Basset Hound
#15
Wamiz's Top Breed

The Basset is a hound endowed with an incredible sense of smell, which he puts to good use on collective hunting expeditions by his master’s side. Very sociable, he can cohabitate with other animals and actually needs to feel surrounded to be fully content. A short-legged dog, he is none the less active, very enduring, and leaves nothing to be desired compared to his fellow hound-type dogs.
Key facts about the Basset Hound
Origins and history
He hails from the ‘Basset artésien normand’ (Norman Artesian Basset) which was imported from France to England mid last century, before being crossbred with the Bloodhound- this gave birth to specimens similar to the current breed, but smaller. The last stage in the breed’s development was carried out by the Americans, who took the breed ‘under their wing’ and fashioned a companion dog out of the former hunting dog. After a certain period during which the United States claimed ‘paternity’ over the Basset Hound breed, its official birthplace was (rightfully) reassigned to England by dog experts in 1987, and adopted the British official standards only.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the Basset Hound
Adult size
Female : Between 13 and 15 in
Male : Between 13 and 15 in
Weight
Female : Between 55 and 66 lb
Male : Between 55 and 66 lb
Coat colour
The Basset Hound is often tricolored (black, white and tan) but can also be bicolored (lemon and white). Any Hound colour is accepted.
Type of coat
The coat is short.
The coat is smooth and close-lying. It should be neither long, soft nor fringed.
Eye colour
The eyes are dark but can go up to a lighter brown in individuals with a lighter coat colour.
Description
The Basset Hound is a truly unique dog: he has short legs which nevertheless have the sturdiest bone structure (in relation to body size) of all the breeds. The frame is sticky and elongated. The head is long but proportionately built, the stop is moderately pronounced. The muzzle is deep and heavy, the lips are pendant. The eyes are very soft and ‘sad-looking’, which renders his gaze irresistibly endearing. The tail, always jovially wagging about, is what truly reflects his character, as he is in fact very cheerful.
Good to know
Nowadays, he is predominantly a companion dog, and is much more widespread in the United States than in Europe, where there is a false perception that flat-dwelling dogs should be small. In reality, the Basset Hound (who is by no means small despite his short legs) is much more calm, still and easy to live with in a flat than most ‘toy’ breeds.