Basset Hound

Description:
The Basset hound has big bones and short legs. This dog is known to be tireless when it comes to work and is also very affectionate. The Basset hound has a very round head and the front of its face has a protuberance on the occipital, which is very well pronounced. The skin on its head is very loose and it folds over the eyebrow when it is pulled down. This dog's nose is very heavy, it's lips hang from its face as well and its jowl is very pronounced. The basset hounds eyes seem to droop giving it kind of a sad look; any owner of these dogs will tell you that this look shows its soft heart. It also has very long ears that feel like velvet. It has a very deep chest and its breastbone is very prominent. It's shoulders should be quite inclined back and should be strong; make sure when getting one of these dogs that its shoulders and elbows aren't inwards or outwards. Its front legs should not look bent; they should have a short and strong look to them. The back legs of the basset hound are well angled and straight. The height of a basset hound on average is that of thirty-five centimeters. Its coat should be short and soft as well as thick, but not long. These dogs are normally three colored, they come in black, brown and white.

Ideal owner:
The Basset Hound is known to be capable of walking around in noisy places without being disturbed but it can also be very determined. This is one of the breeds that are considered to be "gentlemen" in all their senses, and they should be treated as such. This dog should never be yelled at, it is very important to treat it in a very friendly way and very gently. The basset hound is very loyal and has very fixed ideas, it will give it self completely to its owner if it is given the opportunity and treated right. In order to help this dog be at its best behavior and adequate for a family it is necessary that the whole family get involved in its training and must be consistent and patient. If your family is looking for a good watchdog, the basset hound is a good option as it has a very deep and loud bark.

Growth:
Basset hounds are known to have large size litters. Don't be surprised if yours has up to fifteen at a time, this is very normal. In average the normal weight of these dogs is around 250 to 500 grams, however if your basset hounds weight is less then this there is no need to worry about it (as long as you get it checked obviously by your veterinarian) and it does not necessarily mean there is a problem. If your basset hound has a large size litter the important thing is to make sure all the puppies get enough nourishment and food. Often times dog breeders will supplement the females milk. A puppy that is well fed and healthy should weight around 5 to 7 and a half kilograms at the age of eight weeks. Another important thing to point out is that they should not be overfed either. If you are interested in giving your basset hound calcium or other types of nourishment you will need to talk to your veterinarian about it and have him or her tell you exactly how much you can give it, an excess of these can have dire results in its bone formation. The amount of exercise a basset hound gets should be limited especially during its growing stage because otherwise it could cause complications to its articulations. Its teeth should have grown in correctly at a young age. Basset Hounds are very loving dogs and they rarely have character problems so enjoy!

General health:
Because of the way a basset hounds body is structured, it does have a tendency to have a lot of bone and articulation problems such as limping due to problems in its back legs or shoulders. One very frequent problem is irregular growth of the bones on its legs that can cause joint deformations amongst other things. This breed may also have problems with inter digital cysts, kidney stones, and certain types of cancer. The Wobbler syndrome can also affect a basset hounds vertebral column before it reaches the age of six months. There are reported cases of basset hounds having problems with ectropion and glaucoma. An abnormality of the blood platelets and Von Willebrand disease are hereditary in this breed. A basset hound that is healthy and has been bred the right way is easy to take care of though, and does not require of special care. These dogs tend to have very good appetite, which is good however, the owner will need to make sure to not overfeed it. If you notice your basset hound eats a lot and doesn't move around much it could mean that it has problems with its stomach and could also develop back problems, as it gets older. Another important thing to point out is that its ears are delicate and must be checked and properly cleaned (talk to your veterinarian about this) as it can get irritations and infections.