The Basset Hound is a gentle, loving dog. Once bred for trailing and hunting game, they make excellent family pets to those who meet their requirements of care. Very good with children as well as other pets, they are friendly and affectionate in every sense. They need to be trained not to jump up on people or try to crawl onto a lap – after all, they can weigh up to 75 pounds! Their weight is deceiving when you consider that height-wise, they could be considered tiny. Unlike most breeds, however, they have a very “heavy bone” and are thus considered a large dog on short legs.
Don’t let their looks fool you… although they look very sedentary they do require exercise! After all they were bred to live a rather active hunting life! However they don’t require as much as, for example, a large sporting dog. Unlike some breeds, you will find yourself walking with a Basset rather than jogging. For many people, this is a plus! Exercise is important for both physical as well as mental reasons. A Basset that never takes walks with his owner will not only become fat, but also oftentimes bored. It should be noted that while the puppy is growing, exercise should be limited to avoid straining the joints. Once the dog is fully grown you can work him up to longer and longer walks. 
As the breed can be stubborn and willful, many people give up on training their Basset. Those who do are missing out on a great opportunity to interact and have fun with their dogs! While there are not many Bassets that compete in formal obedience… the few that do are having great experiences! Even if you do not want to formally compete, teaching foundational obedience is still very important… just as it is with every dog. You may want to also consider training in other “dog sports” as well. Bassets excel in hunting as well as tracking events.
Because of their amazing noses, Bassets are often very interested in the world around them – particularly the outside world. This breed needs a fenced yard to keep them from following their noses off your property and down the block! You cannot fault their tendency to roam… after all, it was bred into them. But you must be prepared to accept this trait and keep them safe – thus, have a solid fence and keep it locked! If you own a pool, that must also securely fenced to prevent the dog from jumping in and possibly drowning.
Another less than desirable trait of the breed is their propensity for howling… and it can be loud! They can also be droolers. These particular traits must be taken into consideration by anyone considering buying a Basset. All in all, however, most people think that they have many more good qualities than bad!
