Choosing a Basset Hound Puppy

You’ve decided to get a puppy, but you aren’t sure what kind you want. After reading this, you may decide on choosing a basset hound puppy. In the United States, there are few dog breeds as well known and recognizable as the basset hound. They are cute and adorable as puppies, and remain that way throughout their adult life. They can be loving but headstrong. The sad looking face will easily tug at your heartstrings. Bassets are normally calm and do not get irritated. In fact, they will pout when they get in trouble. Aside from their cuteness, though, basset hounds are very proficient hunters, and have been used for centuries because of their acute smell and ability to track. Only the bloodhound is superior to the basset hound for their hunting abilities.

The ancestors of basset hounds are most likely the St. Hubert hounds, originating in France. Those hounds were used by friars to hunt badger, and by careful breeding, they developed the basset hound we see today. The breed stayed in France until the 1800’s, and it was finally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885.

Your average basset hound is a short dog, standing at approximately 1 foot, 2 inches high, and weighs about 50 pounds or so. They have very long ears which tend to add to their cuteness. Bassets can come in a variety of colors, but a mix of brown, white, and black hair is standard.

Because of their calm nature, bassets are very good with children. They may look like they are almost lethargic, but they actually have a great deal of energy, which allows them to play with children easily.

Due to their calm, placid nature, the one thing that bassets are not good at is acting as guard dogs. Their bark is piercing and does tend to scare off potential intruders; however, they would not actually attack or in any way injure someone.

Hunting runs naturally in the basset hound’s bloodline. The calm nature and natural discipline makes them easy to train. However, sometimes their natural hunting instincts may take over, causing them to do poorly with obedience at times. They are used to hunt and flush out a wide variety of small prey, including badgers, squirrels, foxes (probably what they are best known for), opossums, raccoons, and pheasants.

There are certain things you should keep in mind when choosing a basset hound, though. Although extremely close quarters is not good for them, they should not be allowed to roam. This is because their hunting instincts might kick in; causing them to forget what’s going on around them and get hurt chasing prey. However, it is best that they have a large space in which to run, play, and release their natural energy. Relatively small enclosures tend to be ineffective, because the basset will dig underneath the fencing and escape easily.

So, if you are trying to choose a puppy, you may find a basset hound to be a very good choice, considering their natural abilities and good disposition.