Basset Hound Puppy Dog Care Information

Photo of an attractive
Basset Hound puppy dog

Basset Hound Health Information:

Like any breed of dog, the Basset Hound is subject to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new Basset Hound puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Basset Hounds include:

Glaucoma
Thrombopathia
Hypothyroidism
Hip dysplasia
Patellar luxation

Basset Hound Exercise Information:

Basset Hounds enjoy being sedentary, and make excellent house and apartment dogs. They are perfectly content to lounge around all day while their owners are at work. If you're looking for a dog to tag along on your daily runs, a Basset Hound is not the best pet for you. While Bassets do need daily exercise, walking is much more their style than running or even jogging.

Exercise is not something that a Basset Hound enjoys at all, unless of course he or she is hot on the trail of a scent. Basset Hounds are known for their exceptional smelling abilities, and were actually bred specifically for that purpose. Smaller than other scent hounds, these dogs were originally bred for the purposes of being able to track scents through areas in which larger hounds are not able to travel.

Even though Basset Hounds don't enjoy exercise, it is vital that they get regular exercise in order to remain healthy and avoid becoming obese. Bassets love to eat with the same level of passion that they loathe to exercise. Left to their own devices, Basset Hounds will eat everything they possibly can. To keep your dog from becoming overweight and developing associated health problems, it is important to closely monitor his or her diet and enforce regular exercise.

Basset Hound Grooming Needs:

Overall, the general care of Basset Hounds is relatively simple - a good brushing, once or twice a week is all he needs to keep his coat shiny and healthy, removing any loose dander from his skin. Bathing the Basset Hound only needs to be done when he begins to "smell like a dog," and is usually preformed once or twice a month. Nails should be given special attention because, do to the lack of activity in the Basset’s general routine, they can tend to grow very long in a short amount of time.

The other area that needs careful attention is a Basset Hound's ears. Due to their length and the heaviness of the ear, Basset Hounds are prone to dirty ears and various infections that can cause great discomfort in the form of itchiness or pain, a distinctive odor, discharge and, if left untreated, can complicate hearing. For this reason, their ears should be cleaned out at least once a week, a practice that you should start with your Basset Hound puppy, in order to get him accustomed to the feeling.