The Basset Hound: The “Hush Puppy” Breed

The Basset Hound is believed to have developed from a “curio” in the 16th century. Apparently, a mutation developed in litters of hunting dogs in France in which the puppies were born with short legs. (The French word “baset” means “low”.) These mutated puppies were bred together and the long-short-bodied Basset Hound was born. The breed was introduced to Britain in the late 19th century and immediately became a court favorite of Queen Alexandra. In 1886 there were more than 100 basset hounds entered at a London dog show. In 1892, Sir Everett Millais, considered one of the major “founding fathers” of the breed in Britain, introduced the Bloodhound into breeding, in part to guard against the inherent dangers that may be present in a small gene pool.

The Baset Hound remained popular in Britain for many years and was regularly used in packs of hounds hunting hare. However, World War I took its toll and dogs became scarce. In 1921 the official Basset Hound Club closed its doors due to lack of membership. The breed nearly died out, but a small group of devotees managed to continue the lines and the Basset Hound club was re-established in 1954. The numbers represented today at the American Kennel Club show that the Baset Hound now enjoys a large popular following in the United States. Much of this popularity is no doubt due to the Basset’s use as a “poster dog” for the “Hush Puppy” shoe advertising campaign.

The Basset Hound is a long, low-to-the-ground breed, heavy-boned and fairly solid in appearance. His chest is deep and wide, almost touching the ground. Its long ears and deep snout resemble in some ways the hound’s head and it is well known to have almost the same olfactory abilities as the hound. It has a short, dense coat that is easily maintained and can be any recognized hound color. His front legs are definitely bowed or crooked and he is quite short, his legs often being less than a third of his total height at the shoulder. You may have a tendency to have back problems and this should be noted. Additionally, this is a breed that will easily become obese if not kept well exercised and fed a proper diet.

The Basset Hound is first and foremost a bloodhound and performs this function very well, as it has a great nasal capacity and long ears that serve to drag the scent towards its nostrils as it moves. Due to his hound instincts, he is not necessarily an easy dog ​​to train, as his sense of smell often distracts him from other activities his owner wants him to do. He is generally placid, but stubbornness is also one of his traits. Like many dogs of the bloodhound persuasion, he has a melodious howling tone when he vocalizes. It is a dog that should be trained early to come when called, as it can easily get carried away and follow its nose wherever it leads.