In the French language, the word Bas means dwarf, hence the name Basset. These dogs were used during the French revolution for slow paced hunting. there is a much clearer picture of the history of the Basset Hound, after the Revolution.
This is the time that the Basset Hound became a more common hunting companion. This dog was perfect for hunting that required great skill for scenting prey, and he was still slow enough to be followed by the hunters with their guns. It's small dwarf sized body made it the perfect hunter for this type of hunting.
Eventually, there were four various breeds of these short legged dogs bred. The basset Artesian Normand is the one that mostly resembles today's most popular basset Hound. They were crossbred during the 1800's and the 1930's with Bloodhounds, to increase their size. They first came to the United States and England in the late 1800's.
Basset Hound's Personality
If you want a relaxed and laid back breed of dog, then the Basset hound is perfect for you, as it is the most relaxed dog of all breeds. They are You will find that the Bassett Hound is one of the most laid-back and relaxed dog breeds alive. They are extremely friendly with almost every person or animal they come around. It is one of the best dogs for children and even acts friendly around strange dogs. It may be friendly and very affectionate, but it is still a vigilant watchdog too.
Caring For Your Basset Hound
Your Basset hound will need normal everyday exercise, but not a whole lot of it. Just take him for 1 to 2 walks around your neighborhood or in the dog park. It is still good for the Basset Hound to receive extra game time and playtime when you can do it. During the daytime, they need to be outside in a safe fenced in area, but hey need to remain inside at night time, with the rest of your family. These dogs need a normal bath time each week, and very minimal grooming, but remember that they will drool a lot.
Basset Hound Health
On average, the Basset Hounds live to the ages of 9 to 12 years of age, and even longer when they are in really good health. They do have some main health problems they are prone to. These are vWD, CHD, ectropion, gastric torsion, OCD, thrombopathy, elbow dysphasia, and otitis externa. Their minor health problem consist of patellar luxation and obesity. Be careful not to overfeed them so they will stay healthy and live a much longer and fuller life.
