Basset Hound Breed Origins and Caracteristics
This dog is a direct descendant of the Artois Basset. It appeared for the first time in exhibitions in 1875, in England, and it was used as a base for American breeders. Nevertheless, the English breeders contributed to its creation crossing the Artois Basset with the Bloodhound. This last one gave the current Basset Hound the current characteristic shape of the head and its fine sense of smell. In 1883, the Basset Hounds were introduced in America. At first, the bloodhound qualities were used; nowadays, they are used exclusively as pet dogs.
France is the country of origin of some Bassets breeds that are tracker dogs and forceful hunters. The most elegant of them is no doubt the Gascogne blue Basset. This breed was born from the mutations with short-legged Gascogne Great Blue, which was crossed with the Artois Basset, Normandy, and the Gascogne Small Blue. Despite its elegant appearance and excellent qualities as a hunter, this breed is not easily found.
Most of Bassets have short and straight hair. Thus, the Basset Griffon Vendéen is clearly different from the others because of its rougher and it has longer hair close to the body. Two types are raised. Like the other Bassets, the heaviest is the best for hare and large game hunting, the lightest one is an expert in the rabbit hunting. The Bassets are independent dogs and a bit stubborn and they have to be treated firmly.
Basset Hound (1). Size: 35 cm approximately. Weight: 23 kg approximately. All the regular colors of tracker dogs are accepted. The distribution of colors and the patches lack of importance.
Gascogne Blue Basset. Size: 33 cm approximately. Weight: 15 kg approximately. Colors: blue or white (2) with black patches or a black layer and red patches on the cheeks, snout, the internal part of the ears and legs. The leg of this breed is white or black with black patches.
Basset Griffon Vendéen (3). Size: 38-42 cm for the big type; 34-48 cm for the smallest type. Weight: 18 kg for the biggest type; 15 kg for the smallest type. Colors: one-color (yellow, hare, whitish gray), bi-color (white-orange, white-black, white-gray, white-reddish) or tricolor (white-black-red, white-gray-red).
