First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘Basset Hound’

Are you pondering the idea of getting a dog that is friendly and loving for your family? Well, I recommend the Basset Hound. This dog ismade famous by it’s droopy face and long ears, as well as short legs which give it a low center of gravity. I have one (Snoopy) that is 7 years old and he is the most loving animal and friendly to all. While I wouldn’t rely too heavily on his abilities as a watch dog (He is more apt to lick the thief to death rather than defend his turf), what he lacks in his ability to defend is quickly made up for with his capacity to love. These dogs are great around people of all ages, including babies. Bassets often get along well with other dogs and animals alike. I would like to dispel one myth about the Basset Hound.

Bassets are anything but lazy. Quite the contrary, as I have found this breed (I have two friends who have Bassets as well) to be very playful and energetic. At the dog park, they may not be able to keep up the pace with sleeker dogs with longer legs, but don’t tell that to a Basset. In his mind he is just as fast and will eventually run down that greyhound in front of him. But because thay have short legs I would highly recommend investing in steps such as pet step dog ramp, so they can easily get to higher objects if need be. One thing I would be careful of with this breed of hound is the sad looking face. I have seen people give in to this look and over feed their hounds. As a result, the dog is very much over-weight, which puts a great deal of strain on the shorter legs. It would be smart to feed a Basset, or any other canine for that matter dog food organic.

The occasional treat or scrap is still ok though (except chocolate of course). The Basset is not a dog that sheds a lot, but he is capable of drooling a bit more than the average dog. This can be lessened with minor, un-invasive surgery. Since Bassets have very long ears, it is imperative that they be kept clean to help ward off infections. Although the Basset Hound can be a bit stubborn at times, it is largly over-exagerrated. In the end, these minor short comings are far outweighed by the love and joy a Basset will bring to your family.

Basset hounds make excellent friends, whether among children or adults. But, as any dog is wont to, bassets are hard-headed, iron-willed, and very frustrating at times. Your best step will then be to put in place some scheme which will put forward your dominance when it comes to food, house training, and the dog’s understanding of when it is allowed to leave the backyard. This basset hound training article will elaborate on how to win the tit-for-tat daily battle against your otherwise very lovable enemy.

Among the many things Basset hounds are capable of doing, it is to go after food they think they are capable of getting! The best solution is to keep your counters food clutter-free, but other basset hound owners have other ways to hurdle the problem. One is to apply a little hot pepper sauce on the edges of your kitchen counter. Once the unwiped sauce dries, you cannot smell the small amount, but the dog’s powerful nose certainly will, and it will get deterred from counter-surfing. This is just among the many ideas you can use to help you in case you need to have food out on the counter. Of course, as always, use what Basset Hound training works in the case of your dog.

Housebreaking can present a challenge to basset hounds. But among the many methods you can rely on is crate training. The idea behind it is that dogs, as den animals, do not want to pee or poo right where they sleep. Through the crate, you get the dog to understand that it needs to hold it until a better time. Bring also your dog outside after it finishes drinking or eating. Instead of being tense and expectant about results, keep in mind that the dog also needs you to be calm and optimistic. So try to focus more on the bonding rather than just on getting results for your effort. Lastly, remember that the idea of a reward sometimes hastens training in a basset hound.

Basset hounds were meant to hunt and track. Their extremely sensitive noses (said to be the second most powerful after bloodhounds) are meant to help them out in these activities. When your dog gets wind of a scent that is interesting enough, it will instantly go off in pursuit of the scent without a whiff of doubt. This is why no basset hound must be let off its leash in open areas. Remember that they are notoriously not responsive to commands to return to your side, and there is no guarantee his nose is telling him its more to just stick close to you. Teaching Basset training with consistency and firmness is the start of good communications with the basset hound.

Some dogs have issues with being territorial, but how do basset hounds fare? This Basset Hound Training article will walk us through just how territorial the dog breed is, how breeding influences things, and if the dog is an able watchdog.

Do Basset Hounds Mark Their Territory?

Dogs which want to assert territorial dominance mark their territory by urinating at visible landmarks. But basset hounds, especially those with Basset Hound training, do not belong to the firebrand varieties. They acclimate well to a home with children and even other pets. They are friendly and very social, since the breed was meant to be pack dogs that rely on a group dynamic. As regards marking, it is more likely to happen in the case of the basset hounds if there is another male in the area which has not yet been neutered.

What Does Breeding Change?

Breeding is a different matter altogether. When breeding, your basset hound may turn unpredictable. Among the most likely to happen is that the dog becomes aggressive. Naturally, it all depends on the personality and dispositions of the individual dog. There is also a chance that the untrained and neglected dog will take up a hundred percent the habit of marking its territory. There may not be much need to fret about the dogs behavior in a less controlled setting, but the dog may prove to be a true nuisance in a tightly controlled environment.

Do Basset Hounds Make Good Watchdogs?

A lot of dogs work on being watchdogs, both officially and unofficially. Visitors are checked and made to undergo a compulsory barrage of barking as if to highlight what is possibly a potential threat. Many even take an offensive stance against intruders. Basset hounds are different though; their lack of aggressiveness makes them less-ideal watchdogs. The best warning that the dog can come up with is a signature low growl. Any would-be dog owner is thus better off with another dog breed if what he or she wants is a reliable and responsible watch dog.

Dogs are known to delineate territory through barks and marks. An exception to this seems to be the Basset hound, which is not given to proving its dominance over its space. The opposite is when they are feeding. Lastly, if people think “watch/guard” when they think of “dog,” then they will think twice when they know about basset hounds. In sum, dogs with Basset training will make good friends!

Dogs have their specific points for either admiration or consternation. Take basset hounds for example, they make wonderful pets but have many things that owners wish would improve or disappear. Below, we will take a more careful look at some of their rather unbecoming traits, and where basset hound training comes in. Talk about literal pet peeves!

Stubborn

Basset hounds have wills that are truly tough to break. The reason for this is their deeply rooted independence that seeks to surmount any sort of Basset Hound training, such as housebreaking. This implies that the valuable process of crate training may take around six long months to get accomplished. You as owner-trainer will need to practice patience and total consistency throughout, in order to get across to the breed. But overcoming the dog’s stubbornness is but only one among the many challenges that this hound can present to you.

Loud

These dogs are loud too. Their barks, although low, can cover an area far and wide, and can actually be a public complaint if not acted upon.

Messy

Basset hounds shed their short hair rather too often and too much. Plenty of the stuff will stick to your furniture, your clothes, and just about the surfaces of everything in your home. While it is not the worst thing in the world (for those not allergic to hair, that is), the cleaning up to remove the shedding is something to think about. But that is already the area of hygienic matters.

Gassy

The breed can be subject to gas pains, which is already the root of a few heady implications. The best way to help the dog is to employ a dietary plan of real meat and other similarly fresh foods; this step is bound to lessen the problem.

Chronic Health Problems

Basset hounds are prone to a number of chronic health problems. Among the likely conditions are certain skin disorders, joint problems, and ear infections (to be expected since they are drop-eared). Causes of the problems are the dogs’ unique body types and poor breeding techniques and plans.

To end, having an overview of the basset hound’s ownership issues really help. In fact, this is applicable to any breed, since the motive is only to know the best and the worst. Bassets in particular are capable of hard-hardheadedness, heavy shedding, loud barking, gassiness, and susceptibility to a variety of health issues. Getting a dog for your home is a real family decision. Be advised that while the breed is very friendly and also talented, they do bring with them a good-sized amount of concerns that need to be addressed promptly by Basset training.

The Wonderful Basset Hound is a Medium/Large dog that weighs anywhere between 45-75 pounds. Their height usually being 11″ to 15″. The Basset Hound is long and low and their height/weight ratio makes their already short legs look even shorter. In fact, the Basset Hounds name comes from the French word “bas” which means low.

Their gentle, loving, patient nature makes them an excellent companion dog for the home while their keen sense of smell and hunting instincts continue to make them excellent hunting companions.

In 1885 the Basset Hound was recognised by the AKC, It’s colouring normally stems from a variety of Hound Dog breeds which is typically white & chestnut or sandy coloured. The fairly dense coat is short, straight, hard and lovely and smooth to the touch. Basset Hound grooming is easy and only requires brushing and shampooing every now and then.

This loving, gentle dog is ideal for family life. They are excellent and patient with small children, even if normal day to day life does not include children. They are affectionate with their family and love to be around them. Other dogs are never a problem for Bassets and neither are pets, although it is usually a good idea to introduce them to other pets in the home because they might chase them due to their hunting instincts.

Basset Hounds love nothing more than lazing around the house just relaxing, which makes them an ideal dog if you live in an apartment. Having said that they do enjoy playing and require regular, exercise and time to run. If you don’t have a garden, then it’s important to make sure they are taken for a walk on a daily basis. It’s usually a simple task to train them, but if they are on the trail of a scent, they will not pay any attention to you. That’s why it is important to have your yard fenced in. They have a tendency to gain weight, so monitoring their food intake and giving them ample exercise is important.

The Basset Hound originated in France and dates back hundreds of years. Their ancestry can be traced back to the Bloodhound. Back in the day they were primarily hunting dogs using their extraordinary sense of smell to track their prey. Nowadays you see them mostly as family pets, but they are quite capable of being the hunter and are still used as such in certain places.

Few breeds equal the Basset Hound’s gentle, forgiving, laid back nature. They are perfect for active families and for those that just enjoy an occasional walk provided their Basset Hound can have daily outside time.

Whether you have small children or other pets or dogs, the Basset Hound can fit into just about any type of family dynamic with little to no adjustment problems.