Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is one of the most endearing dogs alive, with its long velvet ears, mournful eyes and sad-clown face, and the AKC calls it mild and agreeable at home, steadfastly loyal, and a perennial favorite; VCA calls it a calm, reliable housedog. It is also a stubborn scenthound with a loud, ringing voice, a tendency to gain weight, and a nose that will lead it away from you, so it suits a patient home with a leash and a sense of humor.
Medium, low-slung: up to 15 in tall but 40-65 lb, per AKC; VCA gives 40 to 60 lb
12-13 years (AKC); VCA gives 12 to 15
A daily moderate walk with plenty of sniffing, play, and short reward-based training; the AKC says the breed was developed to work in a pack and enjoys canine company
High: AKC and VCA both rate barking 4 of 5; VCA says Bassets often bark and bay loudly
Apartment or house; VCA says a calm housedog; a fenced yard is a plus because the dog will follow a scent and does not come when called; stairs and jumping are hard on the long back; crate as a den
Short, smooth, dense; sheds more than you expect, weekly brushing; AKC rates shedding 2 of 5, VCA 3 of 5
Low to moderate: AKC rates energy 2 of 5; a daily walk at a moderate pace usually fills the bill
Hound Group
Temperament
The AKC describes the Basset as low-slung and low-key, sometimes stubborn but always charming, mild and agreeable at home, stubborn on the trail, and steadfastly loyal even if not wildly demonstrative. It rates good with young children and good with other dogs both 5 of 5, affection a middle 3, openness to strangers 3 and protective nature 3. VCA calls the Basset an easygoing and amiable companion, friendly to indifferent toward strangers, good with other dogs and pets, and a calm and reliable housedog. Independence is the trait to understand. The AKC says scenthounds of this type were developed to hunt on their own and follow a track without distraction, so a Basset can seem aloof and uninterested in your commands; VCA says it tends to be stubborn and methodical, likes to follow its nose, tends to wander, and does not come when called. None of that is defiance; it is a dog doing the job it was built for, which is why leashes and food rewards matter.
“Mild and agreeable at home, the Basset is stubborn on the trail and barks in a loud, ringing voice.”
American Kennel Club
Daily needs and attention
The AKC says Bassets are not as active as some breeds but need regular, moderate exercise, and that a daily walk at a moderate pace usually fills the bill and helps prevent the dog from becoming overweight; after a walk or play session they typically settle down for a comfortable sleep. VCA says the Basset prefers to walk, sniff and explore rather than run, that backyard games can cover much of its physical needs, and that it does well at dog parks. For a working household this is a workable dog: a sniffy walk in the morning, a chew or food puzzle while you are out, and a longer exploring walk in the evening. The AKC notes the breed was developed to work in a pack and enjoys canine company on outings, so a second dog, a daycare day or a walker with a small group suits a Basset well. What suffers with too little attention is the waistline and the neighbors' patience, since a bored Basset bays. Keep training sessions short and food-based; VCA says the breed does best with reward-based training involving food.
“Usually a daily walk at a moderate pace will fill the bill. Exercise will help to keep the Basset healthy and prevent him from becoming overweight.”
American Kennel Club
Health and lifespan
The AKC gives 12-13 years and VCA 12 to 15. Weight is the everyday health issue: VCA says Bassets have a tendency to become obese and should have calories restricted if they gain, and that puppies should eat a large-breed growth food, which may reduce the incidence or severity of hip dysplasia. Ears are the other daily item; the AKC says the long, droopy ears need frequent checks because poor air circulation leads to infection, and head shaking or scratching means a vet visit. VCA adds that the mouth and wrinkles should be examined, cleaned and dried regularly. The AKC says responsible breeders check for hip and elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, bleeding disorders and luxating patella, and its recommended tests are an ophthalmologist evaluation plus DNA tests for MPS I, thrombopathia, Lafora disease and primary open-angle glaucoma. Merck lists Basset Hounds among breeds most frequently affected by bloat, a life-threatening emergency, with once-daily feeding and eating quickly among the risk factors. For a rescue Basset: a weight plan, an ear routine, an eye pressure check, and twice-weekly tooth brushing as the AKC recommends.
“Bassets have a tendency to become obese.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Habits and behavior
A Basset's habits are a scenthound's habits. VCA says it likes to follow its nose, tends to wander, does not come when called and likes to hunt; the AKC says its scenting ability is uncanny, second only to the Bloodhound. Off leash in an unfenced area, the dog is gone the moment it hits a trail, and VCA says care must be taken because it is not overly obedient about returning. The voice is famous: the AKC describes a loud, ringing bark and VCA says Bassets often bark and bay loudly, so expect to manage vocal greetings and boredom howling, especially in an apartment. Drool is real; the AKC rates it 4 of 5, and the loose lips and wrinkles need wiping. The short coat sheds profusely, per the AKC, and a weekly session with a shedding tool keeps it down. Indoors the dog is calm and, after exercise, asleep. Counter-surfing and food theft are common with a breed this food-motivated and this prone to weight gain, so the kitchen needs rules.
“Likes to follow its nose, tends to wander, and does not come when called.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
A Basset is a calm housedog, per VCA, and its low exercise needs make an apartment workable, with two caveats. First, the voice: a dog that VCA says barks and bays loudly needs neighbors who can tolerate it and an owner who trains quiet and prevents boredom. Second, the body: a long, heavy dog on short legs should not be doing flights of stairs or jumping on and off furniture, so a ground-floor unit or an elevator and a ramp to the couch are sensible. A fenced yard is a real asset because the dog will follow a scent and, in VCA's words, does not come when called; the fence needs to be secure at ground level for a low, determined digger. VCA says the breed does best in moderate climates. A crate works well as a den; Humane World for Animals recommends feeding meals in it and building up time gradually, and says a crate should never be used for punishment. Wherever the dog lives, the AKC's daily walk is the non-negotiable part.
“While crates can be used to manage a behavior, they should never be used for punishment.”
Humane World for Animals
Challenges
Plan for training that takes longer than you expect. The AKC says Bassets are very independent and training can be a challenge, but that a Basset definitely can be trained with time, consistency and persistence, treats, and early socialization; VCA rates ease of training 1 of 5 and recommends food-based reward training. Plan for recall that may never be reliable, which means a leash or fence every time. Plan for noise; a 4-of-5 barker with a hound's bay is a consideration for apartments and close neighbors. Plan for weight, because VCA says the breed tends toward obesity and every extra pound loads a long back and short legs. Plan for ears, eyes and drool as weekly maintenance, and for bloat awareness given Merck's listing of the breed. Plan for the emotional side too: the AKC says Bassets are not wildly demonstrative, and a person who wants a dog that lives to please may be disappointed by one that lives to sniff. For everyone else, these are small prices.
“However, a Basset definitely can be trained — it will just take time, consistency, and persistence.”
American Kennel Club
The fun part
The AKC calls the Basset among the most appealing of all breeds, and it is hard to argue with the large domed head, the extremely long velvety ears, the mournful eyes and the wrinkled brow that together give the look of a sad clown. Everyone on the street wants to say hello, and the Basset, friendly to indifferent per VCA, takes it in stride. At home the dog is easygoing and amiable, a calm and reliable housedog that is content with a walk, a meal and a soft spot; the AKC says after exercise a Basset settles down for a comfortable sleep. The breed can be quite playful, per the AKC, and it is genuinely good company for other dogs, rated 5 of 5. Walks with a Basset are slow, thorough and interesting, because the dog reads the neighborhood with its nose. And the voice, for all the warnings, is glorious. VCA notes the breed's fame runs from a 1928 Time magazine cover to Hush Puppies, Fred Basset and Droopy.
“Makes an easygoing and amiable companion.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
This is one of the easier profiles. The AKC rates the Basset 5 of 5 for good with young children and 5 of 5 with other dogs; VCA says good with children, good with other dogs and pets, and adds that the breed's independence and low energy may sometimes frustrate children who want a dog that plays fetch on demand. VCA's own trait chart gives only 2 of 5 for good with children, which is best read as that same mismatch of energy rather than any risk. Teach kids not to pull the ears or lean on the long back, and supervise as with any dog. Other dogs are a positive: the AKC says the breed was developed to work in a pack and enjoys canine company, and VCA says it does well at dog parks. Cats are usually fine with a Basset raised or fostered with them, though the hunting instinct VCA mentions means a bolting cat may be followed; slow introductions and an escape route for the cat cover it.
What to ask the rescue
Ask the dog's weight and whether the vet considers it lean, since VCA says the breed tends to obesity; ask what it is fed and how much. Ask about ear health, past infections and whether the dog tolerates ear cleaning, and whether the eyes have been checked for glaucoma, which the AKC lists. Ask about the back and legs: any limping, reluctance on stairs, or pain when lifted. Ask about bleeding after any surgery, given the AKC's mention of bleeding disorders. Ask whether the dog has ever bloated. Ask how vocal it is, when it bays, and how it behaves alone, because barking is the most likely complaint from neighbors. Ask about recall and whether it has ever wandered off or escaped a yard. Ask how it did with children, cats and other dogs in foster. Ask what food rewards it works for and what it already knows. And ask whether it is house-trained, since an independent hound may need a refresher in a new home.