The Basset Hound is a low-slung, long-eared French scent hound with one of the most distinctive silhouettes in the dog world.
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The Basset Hound is a low-slung, long-eared French scent hound with one of the most distinctive silhouettes in the dog world. Bred to track rabbit and hare on foot at slow pace, the Basset is short-legged so a person walking behind could keep up. Behind the comically droopy face and ground-sweeping ears is a serious working hound with a nose second only to the Bloodhound and a stubbornness that makes training a multi-year project. The breed is gentle, friendly, and famously laid-back at home — a sort of canine grandfather who has seen it all and would like a snack, please.
The breed descends from older French hounds bred by Benedictine monks at the Abbey of St. Hubert in Ardennes in the 6th-8th centuries — the same lineage that produced the Bloodhound. The short-legged "basset" type (from French bas, meaning "low") was developed for hunters on foot rather than horseback, particularly during the French Revolution when ordinary citizens were permitted to hunt for the first time.
The breed reached England in the mid-1800s and was further developed by British and American breeders. The AKC recognised the Basset in 1885. The breed became broadly familiar to English-speaking households through the long-running Hush Puppies shoe advertising campaign (mascot, the famous "Jason" the Basset).
Long, low, heavy-boned. Adults stand 30–38 cm (12–15 in) and weigh 20–30 kg (45–65 lb). The Basset is heavier than it looks — substantial bone and muscle on a low frame.
Key features:
Friendly, gentle, and stubborn. Bassets are typically excellent with children, sociable with other dogs (they were bred to hunt in packs), and tolerant of cats. They are not natural alarm dogs and rarely guard — but the loud baying voice startles strangers.
The breed is laid-back at home but has more energy in the field than the silhouette suggests. Bassets are scent-driven first and family-driven second; a Basset on a scent is essentially uncontrollable.
Stubbornness is the defining character trait. Bassets do exactly what they want at exactly the pace they choose. Training is possible but slow.
The short coat is easy: weekly brush with a rubber curry, baths every 4–6 weeks. Sheds moderately year-round.
The long ears require careful attention. Trapped moisture and warmth cause infections quickly. Clean weekly with a vet-approved solution and dry thoroughly. Some Bassets need weekly cleaning even with diligent care.
The deep facial wrinkles and the loose lower lip should be wiped 2–3 times weekly. Drooling is significant — keep towels handy.
Clean ears weekly. Trim nails every 3 weeks (heavy nails on a heavy dog). Brush teeth several times weekly.
Modest but real. Adults need 45–60 minutes of daily exercise — walks (no jogging — Basset legs aren't built for it), sniffing time, scent games. Off-leash freedom is unsafe in unfenced areas; the breed will follow a scent for kilometres.
Avoid jumping (on/off furniture, into and out of cars), repeated stairs, and rough play. The long back is vulnerable to disc disease. Use ramps where possible.
The breed swims poorly. Top-heavy, short-legged, and not built for buoyancy.
Average lifespan is 10–12 years.
Common concerns:
Adults typically eat 1½–2½ cups of quality food per day in two meals. The breed gains weight effortlessly — obesity is the Basset's single biggest health risk.
Measure portions; treats counted into daily calories. A lean Basset — ribs felt without seeing them — moves better, breathes better, and avoids back trouble. Many vets recommend feeding 10–20% less than the bag suggests.
Pros
Cons
Not suited for apartment dwellers in noise-sensitive buildings, athletic owners wanting a running partner, or anyone who can't resist feeding treats.
Are Basset Hounds good with kids? Excellent — patient, sturdy, gentle. Supervise to prevent rough handling of the long back.
Do Bassets bark a lot? They bay rather than bark — a loud, musical hound voice. Alarm-bay at strangers; not chronic barkers, but loud when they go.
Why do they have such long ears? The ears were bred long to sweep scent up from the ground toward the nose during tracking. Functional, if comical.
Can Bassets jump on the couch? They shouldn't. Long backs combined with weight create significant disc disease risk. Use ramps for furniture and the car.
How long do they live? 10–12 years on average. Lean weight and good back care push the upper end.