Everything about basset hounds

The basset hound is an original breed, unlike any other. Squat and at the same time very aristocratic, with a sad look, but an incredibly lively character, these dogs are full of contradictions, secrets and features. Today you will learn all about the origin, character and habits of such dogs. And also be able to understand whether basset hound is suitable for you as a new family member.

To begin, pay attention to the name of the breed. It stands for literally, without secrets and references to legends, and sounds like a “low hound.” Agree, a very accurate description. Expert opinions on the origin of divergence but if you take into account the linguistic aspect, most likely, the dog appeared in France. This theory is considered one of the most reliable and, one can say, basic. According to the chronicles, which were found on the territory of this state, and date back to the years 50-60 of the XIX century, very similar dogs became part of the hunt and rut.

Why, in spite of their French origin, are they often associated with England, calling them real aristocrats and subjects of the United Kingdom? The fact is that until the 60s these dogs did not have a wide range of distribution, perhaps the breed would have remained in the shadows, if not for the two graphs - Lakute and Lahn.

They were engaged in breeding, and both managed to bring new breeds, which already in the 70s came to England, where local livestock breeders paid attention to them, and by crossing they bred the breed in the form in which it is known to us at the moment. Basset Hound was officially recognized by the Basset Club English community in 1883, and from that moment on, dogs became part of the club.

Let's start with the color range, which is actually much more diverse than we used to think. There are several types of suits.

• Tricolor. The classic color of black, white, brown or red spots, mixed like paint on the artist's palette. This is the most common variety.
• Two-color. Red spots on a white background or vice versa. Quite frequent color, although less popular than the tricolor.
• Auburn, fawn. With a dense coating, without spots and blotches of other shades. Such dogs are rare, however, the color belongs to a separate category.

Basset - not too large dogs. Their normal growth is in the range of 33-38 cm. Of course, the differences in the smaller side will be in females, and the males have larger parameters. As for weight, the normal range is from 23 to 30 kg, respectively. Other dogs have similar proportions and the ratio of weight and height is called a special term - achondroplasia (dwarfism), but in this breed it is the absolute norm and standard.

• Skull. The head of the four-legged is round and rather large. The forehead is high, smoothly passes into the back of the head. Characterized by pronounced orbit and high cheekbones.External features include a large amount of skin in the muzzle area, which is why dogs have numerous folds. The owners are recommended to care for the folds of pets (not only on the head). Basses are, of course, not Shar Pei, but dirt and sweat can accumulate in bends, which can cause problems. Timely cleaning solves difficulties in 100% of cases.
• Teeth and bite. Big maw with even teeth, bite normal, also called scissor bite. Bite can form up to 1.5 years. While the dog can still be called a puppy, small deviations can be normalized. Otherwise, the teeth will need to pay attention: to choose the right diet and be observed at the vet.
• Nose. The outer color is either black or brown, depending on the pitch. As for the organ, but the sense of smell, it is incredibly sharp. Basset's hunting scent can easily compete with the smell of trained snoops.
• Eyes. Most often the iris is colored brown. Light shades are considered defective.
• Ears. Sit down low and dangle. They can be called assistant scent, no matter how strange it may sound. The fact is that the ears "lift" the smells from the ground to the nose of the animal. In part, this is the secret of such a keen sense of smell basset.
• Body. These pets are stocky, squat, body elongated. The back is wide, flat, massive. Thorax lowered, has a rounded shape. The neck and belly of a quadruped is shrouded in numerous skin folds.
• Paws. Short, but quite powerful. The front legs in normal development of the dog should not be in contact with each other, can be slightly deployed. The hind limbs are also massive and not too high, but, unlike the fore limbs, they are directed exclusively forward. The paws also have excess skin, which form shallow folds.
• Tail. A characteristic feature of the tail of the basset is considered to be a white spot on the tip, thanks to which the dog becomes easily identified even at long distances or in bushy areas. This is important for hunters.
• Wool. Thick, with a good undercoat, which is enough even for a walk without insulation in winter. But since the dog is low, it is still often dressed in protective overalls. Do not forget that this is a hunting breed, and such a dog on the street will certainly be masked. Basset is not confused by a dirty puddle or a dusty pit. If he gets a chance, he will use it to the maximum, and you will have to comb and clean the wool, so it is better to clothe the pet in light protection.

Many future owners are “bought” by the appearance of this breed, believing that it will be a very stolid and calm dog, however, the basset has a very stubborn character. Of course, along with perseverance there are a number of very pleasant features, for example, incredible loyalty and affectionate, good-natured nature.

Another feature that owners should know in advance is the loud voice of these dogs. Despite their small stature, the bassettes have a very sonorous, rolling barking. It is this feature that forces many owners to engage in the training and education of puppies from a very early age.

Since the dogs were originally created for collective hunting, now they are great for living in the family. They will easily find a common language with all households, and not only with two-legs. Friendship between other dogs or even cats is not uncommon. Careful to be the owners of rabbits and small rodents (chinchillas, hamsters, rats).

Under natural conditions, these small animals are the subject of basset hunting, so it is strongly not recommended to impose friendship.For children Bassett are excellent. They are very careful, attentive and careful in their presence. If the children are older, the dogs will gladly join the game at the first invitation.

Many owners support the idea that bassets are true aristocrats, not only externally but also internally. A well-bred dog will behave beautifully in public. Thanks to this feature, the breed became an exhibition.

You will learn more about upbringing in more detail later, but right away it’s worth noting that basset training is not an easy task. The dog is stubborn, capricious, so most of the time the training is entrusted to professionals, especially if you want to learn something other than basic commands.

Unfortunately, this breed does not apply to long-livers. On average, these dogs live from 10 to 12 years. Of course, there are exceptions.

Life expectancy depends on three basic factors:

• genetic susceptibility to diseases, heredity;
• conditions of detention;
• diet

On the second and third paragraph a little later, but on the hereditary factors and related diseases talk now. In general, dogs have a fairly good health and good immunity, but there are a number of the most common diseases for which there is a higher predisposition.

• First of all, these are diseases associated with the eyes. Glaucoma is not uncommon, because of the unusual structure of the eyes.
• Propensity to allergic reactions. Because bassets often sniff out everything on the ground, they may develop an allergy to pollen and certain types of plants. A good host should carefully track this moment.
• External otitis. This disease is due to the unusual, pendant structure of the ear. To avoid such problems, it is recommended to wipe your ears with a special solution that will help you choose a veterinarian.
• Fungus. This problem occurs in many dogs. It is not so difficult to prevent it; it is enough to simply treat the paws with specialized wax, but this should be done before each walk. This will help keep pads and nails healthy.
• Panostitis (periodic lameness). The problem is more characteristic of puppies of this breed. During normal development, such difficulties should disappear by two years, when the dog finally becomes mature, but if the symptoms have not disappeared, it is worthwhile to consult a doctor, since surgical intervention is possible.
• Inversion of the stomach. This disease pursues not only this breed, it is typical for all dogs with a broad chest. It does not matter how old your pet is, the problem may arise at any time. Characteristic signs are: nausea, reduced mobility to a minimum, and refusal to eat. If you notice this behavior for your pet, urgently seek qualified veterinary care.

In addition to information about diseases, it is important to know in advance the list of vaccinations that will help to avoid many problems, including serious diseases. It is recommended that basset hounds be vaccinated against distemper, rabies, coronavirus, trichophytosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus enteritis and infectious hepatitis. This is optional, but recommended.

It is believed that individuals who have turned 7, reach the point beyond which the dog begins old age. Like humans, pets lose their shape with age. They have poor eyesight and hearing, they begin to move worse.

In addition to all the above factors affecting the state and health of the pet, there is another equally important fact - the fact of castration or sterilization. It is believed that such an operation reduces the risk of some causes of early animal mortality. It also affects the level of aggression, which is significantly reduced.Despite the fact that the operation helps to avoid the occurrence of testicular cancer, however, the risk of prostate cancer and urinary tract increases.

Of course, it’s good if you have the opportunity to learn more about the kennel and the parents of the puppies. It is better to meet in person, to see how dogs behave in familiar surroundings and when meeting new people. If you come to the breeder, pay attention to the following points.

• Puppy conditions. Space should be enough. The room must be bright, the mode of day and night must be respected.
• Carefully inspect the nursing mother. The dog must be healthy, clean, well-groomed, moderately active. Light thinness is not a dangerous symptom, since it is permissible during the feeding period.
• Puppy behavior. Puppies must be active, inquisitive, with a good appetite. Try not to be fascinated by their vivacity and carefully examine the eyes, nose, ears and paws. If possible, palpate the stomach. It should be soft, without tangible bumps or lumps.
• Stigma. If the pedigree of the dog is important to you, be sure to check the correspondence of the number in the groin or ear to what is indicated in the documents.
• And the last item - Inspect the parents themselves documents. Breeders who are not trying to deceive you will be happy to show you all the rewards and tell you about the pedigree. If the answers are nervous and unintelligible, be on your guard and be alert.

Speaking of dogs with pedigree, show pets, it is worth mentioning the amounts that are considered normal for the acquisition of a puppy of this breed. In our country, the price may lie in the range of 25-60 thousand rubles. Of course, show class will cost you more, some make a premium for an unusual color, but in general, prices rarely go beyond that.

If you buy a puppy without a claim to the exhibition, the price can be any, even the lowest, especially if you take the dog from friends.

Surely you already realized that this is a very specific, special breed that will require appropriate care. There are several basic aspects that a bona fide owner should always pay attention to.

Let's start with the features of the structure. Due to the fact that this breed has short legs, when walking the wool is dirty faster and stronger than other breeds. In this regard, it is recommended to have walking overalls for rainy weather and their warmed options for winter. Remember it is not recommended to wash your pet even with special shampoos and oils more often than once every 3 weeks (speaking of show dogs) and no more than 1 time in a couple of months if your pet does not belong to the show class.

Continuing the theme of an unusual structure, pay attention to the spine. This place is considered quite vulnerable and prone to injury, so in everyday life, especially during walks, it is important to ensure that the dog does not make high jumps, try to avoid long descents and be wary of stairs.

Another outstanding detail is the ears. They need to be cleaned once every 3-4 days. For the procedure, use a soft cotton ball, disc, napkin or lint-free cloth. It is better to buy a solution that can wipe the ears after consulting with a veterinarian, and only certified products will have to be used.

Surely you will notice that the eyes of the basset will often "cry." This is the norm, you can remove the selection with the help of the same wadded soft tampon and cooled chamomile decoction. The latter can be purchased at any pharmacy. More pets can have copious salivation.

Shedding is another feature of this breed.. In general, the dog sheds twice a year, the process falls in the fall and spring. At this time, the procedure is required combing. It should be frequent. It will be necessary to comb pet. In winter and summer, the intensity can be reduced to a couple of times a week. But in general, you should make it a rule. The average amount of time spent on combing is 10 minutes. To this procedure, you can add another regular action - trimming or filing claws.

The owners often choose the answers to this question for themselves. Someone prefers to be more natural, close to the human diet, others prefer professional balanced feed. The main criterion is the well-being of your dog and the balance between the supply of nutrients and the correct load.

City hounds differ from dogs living in private homes in that their activity is reduced to a minimum. Even daily walking in the morning and evening does not always help to maintain vitality at the right level. Reduced activity leads to overweight and, in order to reduce it and keep it within normal limits, you will have to follow a diet.

If you decide to feed the dog with dry food, then a competent diet can be prepared by a veterinarian or a professional breeder. Any doctor will also tell you that you cannot save on dog nutrition. You will need to buy premium or super premium feed, economical options will not work here. If you are for natural feeding, in this case, your pet should receive the following products: low-fat cottage cheese, quail eggs, lean meats, mostly poultry, and, of course, enough water to maintain water-salt balance.

Besides, the dog must be given ryazhenka or kefir, yoghurts, vegetables and fruits, cereals. Fatty and fried foods, all kinds of smoked meats and salty foods are not allowed to feed the dog. The same applies to the small tubular bones that claimed the lives of many quadrupeds. To replace the bones, you can contact the pet store, where they will sell you all sorts of delicacies and bone analogs that are absolutely safe for your pet's health.

Regular walks in the fresh air are very important. Twice a day the dog must be on the street. It’s great if you have the opportunity to take your pet out of town at least once a week so that he can frolic in the wild. If this is not possible, try to vary the walks and increase the distance with a bicycle, jogging, skateboard or scooter. In this case, you should not be too persistent, you can alternate walks with games, it is not necessary to drive a pet for long distances every time, sometimes you can just play.

As for caring for a dog, it is worth saying that bassets are a breed that loves attention and positively relates to various cosmetic procedures. To make your pet pleasant and to embellish it, you can contact special salons, and you can deal with this issue yourself. Let's see what is needed in the second case.

• Special brush-mitten with a small rounded bristles.
• A groomer, with which you can remove wool.
• Special shampoo, conditioner and nourishing oils. Before buying it is better to consult with breeders or a veterinarian.
• A towel that can absorb moisture well so that the animal can quickly wipe dry almost completely.

All these tools should be used consistently. In the network you will find many training videos on how to properly care for such dogs as combing wool, removing excess, applying cleaning products (they can vary for different parts of the body and for different shades of wool).

Of course, training should start from puppy age. Concessions and deviations from clear rules are completely excluded. Education must be strict, but at the same time do not forget to express your love for the pet. In the eyes of the dog you must be a leader, unquestioning authority. Have patience and goodies, and encourage each right step.

Basset is very social, and do not like to be alone. Try to avoid such moments, at least until the puppy is older. To teach the dog to your absence at home is worth gradually. Start at short intervals and gradually increase the gap to the desired number of hours.

The first command that your dog needs to learn is “near” or “to me”. Due to their nature, hunting breed dogs can easily be carried away by smells, sounds, game, or any object of interest to them. In order not to lose sight of the dog, you need to call on it in time, even if you are walking it on a leash. Experienced dog breeders recommend that you teach the dog to this team using your favorite toys or treats.

The team should be pleasant for the pet, he should want to get back to you, this will help create a positive association in the subconscious, and in the future will allow to avoid problems with obedience.

The second important team that must be in your arsenal is “the place”. Teaching this trick, it is better to indicate to the pet exactly where the place is located. Show a couch, rug or chair, which in its own way is assigned to the pet. A puppy must understand where he can be and which zones are prohibited. If you skip this command, perhaps pampering. The dog will freely feel on the sofa, bed, on the tables and other surfaces in the zone of his reach. In order to avoid a mess, engage in teams from an early age.

The last command from the category of basic and important - "you can." It will help you to avoid incidents with food, especially if you are walking in the city, where a lot of undesirable, but tasty food can be scattered on the streets. So that the dog does not pick up from the ground, you need to start teaching the puppy at home. Put a bowl of food in front of your pet. Then gently hold the animal on the leash and do not let us eat without a command.

But do not become a sadist in this workout. Learning should not go through excessive suffering.. Give the command and release the puppy. After a while, he will get used to this order, and will wait for your team on his own before eating something.

Consider a few recommendations that will be useful to the newly-fledged dog owner of a similar breed.

• All basset owners emphasize the importance of starting their dressings on time. If you miss a moment, the dog may become completely immune to your commands. Even if you devote a lot of time and energy to training, the basset still reserves the right to its own opinion.Often, the owners say that the mood of the dog changes from the extreme “any commands here and now” to “I can't hear anything, I can't see anything”. This feature needs to be understood and accepted.
• Dogs have excellent intelligence and a healthy amount of cunning. Do not allow your pet to manipulate you. Be a leader for your four-legged friend.
• Once again we recall the healthy and almost indefatigable appetite of basset. The dog will be treated without knowing the measure while you feed it. And even when you stop, sad, full of sadness and drama eyes will eat you, praying about the additive. Don't be fooled by this acting game. Problems with obesity can result in serious health difficulties in general. The nutrition of this dog must be followed according to strict schedule, without taking any steps to the side.
• Once a month, treat the dog with a tick remedy. Just drop a few drops on the withers and calmly go for a walk. This is especially true in March and April, or before frosts in November, when insect activity increases.

There are practically no negative reviews about bassets. They love this breed for its beautiful character, ability to find a common language with other pets living at home, the absence of bad habits. Living in apartments, the basset-hounds do not spoil the furniture, they easily and quickly get used to the daily routine and know when the time for a walk comes, and when it is necessary to expect a meal. The only point that some owners say is related with stubbornness, but these are always episodes, not the main line of conduct.

Summing up, it is worth saying that Basset is suitable for family people. It is better if you are not a lonely host, because the breed is very lonely. Of course, if you have the opportunity to often be close to the pet, the restrictions disappear.

For information on whether to start a basset hound breed, see the next video.