Scent hounds and related breeds
Also known as	Basset

Care and exercise

45–60minof exercise a day

3/5grooming needs

2/5shedding

A Basset is usually fine with an hour of walking a day, but those walks should be at a relaxed pace with time to sniff. Letting it off leash is risky, because once it picks up a trail it will not come back; a long line is safer. Because of its long back and short legs, avoid jumping down from heights and frequent running up and down stairs. Grooming is simple as far as the short coat goes, a brush once a week is enough, but demanding when it comes to the ears, skin folds and eyes. The long ears dip into the food bowl and drag on the ground, so they need regular cleaning and drying. Wipe the folds on the face and neck, and check the eyes for redness. Bassets love food and gain weight easily, and extra weight is especially harmful to the spine and elbows.

How much should the Basset Hound eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Basset Hound usually lives 12–13 years; in a British study the median was 12.5 years. The UK Kennel Club places it in the highest category, Category 3, of its Breed Watch scheme, among breeds whose exaggerated conformation can cause health problems. The standard warns against excess skin on the legs and exaggeration in build. The US breed club lists glaucoma, thrombopathy and von Willebrand disease (clotting disorders), hypothyroidism, luxating patella, and elbow and hip dysplasia. The Kennel Club recommends DNA tests for Lafora disease, a progressive myoclonic epilepsy, and for primary glaucoma, as well as elbow X-rays. Choose a puppy from moderately built parents with eyes free of folds and straight front legs.

primary glaucoma (POAG)A rise in pressure inside the eye that causes pain and loss of vision; a DNA test is available.
thrombopathy and von Willebrand diseaseInherited blood-clotting disorders listed by the breed club.
Lafora diseaseA progressive myoclonic epilepsy in older dogs; the Kennel Club recommends a DNA test.
elbow and hip dysplasiaA heavy body on short legs strains the joints; elbow X-rays are recommended.
hypothyroidism and luxating patellaThe US breed club lists them among the problems seen in the breed.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

eye exam with gonioscopy (ECVO)
POAG DNA test
Lafora disease DNA test
thrombopathy DNA test
elbow X-rays (ED)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The FCI standard says that bassets were reportedly bred in the Middle Ages by French monks to hunt with their noses to the ground in thick undergrowth. The Basset Hound is closely related to the whole family of French bassets, but it was developed into its present form in Britain, which is why Britain is its official country of origin. The breed was created to hunt hares: a Basset pursues them persistently and slowly but over huge distances, which let hunters keep up on foot. In time its distinctive outline, with short legs, long ears and loose skin, made it a popular family dog and an advertising mascot.

Fun facts

The UK Kennel Club places Basset Hounds in Category 3, the highest category of its Breed Watch scheme.
The FCI standard names Britain as the breed's country of origin, even though its ancestors came from France.
The Basset Hound stands only 33–38 cm at the shoulder but can weigh as much as about 29 kg.
The AKC gives Bassets its highest rating for getting along with children and other dogs.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Basset Hound weigh?

The FCI standard only gives height at the shoulder: 33–38 cm. According to the AKC, an adult Basset weighs 40–65 pounds, about 18–29 kg. With such a low height, every extra kilogram puts a heavy load on the spine and elbows.

How long do Basset Hounds live?

Usually 12–13 years. The AKC gives this range, and in a large British study the median was 12.5 years. A lean body, protecting the spine and regular eye checks help a Basset stay fit for a long time.

Do Basset Hounds bark a lot?

The Basset has a deep, booming voice and likes to use it, baying out of boredom, loneliness or on a trail. The AKC rates its barking 4 on a five-point scale. Left alone for long in an apartment building, it can bother the neighbors.

Do Basset Hounds shed?

Yes, but moderately. The short coat sheds year-round, and a weekly once-over with a rubber grooming mitt is usually enough. The long ears and skin folds take more work, as they need regular cleaning.