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Thinking of adopting/fostering bassett hounds
- Thread starter terrapin05
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Bless your heart...bassets are the best breed out there, IMHO!!! They hold a very special place in my heart, and once you foster a few, you'll probably be right there with me. They are wonderful dogs.
Now, with that being said, they aren't like a lot of other breeds out there. While they are extremely family-oriented, and loyal, affectionate, etc., they are really not motivated to PLEASE their humans. They're more motivated by actions that will leave them personally gratified, and this is why a lot of folks deem them as "stubborn." If laying their huge carcass across your lap warms THEM, they'll act like a lap dog, but it's not out of any great desire to make you happy. Sometimes giving face kisses to you is more about smelling what you've just eaten, and kind of wanting a sample for themselves, rather than showing you their undying love for you as their human. Basically, when you own a basset, you become a basset's "slave," a term you will find from basset owners all over the web. They know how to work you, and get what they want from YOU, rather than the other way around, which contrary to the popular belief that bassets are unintelligent or dumb actually proves how smart they can be...they know what to do to earn YOUR love and worship, and from there on, it can be rather hopeless. You'll find yourself basically bending over backwards for your dog...
Bassets are sensitive, comical (some of their sleeping positions are HYSTERICAL), and tend to accept all members of the family, including children and cats, especially if introduced while the basset is also very young.
And yes, bassets drool, fart, "play dead" when you'd rather they act alive, and sometimes forget their large clunky size. And contrary to the whole "lazy" myth about this breed, they can be quite playful, and active, especially if you can keep their weight down...they are extremely food-motivated, and a lot of basset "slaves" get carried away trying to serve and cater to their bassets, creating an even larger, obese, clunkier basset. Bad news for the dog, in any case...so don't let those pleading sad eyes talk you into extra tidbits and morsels of food!
Also, you must keep a CLOSE eye on a basset outdoors, as they are a scent hound, and they will follow their nose into the sunset if you don't keep them on a lead, or in a fenced-in yard. In fact, if you plan to foster bassets, a fenced-in area or yard will practically be a must...a basset WILL get away from you, and think nothing of it, until he's 6 miles away from your home, and horribly lost. Supervision is mandatory, as are leashes, and fences.
Anyway, good luck. They are an absolutely marvelous breed, and I know you'll fall head over heels as I have.
Now, with that being said, they aren't like a lot of other breeds out there. While they are extremely family-oriented, and loyal, affectionate, etc., they are really not motivated to PLEASE their humans. They're more motivated by actions that will leave them personally gratified, and this is why a lot of folks deem them as "stubborn." If laying their huge carcass across your lap warms THEM, they'll act like a lap dog, but it's not out of any great desire to make you happy. Sometimes giving face kisses to you is more about smelling what you've just eaten, and kind of wanting a sample for themselves, rather than showing you their undying love for you as their human. Basically, when you own a basset, you become a basset's "slave," a term you will find from basset owners all over the web. They know how to work you, and get what they want from YOU, rather than the other way around, which contrary to the popular belief that bassets are unintelligent or dumb actually proves how smart they can be...they know what to do to earn YOUR love and worship, and from there on, it can be rather hopeless. You'll find yourself basically bending over backwards for your dog...
Bassets are sensitive, comical (some of their sleeping positions are HYSTERICAL), and tend to accept all members of the family, including children and cats, especially if introduced while the basset is also very young.
And yes, bassets drool, fart, "play dead" when you'd rather they act alive, and sometimes forget their large clunky size. And contrary to the whole "lazy" myth about this breed, they can be quite playful, and active, especially if you can keep their weight down...they are extremely food-motivated, and a lot of basset "slaves" get carried away trying to serve and cater to their bassets, creating an even larger, obese, clunkier basset. Bad news for the dog, in any case...so don't let those pleading sad eyes talk you into extra tidbits and morsels of food!
Also, you must keep a CLOSE eye on a basset outdoors, as they are a scent hound, and they will follow their nose into the sunset if you don't keep them on a lead, or in a fenced-in yard. In fact, if you plan to foster bassets, a fenced-in area or yard will practically be a must...a basset WILL get away from you, and think nothing of it, until he's 6 miles away from your home, and horribly lost. Supervision is mandatory, as are leashes, and fences.
Anyway, good luck. They are an absolutely marvelous breed, and I know you'll fall head over heels as I have.
Not meaning to jump in hear but I have to disagree with this it is hard to find one that is motivated by pleasing their owner but if you make them work for praise and not treats than you will have a basset that will want to please you .( otherwise agree totally
)The more treats you give them the more they will beg for and you can not give in to that sad look you give them their feed and thats what they get no matter how much they beg because they have a bad rep. of being over weight and if you watch their intake they are very active guys also if you get one a harness is best the first one we owned had lots of wrinkles under her neck and everyime we put her collar on she would cough even if it was loose enough to slide off her head when I talked to our vet about it he said that you should always use a harness because sometimes their wrinkles fold under a collar and it pushes on their airway . Also check out BASSET HOUND CLUB OF AMERICA they have wonderful info on cleaning ears and other health problems . Now the farting well with mine I have found if you watch their food intake and feed a good diet and DON"T over feed the Gas is not a problem . Now the slobber issue well all I can say is if you own a basset you better carry a slobber rag with you :lol-sign: and there is not much other than that you can do . Also I don't know if you have been around bassets but I will let you know they are not as small as people think they are my male is 72 lbs. and he is at a good weight remember they should look like an hour glass when you look at them from above . Most people will tell you if you can't see the last rib they are two fat but now I don't like to beable to see it but I do like to see a dip there . Any way besides those things make sure you have plenty of chew toys because there is nothing like loseing a table leg to a bored basset . And never let them off a lead outside with out having a fence thier nose leads and they follow . I am not trying to turn you off of the breed but just making sure you know they are a handful and are not couch potatoes and after all this you need to know they ARE THE BEST and wonderful and when you lay on the couch they will be in your lap and when you eat popcorn they want that to and they are more fun than you could ever imagine and mine eat popcoren with us and that does not seem to give them gas but now peanut butter is the worst gas giver any way have fun I hope you love them and have as much fun with yours as we do with ours