A Hound for All Families

Are you thinking about getting a dog that is friendly and loving for your family? Well, I suggest the Basset Hound. This dog ismade famous by it’s droopy face and long ears, as well as short legs which give it a low center of gravity. I have one (Snoopy) that is 7 years old and he is the most loving animal and friendly to all. While I wouldn’t rely too heavily on his abilities as a watch dog (He is more apt to lick the thief to death rather than defend his turf), what he lacks in his ability to defend is quickly made up for with his capacity to love. These dogs are docile and loving around people of all ages, including children. They also get along well with other animals. I would like to dispel one myth about the Basset Hound.

Despite what you may have heard, Bassets are anything but lazy. I have two friends with Bassets, and despite what others say, I have found this breed to be full of energy and quite playful. At the dog park, they may not be able to keep up the pace with sleeker dogs with longer legs, but don’t tell that to a Basset. In his mind he is just as fast and will eventually run down that greyhound in front of him. But because thay have short legs I would highly recommend investing in steps such as small dog steps, so they can easily get to higher objects if need be. One thing I would be careful of with this breed of hound is the sad looking face. Many people give in to the Bassets “sad” face, but overfeeding a Basset can be detrimental. As a result, the dog is very much over-weight, which puts a great deal of strain on the shorter legs. It would be smart to feed a Basset, or any other canine for that matter nutritious dog food.

The occasional treat or scrap is still ok though (except chocolate of course). The Basset is not a dog that sheds a lot, but he is capable of drooling a bit more than the average dog. This can be lessened with minor, un-invasive surgery. Since Bassets have very long ears, it is imperative that they be kept clean to help ward off infections. The Basset can be a little stubborn at times, but this too is largely over blown. In the end, these minor short comings are far outweighed by the love and joy a Basset will bring to your family.