Norman Artesien Basset

Often seen of fawn with black and white or just fawn and white.

Smooth, short-haired, single coat.

Dark brown

A small, dwarfed dog with a long body and short legs. The head is noticeably domed and the muzzle broad and of a medium length. The eyes are large and expressive and the ears large and very long, hanging close to the cheeks and shaped in a ‘corkscrew’ manner. The tail of the active dog is carried out and upwards.

An affectionate dog despite its hunting heritage, the well-adjusted Basset Artésien is not quick to anger.

An active dog that likes to play and interact; this dog is brave enough to withstand reasonably rough play.

A stable and confident dog, the Basset Artésien is not easily upset or made nervous.

The Basset Artésien is reasonably intelligent but is prized more for companionship than cerebral prowess.

It was originally bred to hunt small game and its prey instinct is still piqued by the scents of rabbits, squirrels and foxes.

He is not aggressive in nature, and even less fearful, but he knows how to distinguish a "normal" situation from a potentially dangerous situation.

Basset Artésiens were bred to work as a pack in order to bag game. They are not overly independent and rely heavily on positive feedback and praise from their owner.

This dog will tolerate a short period of solitude.

To train the Basset Artésien requires the owner to deliver consistent and confident training. This is a dog that is easily distracted and quick to boredom.

This dog has a tendency to bark to excess.

The Basset Artésien is hard to recall. It may not hear your command if it is focussed on a particularly interesting scent.

The Artésien can be destructive if left on its own for long periods of time.

To own an active dog does not preclude someone from administering a strict dog food diet. Basset Artésiens need two meals a day of high-quality dog food.

This dog is not as vigilant a watchdog as some.

The Basset Artésien is a suitable first dog. The inexperienced dog owner should take their time to learn about the breed and its foibles. This dog does not respond well to harsh criticism.

A well-fenced garden is an excellent provision for this dog. The Basset Artésien is content to live in a flat if it is regularly exercised.

The Basset Artésien needs a reasonable amount of exercise every day.

Once trained, a Basset Artésien is comfortable with travel. To house the dog in a crate is sensible; make sure the dog is properly crate trained first.

The Basset Artésien is tolerant of other animals, especially those with which it has been brought up.

Generally speaking, the Basset Artésien gets on with other dogs.

On the whole this breed is good with children, and it is tolerant of boisterous play.

The Basset Artésien is not a great dog for people of senior years.

The Artésien sheds a lot and its hairs are hard to remove from upholstery and clothing.

14 to 16 years

This is an active and courageous dog that likes nothing better than a day of outdoor exploration.

The Basset Artésien is not especially tolerant of hot temperatures and is prone to heat stroke. Special care must be taken of the Basset Artésien during the summer months.

The Basset Artésien is very tolerant of cold temperatures.

The Basset Artésien is more prone to weight gain than most. If your dog is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will quickly become obese.

• Intervertebral Disc Disease
• Hip Dysplasia
• Entropion/Ectropion
• Skin Problems
• Ear Infections

French Bassets diverged at some point shortly after 1870. The two types then most commonplace were the Basset Artésien Normand and the Basset d'Artois. Both of these dogs continued to be bred to assist hunters. Due to its short stature the Basset Artésien was able to follow small game through burrows.