BREED INFORMATION

The Origin Of the  Basset Hound

In a treatise on badger hunting,back in the general period of 1585,there was featured a woodcut depicting a sportsman in his 'charette de chasse'with his badger dogs. The latter are said to have been clearly recognizable as Bassets,and it is widely believed that this was the first published drawing of the breed.

There  is at least two types of Bassets, a smooth variety and a rough-coated variety, were known in France by the mid-nieteenth century,enjoying popularitythere.The smooth went under the collective heading of 'Basset Francois' The rough was known as the 'Basset Grffon'. A further division also took place on the formation of their forelegs.The shortest legged hound, with the most crooked forelegs, was a "Basset a Jambes Tordues."The longest legged dogs,in whom this feature combined with the least bentd of foreleg,was a "Basset a Jambes Droiites." Between the two was a dog with moderately bent legs of medium length known as the "Basset a Jambes Demi Tordues."
Wide variances in temperatment and personality exist between the smooth Basset and the Rough-coated Basset,we are told, almost to the point of their seeming like entirely different breeds. The smooth is every inch a typical hound,with all the characteristics of his kind.The rough, on the other hand,shares many characteristics with the Terriers, including a less calm dispostion and a temerament more difficult for the huntsman to control.Thus the two hunt quit differently.

The Basset standard of today

GENERAL APPEARANCE-Short-legged hound of considerable substance,wellbalanced,full of quality.A certain amount of loose skin desirable.

CHARACTERISTICS-Tenacious hound of ancient lineage which hunts by scent,possessing a pack instinct,a deep melodious voice and capable of great endurance in the field.

TEMPERAMENT- Placid, never aggressive or timid. Affectionate.

HEAD AND SKULL- Domed with some stop and occipital bone prominent,of medium width at brow and tapering slightly to muzzle,general appearance of foreface lean not snipey.

EYES-Lozenge-shaped dark in colour but shades of mid-brown in light coloured hounds permissable.Expression calm and serious.

EARS- Set on low, just below line of eye.Long,reaching beyond and of muzzle

MOUTH-Jaws strong,with a perfect,regular and complete scissor bite

NECK-Muscular,well arched and fairly long with prononced but not exaggerated dewlap.

FOREQUARTERS-Should-blades well laid back.  Forelegs short,powerful and with great bone.

BODY- Long and deep throughout length,breast bone prominent,ribs well- rounded and sprung,without flange,carried well back

HINDQUARTERS- Full of muscle and standing out well.Stifles well bent.Hocks well let down and slightly bent under.

FEET- massive, well-knucked up and padded

TAIL-(Stern) well set on,rather long, strong at base,tapering,with moderate amount of course hair underneath.

GAIT?MOVEMENT-Most important.Smooth free action with forelegs reaching well forward and hind legs showing powerful thrust.

COAT-Smooth,short and close without being too fine

COLOUR-Generally black,tan and white (tri) lemon and white(bi)

SIZE-Height 33-38cm(13-15ins) at withers.