Basset Hounds look bummed on the outside, but have a wonderfully clever personality on the inside. They use their adorable, pouty looks to get away with whatever they want and will make you laugh daily with their outrageous sense of humor. Basset Hounds love people and other animals, so be prepared to spend lots of time together.
Basset Hounds love people, but that doesn’t mean they’ll always listen. They are independent thinkers who often like to do things their own way. They are usually quite friendly with other people and animals because they love having company, especially company who drop food! Basset Hounds are motivated by a free people-food meal, which should be kept in mind when training. They also have an alarmingly loud voice, which they will put to good use when feeling lonely.
Although the Basset Hound’s coat is very short, it does require daily brushing. Their hair sheds heavily, and if you want to reduce the amount you find around your house, these daily brushings will help. Some people think the Basset Hound’s oily coat gives off a bad smell, but that can be helped with regular baths.
If you don’t want a dog with an incredibly loud voice howling constantly, the Basset Hound need to be in a situation they can live inside with you. They love people, other dogs, cats, and children alike. Basset Hounds are mostly friendly toward everyone and everything, especially if there is food involved. They also love to play outside and will follow any interesting scents they come across, so a home with a big backyard or a farmhouse is a good bet for a happy Basset Hound.
Basset Hounds like to go on long walks, but their favorite activity is following their nose wherever it may take them. Basset Hounds have an incredibly strong sense of smell, which makes them great competitors in tracking sports. They were born to hunt for as long as you’ll let them, so you generally won’t ever entirely wear them out. 30 minutes to an hour of exercise each day will be enough to keep a Basset Hound happy and healthy.