notes on the basset hound
This is the official version, but anyone who has ever been owned by a Basset
will know only too well what it is being a basset!
The Basset
Hound is sweet, gentle, devoted, peaceful and naturally well-behaved. They
fit into family life well. Their temperament should always be friendly with
never an indication of sharpness or viciousness. They are mild but not timid;
very affectionate with its master and friendly with children. It is incapable
of biting, but it may be a bit stubborn. They like to do tricks for food.
It has a deep musical bark. Housebreaking is difficult, but they do well with
gentle patient training and positive reinforcement. With proper training,
they are obedient, but when they pick up an interesting smell, it's sometimes
hard to get their attention. The name Basset Hound comes from the French word
"bas" meaning low. Some sources suggest the Basset Hound may have originated
from genetic dwarf dogs presented in litters of other types of French hunting
hounds, however, we do know that it is a rather old breed, descended directly
from the Bloodhound. Shakespeare described the Basset Hound with the following
poetic image: "Ears which sweep away the morning due."
According to research, the true fame of the Basset Hound began in 1863, when
it was presented at the Paris Dog Show. Its popularity spread to England where
a lively dispute arose between two factions of breeders: Those who wanted
to keep the Basset Hound a hunting dog, andÊthose who wanted to transform
it into a companion dog. Situated between these two factions were the American
breeders who proceeded to develop an extremely pleasing companion dog without
sacrificing any of the qualities of the hunter. The breed was recognized by
the American Kennel Club in 1885. Its natural bent is for hunting both in
the den and in the open. It is therefore, used for the hunting of fox, hare,
possum, and pheasant. Bassetts can hunt in packs or alone. It has an excellent
sense of smell, but its reflexes are a bit slow. Their slow pace is convenient
for hunters on foot and keeps game from being scared out of reach. The Basset's
nose is almost as outstanding as the Bloodhound's. George Washington may have
owned Basset Hounds given to him by Lafayette after the American Revolution.
Portrait
of a Basset Hound |
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bassets and other dog breeds -
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