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Table of Contents
Slow-paced but keen hunting dogs, Basset hounds are easily recognizable for their sad eyes, short legs, long hanging ears, and large wrinkled foreheads. Howling for centuries, Basset hounds make great companions and get along well with children.
See the fact file below for more information on the Basset Hound or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Basset Hound worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HISTORY
- The term Basset means “low” and in France, bas pertains to a specific level of hound by stature.
- Basset hounds were said to have descended from the sixth-century hounds of St. Hubert of France, the patron saint of hunters, archers, and forest rangers.
- A mutation to the breed caused the Basset Hound’s short legs and long backs. They were bred to hunt small preys, such as rabbits and hares, together with human hunting groups.
- La Venerie, an illustrated book about hunting authored by Jacques du Fouilloux in 1585, first mentioned these hounds.
- Basset Hounds were commonly found with French monarchs, but they became hunting dogs of commoners after the French Revolution.
- In 1874, British painter Sir Everett Millais brought a Basset Hound from France and named it Model. He popularized the breed in England and initiated a breeding program in his own kennel. Because of his efforts, he is considered to be the father of the modern Basset Hound.
- A year later, Millais first displayed a Basset Hound at an English dog show; however, it was in 1880 when the public started to notice the breed because of his large entry in the Wolverhampton show.
- Princess Alexandra of Wales kept these dogs in her royal kennels. In 1882, Basset Hounds were admitted in the Kennel Club in England.
- Two years after, the English Basset Hound Club was established.
- Basset Hounds were first brought in the United States during the early 19th century. In 1885, the American Kennel Club (AKC) started registering them; the first listed Basset is named Bouncer. In 1916, the AKC formally acknowledged the breed.
- In 1928, Time magazine featured a baby Basset Hound on its front cover, marking its growing popularity.
- In the 1960s, Bassets gained more recognition when they appeared in a marketing campaign for Hush Puppy shoes and in the debut of a comic strip Fred Basset, which still runs today.
APPEARANCE
- Similar to the Bloodhounds, Bassets have long and well-peaked wrinkled foreheads with strong and leveled jaws, and small teeth.
- They are famous for their long, low-set ears, and mournful and sleepy eyes.
- They have long and sturdy necks, with well-developed, overhanging chests, reaching about two inches off the ground. Bassets have powerful shoulders, accompanied by their short, crooked legs.
- Their massive paws and front feet that are turned outward to balance the width of their shoulders.
- Their white-tipped tails are long and stand perpendicular to their body, making it easier for hunters to follow them when they go on a hunt.
- A Basset’s short legs are the result of a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
- They have smooth, short, hard-textured coats which are usually tri-color: tan heads and black and white bodies; however, they come in all varieties of white and black-and-tan, red and white (red spots on a white coat), closed red and white (solid red with white feet and tail), and lemon and white. Gray (also called blue) colored bassets are rare and seen as undesirable because they are thought to have genetic problems.
- Because of their bone structure, male Bassets weigh 50 to 65 pounds and stand 12 to 15 inches tall. Females, on the other hand, are approximately 45 to 60 pounds and are 11 to 14 inches in height. Their average lifespan is about 10 to 12 years.
- Similar to all dogs, their coat is naturally oily, a feature that has a
distinctive “hound scent” which is common to the breed.
PERSONALITY AND DIET
- In a nutshell, Bassets are playful, friendly, and stubborn. They most likely get along well with other dogs and other pets since these breeds originally hunted in packs.
- They love to play, but owners should be extra considerate since they have little legs which cannot carry them fast as they run.
- Bassets are calm and rather lazy. They love cuddles and are down for relaxation.
- They are very vocal too – Bassets usually howl (sometimes referred as baying) instead of bark. They have this distinctive murmuring whine that they use when they are bored, hungry, or want attention. They hate it when they are left alone for too long, so they howl when they are lonely.
- Despite their sleepy expression, they are intelligent breeds and they easily learn to influence people using their “helpless” body language and continuous tail wagging.
- Since they are scent hounds, Bassets are independent thinkers who are fond of using their noses and have that strong urge to hunt.
- Owners should always make sure these dogs are safely confined when outside or else they will hunt on their own. They will always follow a scent, even if they get lost.
- Since they are a little stubborn, training them really requires a lot of patience and persistence. Bassets are emotionally sensitive and will just lay down if they are treated roughly.
- They love to eat; they can easily gain weight and become obese if they do not get regular exercise. Bassets have good endurance, making them enjoy long walks.
HEALTH AND CARE
- Bassets can develop health problems, such as glaucoma (eye condition that damages the optic nerve which may cause blindness), thrombopathia (inherited bleeding disorder), von Willebrand’s disease (hereditary blood-clotting disorder), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), patellar luxation (dislocation of the knee cap), elbow dysplasia (abnormalities of the elbow-joint), and combined immunodeficiency, a condition which makes it hard for the dog’s immune system to fight off diseases.
- They are also plagued by skin infections, especially in the paws and skin folds. Their long ears makes them susceptible to chronic ear infections which may cause permanent damage to the ear canal, destroying the breed’s hearing.
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), a spinal problem for Bassets, can affect any part of the dog’s spine, including its neck, which can turn out to be really painful and will require surgery.
- Since they have the tendency to overeat, maintaining a healthy diet can help them avoid obesity, bone and joint injuries, Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (bloat), and paralysis.
- Drooling too much is one of the reasons why Bassets are given up for rescue or are put for adoption. They are also most likely to be a little messy when they drink because of the loose skin around their mouth.
POP CULTURE
- Droopy, together with some Basset hounds, appeared in animated Disney films.
- The Dukes of Hazzard, a tv series, featured a Basset Hound named Flash who served as an accomplice to Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.
- The Great Mouse Detective, a Disney 1986 film, highlighted a Basset called Toby.
- Basset Hounds are used as advertising logos. The shoe brand Hush Puppies featured a Basset and named him Jason. This dog also serves as an ally to the lonely Maytag Mag in their appliance advertisements.
Basset Hound Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Basset Hound across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Basset Hound worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Basset hounds which are easily recognizable for their sad eyes, short legs, long hanging ears, and large wrinkled foreheads. Howling for centuries, Basset hounds make great companions and get along well with children.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Basset Hound Facts
- Droopy, Dopey Dog
- Basset Hound Anatomy
- Hush Puppy Facts
- Growing Up Basset
- Bassets and Beagles
- Basset Hound Mix
- French Dogs
- Owner’s Duties
- Take Me To the Vet
- Toby the Basset Hound
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Link will appear as Basset Hound Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 13, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.