Is a Basset Hound the Right Dog for You?
Basset Hounds, known for their droopy ears, sad-looking eyes, and long, drooping wrinkles, are a beloved and charming breed of dog known for their friendly and affectionate nature. These hounds have a rich history of hunting and as a companion dog. In this article, we will share 11 interesting facts about Basset Hounds, including their origins, physical characteristics, and unique personality traits. Whether you’re a Basset Hound owner or simply a fan of this adorable breed, these facts will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Basset Hound and its special place in the world of dogs.
The Basset Hound was used in France
during the Middle Ages for tracking and hunting rabbits and hare. The dogs were used by hunters on foot because of their excellent scent discrimination abilities.
The Basset Hound Originated in 6th Century France.
There were many versions of the breed. Some with long legs and some with short. The name Basset hound was derived from the French word for “short” or “low-set”.
It is believed that both the Basset Hound
and the Bloodhound are descendants of the St. Hubert hound. While the St. Hubert hound was more similar in appearance to the Bloodhound, historians believe a genetic deviation produced a dwarf version of the dog that proved invaluable to hunters. Thus, the Basset Hound was born.
In Landmark Research on the Development
of modern dog breeds, the Basset Hound was shown to have similar DNA with a common ancestor of the following breeds:
Bloodhound
Beagle
Otterhound
Basset Hounds do Tend to Drool and Snore
but that is part of their charm. They will eat almost anything including table scraps and leftovers and will “sniff-out” and goodies, weather in the garbage, cabinet or counter.
While the Bloodhound has been
proven to be the king of tracking and scent detection dogs (with 300 million scent receptors) their cousin, the Basset Hound is a close second (220 million scent receptors) followed by the Beagle with slightly less than 220 million receptors.
The AKC Conducts Running Trials
called the FastCat each December in Orlando, FL. In these 100 yard races, the Basset Hound has an average running speed of of a little over 14 mph. The fastest recorded speed was by a dog named Paris of Creekside at 21 mph.
Growing Up Basset Hound
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In the Landmark Book
entitled “The Intelligence of Dogs” by professor Stanley Coren, the Basset Hound was ranked as the 71st out of 130 dog breeds in canine intelligence. Essentially, this means a Basset Hound will learn and obey new commands between 80-100 repetitions. In contrast, the brightest breeds will learn and obey commands in 5 repetitions or fewer!
The CBARQ Research Study
conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, is a large study on the temperament of over 300 dog breeds. In this research, the Basset Hound ranked 117th out of 124 breeds in easiness to train. One reason for this is that that they also rank very high in stubbornness!
In this Same Research
Basset Hound rate very low in aggression towards other dogs, strangers and other small animals. This research would tend to confirm the belief that most Basset Hound are laid back and easy to get along with.
Basset Hound Humor
The Average Lifespan of Basset Hounds
is 10-12 years but owners have reported dogs living up to 18 years! As with any dog breeds, there are certain health conditions that affect the breed:
Lafora Disease
Basset Hound Thrombopathia
Intervertebral disc disease
Take a Fun Basset Hound Quiz!
