Hi Dogroll readers! I hope you all are still staying healthy, safe, and quarantined during this time! The Dog of the Month for May is the basset hound. I chose this dog because once I met a basset who was really sweet and friendly, and I decided that I just had to use his breed for the Dog of the Month sometime!
Basset hounds were originally bred in France to hunt rabbits. The basset part of the name comes from the word bas, which is French for “low.” That name fits basset hounds perfectly because as you can see, they really are long and low to the ground! Bassets have a very keen sense of smell, partly because their long, floppy ears brush the ground and pick up scent.
It can take a lot of patience to own a basset. Like other scenthounds, bassets tend to follow their noses, which can distract them during training sessions! Some of them may also be hard to housetrain. But otherwise they are amazing dogs who make terrific companions for kids because of their calm, laid-back, and gentle personalities (just like the basset I met, who didn’t even complain when his tail accidentally got stepped on!). Oh, and by the way, basset hounds love to eat, so be careful about how often you feed them, and make sure that they get enough exercise. The exercise part may be a bit difficult though, since bassets are notoriously lazy!
Basset hounds can be either tricolor (tan, black, and white—the typical hound colors) or just tan and white. I was told that they shed a lot, but they don’t need much grooming; they just need to be brushed one time a week, along with having their ears cleaned.
If you happen to be looking for a basset to be your new BFFF (Best Furry Friend Furever), why buy one from a breeder when there are already so many healthy, good-natured basset hounds waiting for homes? Consider checking out these great basset hound rescues!
Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue: https://www.tristatebassets.org/
Bassets Unlimited: www.bassetsunlimited.com/rescue.php
You can also check out Adopt-A-Pet and Petfinder to look for shelter and rescue dogs near you.
Okay then, that’s all for this Dog of the Month. See you later!
-Zariya
🐾 Fun Fact!🐾
When they are excited or have found the source of a scent, basset hounds—along with other scent hounds like beagles, bloodhounds, and others—make a deep, howling bark called a bay.
Top photo credit: SylvainBouard Portrait au soleil levant. via photopin (license)