Where the Basset Hound came from
The Basset Hound comes from France. The word basset means low, and these low hounds were bred to follow scent on foot. A French hunting book from the 1500s by Jacques du Fouilloux describes basset type dogs.
French bassets were brought to England in the 1800s, and Everett Millais, called the father of the modern Basset Hound, imported a hound named Model from France in 1874. Hunters who followed on foot liked a slow dog they could keep up with.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1885. Today Bassets are mostly family companions.
- 1500s A French hunting book by Jacques du Fouilloux describes basset type dogs
- 1874 Everett Millais imports the hound Model from France to England
- 1885 AKC recognizes the Basset Hound
The job a Basset Hound was bred for
The dogs followed rabbit and hare scent slowly, with a nose close to the ground. At home that shows up as a nose that will not quit, a loud voice and a slow, steady pace.
Sports that fit a Basset Hound
- Scent work. Their best skill
- Tracking. Natural trackers
- Rally. Food motivated
- Trick dog. Low impact fun
Training tips for a Basset Hound
- Use food rewards, since the nose leads.
- Keep training short and upbeat.
- Practice recall on a long line.
- Keep them lean, using treats sparingly.
Body and health
Long back and short legs, so avoid stairs, jumping and hard exercise. Long ears need cleaning, and weight gain is a risk.
Fun fact. The long ears are thought to help stir up scent from the ground.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Basset Hound is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.