Basset Hound

Basset Hounds are the lovable curmudgeons of the dog world. The Basset Hound breed has captivated the public imagination since the 1920s, appearing on television, cartoons, and even the cover of Time magazine. The dogs make great pets, especially for families with children, even though they are a bit hard to train.
Dog Breed	Basset Hound
Behavior	Recommended for: family pet, hunting. Basset Hounds tend to show great endurance in physical activity. Nonetheless, the Basset Hound dog breed tends toward a more laid-back temperament, and may not even bark so much as howl or whine. According to Wikipedia, Basset Hounds often need a little encouragement to become active or else they will laze around. They also tend to overeat and gain weight if their diet is not regulated. Fortunately, Bassets typically enjoy playing with children, so a large family should be able to keep a Basset Hound dog in shape. Also according to Wikipedia, Basset Hounds tend to be harder to train than most other dogs, since they are "stubborn."
Physical Characteristics	Size: 14 inches Coat: hard, smooth, and short Color: According to the official American Kennel Club breed standard, coloration is not essential to the Basset Hound breed. Basset Hounds can be any hound color. But, most commonly Basset Hounds are tricolor (black, tan, and white), red and white, closed red and white, or lemon and white (according to Wikipedia). Eyes: brown, slightly sunken Ears: extremely long, low set Skull: domed Muzzle: deep, heavy Nose: Black, with wide open nostrils Tail: long, tapering, curved, and standing upright
Origins and History	The following historical facts come from Wikipedia. Country/Region of Origin: France Original purpose: originally used to hunt rabbits and hare Name: "Basset" comes from the French word "bas" meaning "low" or "dwarf". Historical notes: The breed is descended from the St. Hubert's Hound, which is similar to today's Bloodhound. How did Basset Hounds get so short? The friars at St. Hubert's Abbey in medieval France deliberately bred the dogs for achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism. (Humans with achondroplasia are usually around four feet tall.) The friars wanted a dog that could follow a scent under the brush in dense forests. The Basset Hound became a popular icon in the USA after being featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1928. Since then, Basset Hounds have remained popular in the US mass media.

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