Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is a short-legged scenthound, built low and close to the ground for tracking game on foot. It stands no taller than about 38 cm at the shoulder, yet the dense, heavy-boned body means an adult often weighs between 18 and 29 kg. The long ears, loose skin and drooping eyes give the breed its famously mournful expression, which sits oddly alongside a calm, friendly disposition.

Among scenthounds the Basset has one of the keenest noses going, second only to the Bloodhound. The long ears and folds of skin are thought to help waft scent up toward the nose while the dog works a trail. Most Bassets today are kept as family companions rather than working hounds, but the instincts bred into them for tracking still show: they follow a scent before they follow an instruction, set their own pace, and are not known for coming back quickly when called.

The breed is patient and tolerant, which suits a busy household with children underfoot. That same independent streak that made it useful in the field can look a lot like stubbornness at home, so training calls for consistency rather than a firm hand.

Who the breed suits

The Basset Hound suits owners after a low-key, affectionate dog who don't mind a slower pace of life. It gets on well with children and other pets, and copes with flat living provided it gets its daily walks. It's a poor match for anyone wanting quick recall off the lead or a running partner, since the short legs, heavy frame and powerful nose keep pulling the dog back to whatever it's smelling on the ground. Owners should also budget for some drooling, shedding, and a deep bark or bay that carries.

The Basset Hound originated in France, where short-legged scenthounds were kept for hunting on foot rather than on horseback. Its name comes from the French bas, meaning low, a straightforward reference to its height. Hunters wanted a slow, deliberate tracker that a person could keep up with through thick cover, and the low-slung build let the dog push through undergrowth while staying on the scent.

References to short-legged hounds in France go back to the sixteenth century, with the type linked to French monasteries and hunting estates. These dogs tracked rabbit, hare and other small game at a pace a hunter on foot could manage.

British breeders took up the Basset Hound in the second half of the nineteenth century, crossing French and British lines and working to fix its appearance and temperament. The breed found favour with sporting and show circles and was exported to the United States around the same period. Registries such as the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) now oversee the breed locally, recognising it for both conformation showing and field work.

Over the twentieth century the Basset Hound settled into life as a companion breed rather than a working hound, helped along by its placid temperament and unmistakable look. It remains a registered scenthound today, and its tracking ability is still put to use in trials and fieldwork.

The Basset Hound is longer than it is tall, with a deep chest, heavy bone and short, sturdy legs. The modest height belies real substance, since the dense body carries plenty of weight. The head is large, with a domed skull, long drooping ears that reach past the tip of the muzzle, and loose skin that wrinkles over the brow. The eyes droop slightly, giving a soft, somewhat sorrowful look. The tail is carried up with a gentle curve.

Coat and colours

The coat is short, smooth and hard enough to shed rain and resist scratches from thick bush, a legacy of its fieldwork days. It lies flat against the body and needs almost no trimming. The classic pattern is the tricolour of black, white and tan, though the breed also comes in black and white, lemon and white, and red and white, with any recognised hound colouring generally accepted. The skin is notably loose and elastic, adding to the folded look around the head, neck and legs.

The Basset Hound is calm, affectionate and easy-going, forming close bonds with its family and showing plenty of patience with children, which makes it a dependable companion around the house. It tends to greet strangers warmly rather than warily, so it makes a poor guard dog in the protective sense, though its deep bark and bay will certainly let you know someone is at the gate.

Bassets generally get along with other dogs, and with cats and other pets when raised alongside them. The breed worked in packs historically, so it is a sociable animal that does not do well left alone for long stretches. A Basset shut away by itself for hours can turn bored or anxious.

The same independence that made the breed a capable tracker turns into stubbornness at home. A Basset following a scent may tune out commands entirely until the trail goes cold, and it can be slow to respond once distracted. Owners tend to describe the breed as laid-back and good-natured but with firm opinions of its own. Patience and a consistent routine get further than pressure ever will.

The Basset Hound is moderate work to keep, though its long ears and skin folds need regular attention to head off infection. The short coat sheds steadily and is easier to manage with a weekly brush.

Grooming

• Brush the coat weekly with a rubber curry brush or hound mitt to lift out loose hair
• Check and clean inside the long ears at least once a week to stop moisture building up and causing infection
• Wipe the folds of skin on the face and neck to keep them dry
• Trim nails every few weeks, since the breed isn't active enough to wear them down naturally
• Wipe drool from the lips and chest as needed
• Bathe occasionally, every four to eight weeks or whenever the dog gets dirty

Exercise

• Give the dog one or two moderate walks a day
• Keep it on the lead or inside a fenced garden, since a good scent will override any recall
• Avoid letting it jump on and off furniture or take stairs at speed, which strains the long back and short legs
• Cut back on strenuous activity in hot weather, since the heavy build overheats quickly

Environment

The Basset Hound settles into flats or houses alike, provided it gets its daily walks and company. The short legs and long back make stairs and jumping on and off furniture risky, so ramps or small steps help protect the spine. The breed copes with a range of South African climates, from Highveld winters to coastal humidity, but struggles in extreme heat. Because Bassets are scent-driven and not built for speed, a secure garden or lead is essential to stop them wandering off after a trail.

A Basset Hound should eat a complete, balanced dog food suited to its life stage and size. The breed puts on weight easily, being both food-motivated and low-energy, and extra kilograms place dangerous strain on the long back and short legs. Measure meals rather than leaving food down all day, and adjust portions to keep a lean, visible waist. Fresh water should be available at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories, and deduct them from the day's meal portions to avoid weight creep. Small, low-calorie treats work best for training. Joint supplements containing glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids may help support the breed's spine and joints, but check with a vet before adding any supplement.

A Basset Hound typically lives 12 to 13 years. It's a hardy breed on the whole, but its distinctive build brings its own set of risks. The long back and heavy body put strain on the spine, the deep chest raises the risk of bloat, and the long ears and skin folds are prone to infection. Dogs that spend time outdoors in South Africa also face the tick-borne biliary (canine babesiosis), so tick control is worth taking seriously alongside these breed-specific risks. Keeping the dog at a healthy weight does more than almost anything else to head off these problems.

Preventive care

• Keep the dog lean with measured meals and regular weigh-ins
• Clean the ears weekly and dry the skin folds to prevent infection
• Limit jumping and stair use to protect the spine
• Feed measured meals and hold off on heavy exercise straight after eating to reduce bloat risk
• Keep vaccinations, parasite prevention and dental care up to date
• Book annual vet check-ups, twice yearly once the dog is a senior

The Basset Hound is intelligent but was bred to work on its own initiative, so it doesn't train as readily as a breed built to watch its handler for cues. It can be stubborn and easily sidetracked by scents, and a heavy-handed correction tends to make it shut down rather than fall in line. Short, upbeat sessions with food rewards work best, since the breed is strongly food-motivated. Recall is a particular sticking point: once a Basset locks onto a scent it may tune out commands altogether, so lead work and a secure garden are essential. Early and ongoing socialisation helps keep the dog confident and friendly.

Basics

1. Start with name recognition and attention using high-value treats
2. Teach sit, down and stay in short five- to ten-minute sessions
3. Build lead manners early, since the breed pulls toward scents
4. Practise recall in a fenced garden before trusting it in open space
5. Crate train to give the dog a calm den and help with house training
6. Socialise with people, dogs and new places throughout puppyhood

Basset Hounds reach sexual maturity between roughly 6 and 12 months, though responsible breeders wait until the dog is physically and mentally mature, usually around 18 to 24 months, before mating. Health screening beforehand matters given the breed's known spine, hip and eye risks, so breeding stock should be cleared for hip and elbow dysplasia and eye conditions.

Gestation runs about 63 days. Litters tend to be moderate to large, commonly 6 to 8 puppies, though numbers vary. Given the breed's heavy build and large heads, whelping should be supervised, with a vet on standby in case intervention is needed.

Newborn puppies are blind, deaf and entirely dependent on their mother for the first few weeks. Eyes open at around two weeks and weaning starts near the four-week mark. Early handling and gentle exposure to sights, sounds and people from a young age build the calm, friendly temperament the breed is known for. Puppies usually move to new homes from eight weeks, once weaned and started on socialisation.

Basset Hound registration and microchips in South Africa

Load your Basset Hound's details once and be done with it: name, date of birth, photo, your cell number, save. The profile is free for his whole life, and it takes a chip number the day the vet supplies one. Dog registration is the start of the paper trail.

A chipped Basset Hound still needs the number loaded into a registry, because the vet's job ends with the implant. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: any brand a local vet uses qualifies, updates stay free when you relocate between provinces, and the record answers the lookups SPCA branches run daily. Create your free account and settle both records today.