Why the breed exists
'Bas' is French for low — and the Basset was set low on purpose, a full-sized hound's nose and voice on legs short enough that a hunter walking could keep up. The long ears stir scent up from the ground toward that nose (second in renown only to the Bloodhound's); the heavy bone and loose skin let it push through bramble that would stop a taller dog. It is deliberate because deliberateness was the design: a trailing hound you could follow all day at a walk.
The official written standard belongs to the breed's parent club.Read the official Basset Hound standard →
Choosing a Basset Hound on purpose
Every breed has its own list of required health screenings, kept by its parent club and published through OFA. A preservation breeder working in this breed tests to that list and shows you the results — including the ones that didn't go their way.
Carry the messageEvery Bred By Co. piece funds this education work.
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