Description

The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. The Basset is a scent hound that was originally bred for the purpose of hunting hare. Their sense of smell and ability to ground-scent is second only to that of the Bloodhound. Basset Hounds are one of 6 recognised basset-type breeds in France. The name Basset is derived from the French word bas, meaning "low", with the attenuating suffix -et, together meaning "rather low". Basset Hounds are usually bicolours or tricolours of standard hound colouration.

 

Appearance

Bassets are large, short, solid and long, with curved sabre tails held high over their long backs. An adult dog weighs between 20 and 35 kilograms (44 and 77 lb). This breed, relative to size, is heavier-boned than any other.

This breed, like its ancestor the Bloodhound, has a hanging skin structure, which causes the face to occasionally look sad; this, for many people, adds to the breed's charm. The dewlap, seen as the loose, elastic skin around the neck, and the trailing ears which along with the Bloodhound are the longest of any breed, help trap the scent of what they are tracking. Its neck is wider than its head. This, combined with the loose skin around its face and neck means that flat collars can easily be pulled off. The previous FCI standard described the characteristic skin of the Basset, which resembles its ancestor the Bloodhound as "loose". This wording has since been updated to "supple and elastic". The looseness of the skin results in the Basset's characteristic facial wrinkles. They drool a lot due to their loose flews.

The Basset's skull is characterised by its large dolichocephalic nose, which is second only to the Bloodhound in scenting ability and number of olfactory receptor cells.

The Basset's short legs are due to a form of dwarfism (see: Health). Their short stature can be deceiving; Bassets are surprisingly long and can reach things on table tops that other dogs of similar heights cannot. Because Bassets are so heavy and have such short legs, they are not able to hold themselves above water for very long when swimming, and should always be closely supervised in the water.

 

Coat

The short-haired coat of a Basset is long, smooth and soft, and sheds constantly. Any hound coloration is acceptable, but this varies from country to country. They are usually Black, Tan and White tricolors or Tan and White bicolors. Tan can vary from reddish-brown and Red to Lemon. Lemon and White is less common color. Some Bassets are also classified as gray or blue - this colour is considered rare and undesirable.

The source of colour is the E Locus (MC1R), which has four alleles: EM, EG, E, and e. The EM, E and e alleles are present in the Basset Hounds. The E allele allows for the production of both red and black pigments, so is present with the majority of colour patterns in Basset Hounds.

Red and Lemon colours are caused by the e allele of MC1R. The e allele is recessive, so red and lemon dogs are homozygous e/e. Lemon dogs are lighter in colour than Reds, but the genetic mechanism that dilutes phaeomelanin in this instance is unknown. No black hairs will be present on either Red or Lemon dogs. If there are any black hairs, the dog is officially a tricolour.

The EM allele produces a black mask on the face that may extend up around the eyes and onto the ears. This pattern is most easily seen on Mahogany dogs, although any Basset colour pattern may express the EM allele, except for "red and white" or "lemon and white" due to e/e.

Many Bassets have a clearly defined white blaze and a white tip to their tail, intended to aid hunters in finding their dogs when tracking through underbrush.

Like all dogs, the Basset Hound's coat is naturally oily. The oil in their coat has a distinctive "hound scent", which is natural to the breed.

 

Temperament

The Basset Hound is a friendly, outgoing, and playful dog, tolerant of children and other pets. They are extremely vocal and famously devoted to tracking.

Group

Hound Group

Country Of Origin

France

Size

 

Color

 

Coat

The dense, short smooth glossy coat is acceptable in any hound color. Red and white and tricolor are commonly seen.

Grooming

 

Life Expectancy

 

AKC Group

 

UKC Group

Scenthound

Height

• Female 28–36 cm (11–14 in)
• Male 30–38 cm (12–15 in)

Weight

• Female 20–29 kg (45–65 lb)
• Male 25–34 kg (55–75 lb)

Use Today

 

Points Of Conformation

Their short, very heavily boned legs mean they are slow moving, but agile. The head is large, and the skull has a prominent occipital protuberance. They possess a moderate stop, and skin forms wrinkles on the face when the head is down. The nose is darkly pigmented. Lips are also of dark pigmentation, and end in loose flews. A pronounced dewlap is present. The neck is very muscular and of good length. Eyes are brown and somewhat deep set. This allows the conjunctivae of the lower lids to show. They are said to have a sad expression. The ears are very long, pendulous and low set, with ends curling in. They are deep through the thorax and ribs are well sprung. The skin is significantly loose and wrinkled over the carpal and tarsal areas of the limb. Paws are large, rounded, and slightly deviated laterally from the level of the carpus. Dewclaws are often removed. The topline is level and tail carriage is typical for hounds- carried high when on a scent. The tail is thick, slightly curved and reaches almost to the ground at rest. The gait is easy, and movement of limbs is parallel.

Recognized Behavior Issues and Traits

Reported breed characteristics include: Gentle, devoted, good for pack or individual hunting or housing, also excellent in the home. Has low grooming requirements, is loyal, active, and independent. The typical mature Basset Hound has moderate exercise needs. They are also described as stubborn, and must be kept on leash. They possess a level temperament, are good with children, and can tend to dig if bored; some are loud alarm barkers. The breed has a problem in some lines with aggressive, uneven tempered dogs. The BHCA recommends that all puppies be temperament tested before placement in homes.

Inherited Diseases

Hip Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing degenerative joint disease and hip arthritis. OFA reports 37.4% affected.

Elbow Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing elbow arthritis. Reported at an increased frequency in the breed, but too few Basset Hounds have been screened by OFA to determine an accurate frequency. Reported 19.5x odds ratio for the fragmented coronoid process form of elbow dysplasia versus other breeds.

Patella Luxation (Slipping Kneecaps): Polygenically inherited congenital laxity of patellar ligaments, causing luxation, lameness, and later degenerative joint disease. Treat surgically if causing clinical signs. Too few Basset Hounds have been screened by OFA to determine an accurate frequency.

Basset Hound Hereditary Thrombopathy (BHT): An autosomal recessive bleeding disorder of abnormal platelet function, characterized by a thrombasthenia-like defect in aggregation but normal clot retraction. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GP IIb-IIIa) is detectable in BHT platelets but may be functionally defective. A genetic test is available.

von Willebrand's Disease: Autosomal recessive, type I form of this bleeding disorder occurs in the breed. Causes mild, or prolonged bleeding episodes. A genetic test does not exist in this breed.

 

X-linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (XSCID): Rare, X-linked recessive disorder, where affected dogs cannot generate antigen-specific immune responses. A genetic test is available to identify affected males and carrier females.

 

Disease Predispositions

Ectropion: Rolling out of eyelids, often with a medial canthal pocket. Can be secondary to macroblepharon; an abnormally large eyelid opening. Can also cause conjunctivitis. Ectropion is reported in 11.17%, and macroblepharon in 1.52% of Basset Hounds CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.

Persistent Pupillary Membranes: Strands of fetal remnant connecting; iris to iris, cornea, lens, or involving sheets of tissue. The later three forms can impair vision, and dogs affected with these forms should not be bred. Identified in 5.58% of Basset Hounds CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.

Primary (Narrow Angle) Glaucoma: Ocular condition causing increased pressure within the eyeball, and secondary blindness due to damage to the retina. Diagnose with tonometry and gonioscopy. Dorn reports an 8.03x odds ratio for developing glaucoma versus other breeds. Diagnosed in 5.44% of Basset Hounds presented to veterinary teaching hospitals.
Hypothyroidism: Inherited autoimmune thyroiditis. 3.5% positive for thyroid auto-antibodies based on testing at Michigan State University. (Ave. for all breeds is 7.5%).

Cataracts: Anterior cortex cataracts predominate, though posterior intermediate and punctate cataracts also occur in the breed. Unknown mode of inheritance. Identified in 3.38% of Basset Hounds CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005. CERF does not recommend breeding any Basset Hound with a cataract.

Distichiasis: Abnormally placed eyelashes that irritate the cornea and conjunctiva. Can cause secondary corneal ulceration. Identified in 1.18% of Basset Hounds CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.

Gastric Dilation/Volvulus (GDV, Bloat): Life-threatening twisting of the stomach within the abdomen. Requires immediate veterinary attention. Occurs at an increased frequency in the breed.

Intervertebral Disk Disease: The breed is at increased risk for acute paralysis/pain from intervertebral disk extrusion and spinal cord damage. This is an emergency situation that requires immediate veterinary attention.

Idiopathic Seborrhea: Occurs at an increased frequency in the breed, often with concurrent Malassezia pachydermatis infection.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysplasia: Increased prevalence in the breed of mandibular subluxation when the mouth is opened widely, due to TMJ dysplasia. This results in locking of the coronoid process lateral to the zygomatic arch. Locking can be prevented by osteotomy of a ventral portion of the zygomatic arch.

Retinal Dysplasia: Focal folds are seen in the breed. Focal folds were identified in 1.02% of Basset Hounds CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.

Persistent Hyaloid Artery: Congenital defect resulting from abnormalities in the development and regression of the hyaloid artery. Identified in 1.02% of Basset Hounds CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.

Cystinuria/Cystine Bladder Stones: Basset Hounds have an increased risk for developing cystine bladder stones due to a defect in cystine metabolism. Treat with surgical removal and life-long medical therapy. Unknown mode of inheritance in this breed.

 

Lafora's Disease (Myoclonus Epilepsy): Diagnosed in several Basset hounds with a progressive central nervous system disease culminating in epileptic seizures. Histologically, Lafora bodies are found in neurons and free in the neuropil throughout the cerebrum and cerebellum.
Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis, Black Hair Follicular Dysplasia, Brachygnathism, Cervical Vertebral Instability, Corneal Dystrophy, Dermatomyositis, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Elongated Soft palate, Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, Hemivertebra, Hypoadrenocorticism, Mycobacterial Susceptibility, Panosteitis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Prolapsed Gland of the Nictitans, Pulmonic Stenosis, Sebaceous Adentitis, Subaortic Stenosis, and Wobbler Syndrome are reported.

Isolated Case Studies

Sry-negative XX True Hermaphrodite (XX Sex reversal): A phenotypically male 7 month old Basset hound was examined. The chromosomal sex was female (XX), and there was an absence of "male" causing Sry. XX Sex-reversal is familial in other breeds.

Persistent Hyperplastic Tunica Vasculosa Lentis (PHTVL) and Persistent Hyaloid Artery: A 2-year-old Basset hound with unilateral persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and primary vitreous is described. There was leukokoria in the left eye, caused by bluish-white polar densities and hemorrhagic discoloration in the nucleus of the lens.

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome: Diagnosed in a male dog with oviducts, a uterus, and cranial vaginal tract. Usually caused by a defective mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) receptor.

 

Congenital Hypotrichosis: Four 4 week-old Basset Hound littermates with predominantly mahogany coats had congenital focal alopecia especially affecting the head and dorsal pelvic region. Histologic diagnosis was hypotrichosis.

Genetic Tests

Tests of Genotype: Direct test for XSCID is available from PennGen. Direct test for thrombopathia is available from AuburnUniversity:(vetmed.auburn.edu/index.pl/boudreaux_mk)

Tests of Phenotype: BHCA recommends hip and elbow radiographs, CERF eye examination (including gonioscopy for glaucoma), thyroid profile including autoantibodies, von Willebrand's factor antigen testing, temperament testing (Puppy Aptitude Testing or American Temperament Test Society certification), and genetic test for thrombopathia.

CHIC Certification: Required testing includes CERF eye examination and gonioscopy (OFA form). Optional testing includes genetic test for thrombopathia. (See CHIC website; caninehealthinfo.org). Recommend patella evaluation and cardiac evaluation.

Miscellaneous

• Breed name synonyms: Basset.
• Registries: AKC, UKC, CKC, KCGB (Kennel Club of Great Britain), ANKC (Australian National Kennel Club), NKC (National Kennel Club).
• AKC rank (year 2008): 33 (5,277 registered)
• Internet resources: Basset Hound Club of America: basset-bhca.org

The Bassett Hound Club of Canada: bassethoundclubofcanada.ca
The Bassett Hound Club (UK): bassethoundclub.co.uk