Pack hound → family dog
A nose on short legs
Bassets have one of the best noses of any dog. Once on a scent, they hear very little else.
Meet the parents and see their voice, how they walk on a lead and how calmly they settle.
Basset Hound · Hound
Basset Hound: temperament, training & nose and recall
The Basset Hound is a low, heavy scent hound with long ears, a deep voice and one of the best noses of any dog. Most are gentle, sociable and very stubborn. Life goes well with daily sniffing walks, patient food-based training, kitchen management and careful portions.
- Job: French pack hound that tracked rabbits and hares.
- Energy: Low to moderate; daily sniffing walks.
- Home: Fits relaxed homes that can manage noise and food.
First, the point
A Basset is a gentle, stubborn scent hound that needs sniffing walks, patient training and careful portions
Public breed histories describe a French pack hound that tracked rabbits and hares with hunters on foot.
Most Bassets love people and other dogs. Typical struggles are poor recall, pulling to smells, baying and stealing food.
In the first months I teach a name check-in, leave it, loose-lead walking and calm alone time.
- Height
- 11–15 in (28–38 cm)
- Weight
- 40–65 lb (18–29 kg)
- Energy
- Low to moderate (sniff then sleep)
- Coat / shed
- Short dense coat — sheds; weekly brushing and ear cleaning
- Job
- French pack hound that tracked rabbits and hares
Breed history
The low, slow scent hound from France
The Basset Hound comes from France, where short-legged hounds followed rabbits and hares on foot, with hunters walking behind. Later it was developed further in Britain. That job made a gentle, sociable dog with a huge nose, long ears, a deep voice and a very stubborn streak.
France → pack scent hound
Hunting on foot
Public breed histories describe French short-legged hounds bred so hunters could follow them on foot. “Bas” means low in French.
British breeders in the late 1800s made the breed heavier, with longer ears.
What the breed was bred for
Gentle, sociable and stubborn
In plain trainer language: Bassets are friendly with everyone and follow their nose before they follow you.
The hard parts are slow or no recall, pulling towards smells, baying and howling, stealing food and weight gain. Sniffing walks, food-based training, kitchen management and careful portions help most.
- Daily sniffing walks
- Food-based, patient training
- Kitchen management
- Careful portions
Public references: FCI 163, AKC Basset Hound, RKC.
Life together
A Basset’s day is a slow sniff and a long snooze
Bassets need daily walks with plenty of sniffing. At home most are calm, cuddly and hungry.
Park · garden
Nose to the ground
A long line lets a Basset sniff safely in open areas.
See long-line recall.
Home · rug
Those eyes
Bassets are experts at asking for food. Keep treats inside the daily ration.
Home · sofa
Champion napper
Decide early which furniture is allowed; a Basset needs help getting down.
See go to bed.
Field · face
Ears and wrinkles
Long ears drag on the ground and in food bowls. Check and clean them often.
See puppy handling.
Garden · cobbles
Patient and calm
Bassets are steady with people, but a smell can switch off their ears.
See scavenging on walks.
Care and health themes
Monthly checks: ears, skin folds, weight and back
A trainer’s checklist, not veterinary advice. See a vet for ear smell, head shaking, back pain, limping or a swollen belly. For urgent signs, see when to call the vet.
Ears
Clean and dry the long ears weekly; check for smell.
Skin folds
Wipe folds and lips; some Bassets drool.
Weight
Keep lean; extra weight is hard on a long back.
Back
Help with jumping in and out of cars and off furniture.
Health screening (not a diagnosis)
Ask the breeder which screenings the national breed club recommends, including eye and joint checks, and see results for both parents.
Toxins
I do not publish toxin amounts. Call a vet or poison-control line if the dog eats something dangerous.
Lines and types
Show-type or lighter hunting Basset
Most pet Bassets come from show lines: heavy, low and long-eared. Some hunting packs keep lighter, more athletic hounds.
Show-type
- Heavy body and bone.
- Very long ears.
- More skin and wrinkles.
- Calm and slow.
The typical family Basset.
Lighter hunting type
- Lighter and longer-legged.
- Shorter ears.
- More stamina.
- Same strong nose.
Rarer, more active.
Socialization windows
What to introduce — and what not to overload — by age
AVSAB-aligned in spirit: short, clean exposures at a distance the puppy can still eat, with hygiene while vaccines finish. See the puppy socialization schedule.
Floppy baby
Introduce: handling, ear cleaning, name games, toilet routine.
Do not overload: stairs and jumping off furniture.
Nose takes over
Introduce: long-line walks, leave it, loose-lead walking.
Do not overload: off-lead near roads.
Stubborn teenager
Introduce: scent games, settle, kitchen rules.
Do not overload: free-feeding and extra treats.
Adult sniffing
Introduce: tracking, longer walks, scent work.
Do not overload: long runs or hard jumping.
Easy-going adult
Introduce: refreshed recall and manners.
Do not overload: weight gain.
Before you buy
Who a Basset Hound usually fits
A Basset suits relaxed, patient people who enjoy slow walks and do not mind a loud, stubborn dog.
Good match
More likely a good fit if you…
- Enjoy slow, sniffy walks
- Like a friendly, sociable dog
- Can manage the kitchen and bins
- Do not mind drool and howling
- Are patient with stubbornness
Mismatch risk
A Basset Hound may be a poor choice if…
- You want off-lead walks
- You want fast obedience
- Noise bothers your neighbours
- You have many stairs and no help
- You want a jogging partner
If you are torn between breeds
Basset Hound vs Beagle and Bloodhound
Bassets are compared with Beagles and Bloodhounds, two other scent hounds.
Build
Basset Hound Low and heavy.
Beagle Smaller, longer-legged, more active.
Energy
Basset Hound Low to moderate.
Beagle Higher.
Size
Basset Hound Medium, heavy.
Bloodhound Much larger.
Drool
Basset Hound Some.
Bloodhound A lot.
Nose
Basset Hound Excellent.
Both compares All follow scent first.
Ownership without surprises
What a Basset costs to keep
Prices vary by country. These are the spending themes, not figures.
Ear care
Cleaner and cotton pads.
Health checks
Ask which screenings the national breed club recommends.
Ramp or steps
For cars and furniture.
Bin locks
Food-proof kitchen.
Harness and long line
Safe sniffing.
Insurance
Consider it early.
With a Basset, ear care and weight control are the main ongoing needs.
Before day one at home
What to prepare for a Basset Hound puppy
A Basset puppy is floppy and charming. Start ear handling, leave it and calm alone time early.
Ear handling
See puppy handling.
Leave it
See leave it.
Tiny absences
See first absences.
Lead skills
See puppy leash training.
Toilet routine
Follow potty training.
Short walks
See walk length by age.
If the dog is already yours
Training a Basset uses food and patience
Bassets learn well for food but switch off when a smell appears. Train before walks, in quiet places.
My core list: leave it, name check-in, loose-lead walking and calm alone time.
Tracking and scent games are the best outlets.
Load balance
Sniff, eat, then sleep
A long sniffing walk, a food puzzle and a long sleep suit most Bassets.
Sniff Track Puzzle Settle Sleep
Sniffing, tracking games, puzzle feeding and rest suit most Bassets.
A Basset that gets to use its nose every day is a calm, happy hound.
Leave it
How to teach a Basset to leave it
Start with food in your closed hand, reward looking away, then move to the floor and the walk.
- 01
Closed hand
Food inside.
- 02
Wait for a look away
Then reward.
- 03
Better food from the other hand
Never the item.
- 04
Move to the floor
Cover with your foot.
- 05
Take it on walks
Easy places first.
One scene close-up
Why your Basset eats everything on walks
Bassets were bred to follow scent and eat what they find.
Teach leave it at home first with easy items, and reward well with better food.
Use a harness and long line on walks, and let the dog sniff safe spots.
Typical household scenes
Where Basset Hound owners most often need help
A breed page is only a starting point; the fix depends on health, environment, and the dog in front of you. Each row opens a step-by-step guide.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Poor recall
Nose first, ears later.
Pulling to smells
Low and strong.
Baying and howling
A deep, loud voice.
Food stealing
Bins, tables and bags.
Scavenging
Eats things on walks.
Alone time
Howls when left.
Weight gain
Loves food.
Sudden change
Back pain, ear smell or a swollen belly — vet first.
Practical view
“With a Basset, I treat the nose as a partner. We build leave it, loose-lead walking and calm alone time — because sniff time makes training at home easier.”
Sessions cover real scenes: poor recall, pulling to smells, baying, and stealing food. I am a trainer, not a veterinarian. No invented reviews.
Andrew Darov Professional dog trainer and instructor
WhatsApp consult Talk through your Basset Hound
Describe age, living setup, and where the dog breaks first — poor recall, pulling to smells, baying, or food stealing. Opens WhatsApp to Andrew.
Short answers
FAQ
Is a Basset a good first dog?
Yes for patient owners who accept stubbornness.
Are Bassets good with children?
Usually gentle and tolerant; supervise.
Do Bassets shed?
Yes, moderately.
How much exercise does an adult need?
Daily walks with lots of sniffing.
Are Bassets loud?
They bay and howl, especially when bored or left alone.
Can Bassets be off lead?
Only in fully fenced areas.
Can a Basset live in a flat?
Yes, but stairs and noise can be issues.
Do Bassets drool?
Some do, especially after drinking.
What about health?
Ask which screenings the national breed club recommends and see the parents' results.
What is the typical lifespan of a Basset Hound?
Public breed references often give about 12 to 13 years. Individual dogs vary.
Basset or Beagle?
The Basset is lower, heavier and slower; the Beagle is more active.
If a Basset is too stubborn
If you want a gentle, low-key companion that listens more easily, consider this one.
Beagle
A friendly scent hound that follows its nose and needs patient recall training, sniffing walks and a secure garden.
Dachshund
A bold, long-bodied German hunting dog that needs back-friendly habits, help with barking and patient house training.
English Cocker Spaniel
A merry, busy British spaniel that needs scent games, retrieve and trade practice, ear care and a taught settle.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Gentle, affectionate small spaniel that loves company.
More Hound group breeds
Other guides from the same group in the breed library. Same group does not mean same dog: read the fit and the failure modes, not only the outline.
Bloodhound
A gentle, persistent scent hound that needs a strong harness, trailing games, kitchen management and patient training.
Borzoi
A giant Russian coursing hound — calm and quiet indoors, fast and independent outdoors. Space, secure running, and gentle handling come first.
Greyhound
A gentle, quiet sighthound, often a retired racer, that needs safe sprints, a lead in open areas, a soft bed and slow introductions.
Irish Wolfhound
A calm, gentle giant sighthound from Ireland that needs early lead manners, careful puppy exercise and lots of space.
Norwegian Elkhound
A Nordic moose-hunting spitz with a bay bark and a strong nose — shape the voice into useful alerts and give it a daily outdoor job.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
A loyal, independent hound from southern Africa that needs early calm socialising, fair training and daily running.
Need a read on your exact situation?
Describe your Basset Hound’s age and the scene that repeats most: poor recall, pulling to smells, baying, or food stealing. We check safety first, then pick the first skill.
Written by Andrew Darov, professional dog trainer. Not veterinary advice and not a diagnosis.
Not a kennel club. No invented reviews. No vaccine schedules or toxin doses. Photo credits in
/images/breeds/basset-hound-guide/credits.md.