Fun Basset Hound Facts For Kids

Are you a dog lover who is interested in learning about various dog breeds? You are going to love learning about Basset Hound.

A Basset Hound was originally bred for the purpose of hunting. Today, they are among the top popular dog breeds. They are found in countless houses and make great family dogs.

Bassets are quite compatible with children and other pets. They are quite affectionate towards their human companions and do not show signs of aggression. However, one problem is that they can be stubborn at times, and potty training them can be a bit tricky.

A few treats, along with a lot of patience, will do the trick. They are pretty lazy dogs and feel calm when resting on a couch, but they can also participate in dog sports if they are trained correctly.

It is important to get your Basset puppy from a reputable breeder. A Basset puppy may cost somewhere between $450-$1,400. You can also adopt a Basset from shelters. Keep on reading to know more about this dog breed. To learn about more interesting animals, check out the Pocket Pitbull and Chow Lab mix.

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Basset Hound Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Basset Hound?

The Basset Hound is a purebred dog that was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. It is a member of the hound breed group.

What class of animal does Basset Hound belong to?

The Basset Hound belongs to the Mammalia class of the Animalia kingdom. Like every other dog in this world, this breed is a member of the family Canidae and genus Canis.

How many Basset Hounds are there in the world?

Basset Hounds are domestic dogs found in innumerable houses and farms all over the world. Sadly, these dogs are often abandoned by their owners and hence are found in rescue shelters.

Being domestic dogs, they are bred in captivity. It is challenging to keep track of this dog's population due to all these reasons. So, the exact number of Basset Hounds living in this world is unknown.

Where does a Basset Hound live?

The Basset Hound originally originates from France. However, today they are found all over the world living with their human companions in their home.

What is Basset Hound's habitat?

Basset Hounds were originally bred for being hunting dogs. They are not extremely energetic but need proper exercise.

Bassets can lead an apartment life, but it would be easier for them to adjust with a small attached yard. Bassets can get lazy and enjoy cozy and warm houses, but they need sufficient space to exercise regularly. They can withstand almost all types of weather.

However, extreme cold or extremely hot climates can cause them distress. It is essential to keep an eye on their behavior when the temperature becomes extremely hot or cold.

Who does a Basset Hound live with?

Bassets are adored pets and live in the company of their human companions. Basset puppies are often found living with their breeder before they are sold off.

The breeder takes care of the newborn and the mother. A considerable number of Bassets are abandoned by their owners or breeders every year.

This dog breed cannot do very well on its own and needs emotional and health support constantly. So the abandoned Bassets are taken up by rescuers, and in that case, they live in shelters or homes of their rescuer.

How long does a Basset Hound live?

The average lifespan of Bassets ranges from 10-12 years. Like most other dog breeds, these dogs are prone to certain serious health problems.

Bassets can suffer from health conditions like infections, bone, and joint injuries, arthritis, obesity, and more. Ear problems and yeast infections are other common health conditions faced by these dogs. However, these issues can be kept under control with regular grooming and treatment.

The cause of death of most Basset Hounds is rather severe health problems like cancer or cardiac arrest. Many Basset Hounds lose their life to old age.

How do they reproduce?

Like most domestic dog breeds, Basset Hounds are bred in captivity under the supervision of the breeder or the owner. It is crucial to get both the male and the female dogs checked by a veterinarian.

A female Basset suffering from any genetic health issues should not be bred. A female Basset can go into heat within six to nine months of age, but it is wise not to breed a dog in its first heat cycle.

The male and female dog should be compatible and should not vary much in height or weight. The ideal place to breed Bassets is a quiet, undisturbed room.

After being in the same room, the dogs investigate each other properly by sniffing.

In her Estrus period (heat period), a female dog is receptive and allows the male to mate. However, it is essential for the breeder to make sure that both dogs are not unresponsive.

In such cases, the dogs should be separated, or they can get seriously injured. Dogs should not be bred very frequently as it takes a toll on their health.

After a gestation period of about 60-64 days, six to eight Basset puppies are born. The puppies and the mother should be taken care of properly. A responsible breeder follows up with the veterinarian and gets every puppy checked.

What is their conservation status?

Basset Hounds are considered to be one of the most popular dog breeds and are found in innumerable households worldwide. They are bred actively by the breeder, and the population keeps on rising.

Basset Hounds are Not Listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN Red List. So, it can be assumed that there is no immediate threat to their population.

Basset Hound Fun Facts

What does a Basset Hound look like?

This dog breed is noticed to have a bicolor or tricolor. It has a thick, smooth coat of various colors. The most common colors found for this breed are white and tan or black, tan, and white.

The shades of white and tan vary as well. It has loose skin that gives the dog wrinkles. The loose skin on its face makes it look sad all the time.

This hound has long ears and a curved tail. It is known for having short legs. The reason behind these legs is dwarfism.

How cute are they?

Basset Hounds are incredibly graceful and pretty. Its legs make them look quite cute. The long ears and curvy tail adds to its beauty.

If you are a dog lover, you won't be able to stop yourself from petting this breed. Its adorable eyes are enough to melt your heart. According to many dog owners, the unique sad look on a Basset's face makes it look more attractive.

How do they communicate?

Like every other dog in this world, Basset communicates through vocalization and physical gestures. They wag their tails when they are happy or see food. To show affection, they will lick your face or cuddle with you for hours.

Bassets can occasionally show teeth when they are hungry or while hunting. Bassets rely on their sense of scent more than their ears. They have developed a great sense of smell and use this ability to the fullest.

How big is a Basset Hound?

Bassets are fairly small-sized dogs. In fact, the word basset originates from the French word 'bas,' meaning 'low.' Here, low refers to 'low to the ground' or 'dwarf.' The reason behind their short height is their short legs.

Males tend to be slightly taller than females. The males grow up to a height of 12–15 in (30–38 cm), while the females have a height of 11–14 in (28–36 cm). Compared to other hounds, greyhounds are almost twice the size of Basset Hounds, and Dachshunds are slightly shorter.

How fast can a Basset Hound run?

These dogs have quite a few specialties, but running is not one of them. Their heavyweight and tiny legs do not allow them to be very fast runners.

In fact, they are one of the slowest dogs in the world, with an average speed of 5-10 mph (8-16 kph). A Basset would rather want to sleep comfortably on a couch than run. The faster dog breeds are the greyhound and Saluki.

How much does a Basset Hound weigh?

Even though Basset Hounds are a rather small-sized dog breed, they weigh a lot. They have a thick coat and heavy bones that add to their weight.

Males are heavier than female Bassets. The weight of males ranges from 55–75 lb (25–34 kg), and the females weigh somewhere between 45–65 lb (20–29 kg). An adult dog of this breed would be very heavy to pick up.

However, the adult Basset is unaware of this and wants to sit on your lap like a puppy. Bassets can get overweight pretty easily if they are not kept under training and proper diet.

What are the male and female names of the species?

A male Basset is a stud or a dog, and a female Basset is called a bitch. A group of Basset Hounds is known as a pack.

What would you call a baby Basset Hound?

A baby Basset Hound is called a puppy. People often affectionately refer to them as a pup.

What do they eat?

A Basset Hound dog is pretty greedy when it comes to food. It might stare at you with puppy eyes while you eat or constantly ask for food.

They become the happiest when they see or smell food. A Basset Hound dog can very easily get overweight and suffer from obesity. So, it is vital to keep them under a strict diet and not give in to their adorable puppy eyes.

One and a half to two cups of good quality dog food is enough for them. This should be fed to them throughout the day. The calorie intake in their food should be kept in check as well.

Many pet parents tend to appreciate their dogs with treats while training, but too many treats can be harmful to them. It is wise to get a proper diet plan from a veterinarian.

Are they dangerous?

Bassets were initially bred to be hunting dogs. They were used for hunting hares, rabbits, and other small animals. In some countries, they are still used for the same reason.

Even after being a hunting dog, Basset Hounds are not dangerous. Basset Hounds are incredibly affectionate dogs with a laid-back attitude. They love cuddling with their human companions or sleep peacefully on a comfortable couch.

They are not harmful dogs and show no sign of aggression. Sometimes, they can show you teeth or bark continuously to show distress, but they mean no harm.

Their temperament can be pretty easily trusted. A pet Basset Hound can be left alone with children or other pets without a worry. If your pet Basset suddenly shows signs of aggression or starts misbehaving, make sure to get in touch with your veterinarian.

Would they make a good pet?

Basset Hounds are immensely popular pet dogs. According to the data from the American Kennel Club, Basset Hounds rank 39 out of 197 dog breeds in popularity.

As they were bred to be good hunting dogs, previously, they were found mostly in farms. Even though some populations of this breed still live on farms, they are widely found in apartments and houses.

They are affectionate, soft, and gentle dogs. Basset Hounds can adjust well with children, and they do not seem to mind having other pets around. They would make the perfect cuddling partner and would never let you feel lonely.

However, they can be quite stubborn and lazy. Even though it might be fun to comfortably cuddle with your dog all day, you should not let it get overweight.

Training a Basset Hound properly is extremely important. If your dog is too stubborn and you are not a professional trainer, you can hire someone to train the dog.

They also suffer from health issues and should be taken care of properly. Before getting your own Basset Hound, you should remember that they are pretty high maintenance. They need regular grooming.

A Basset Hound dog breed needs constant support to survive. It would be best if you do not leave this dog breed on its own for a long time.

They might suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a long period of time. This is another point to remember before getting your own Basset.

Are they slobbery?

This dog breed is a heavy drooler. The Basset Hounds dog breed has thick hanging lips that make them drool more than other dog breeds. They generally drool all day but tend to drool more after eating or drinking.

Bassets also drool a lot while training. So if you are a Basset Hound pet parent, you should be ready with tissues or a cloth to clean their drool frequently throughout the day.

It is a part of their grooming process. However, if you notice that your dog is drooling more than usual, immediately contact the veterinarian. Drooling more than normal can be signs of dental illness or extreme stress.

Did you know...

Apart from the American Kennel Club, the Basset Hound is recognized by many other popular kennel clubs. This breed is extremely popular in the country of the United States of America. In 1935, the United States organized a kennel club called the Basset Hound Club Of America.

Basset Hounds are blessed with great smelling abilities. They can catch any interesting scent and trail a scent quite accurately. They have the second-best trailing ability among dogs, with Bloodhound dogs being the first.

Dogs with erect ears can easily allow air to circulate inside them. Since Basset Hounds have large pendulous ears, air circulation is difficult. So, their ears should be manually cleaned frequently, or they may face infections.

This breed of dog doesn't mind being in the water, but its short legs make it difficult for the dog to maintain balance inside water.

How much exercise does a Basset Hound need?

The Basset Hound is one of the dog breeds that has a low energy level. An ideal day for this dog would be sleeping on a couch all day or cuddling with its human companions.

However, they can get overweight pretty easily, which is not something a pet parent wants. They should be kept under proper training.

Between 30-60 minutes of exercise is all an adult dog of this breed needs in a day. This one hour of exercise can be broken down into a walk and games. Basset Hounds can be stubborn at times and would not want to exercise.

You can hire a professional trainer to train them, if necessary. Basset Hounds who take part in dog sports would need a bit more training and exercise.

Where does the Basset Hound originate from?

Bassets are believed to be descendants of the St Hubert. St Hubert is a sixth-century hound dog from Belgium. However, these short-legged, long ears and thick mouth dog breed was first bred in France as hunting dogs. They are known to have a great sense of smell and were originally used for hunting small animals like hare and rabbits.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Pitbull Chihuahua mix facts and Cheagle facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Basset Hound Dog coloring pages.