Post by charmingnancy on Jan 12, 2009 14:00:52 GMT -5
Basset Hound
Group: 2- Hounds
Origin: Great Britian
Purpose: Hunting rabbits
Description:
Bred as a scenting hound with a very keen nose, the Basset is one of the most easily recognized breeds. Bassets hunted in packs using their long ears to help stir up the scent and then drive small prey into open terrain. The sport of pack hunting with Basset Hounds continues even today in France and England.
Appearance-Breed Standards and Show Scoring:
Coat and Colour: The coat should be similar to that of the Foxhound, not too fine and not too coarse, but yet of sufficient strength to be of use in bad weather. The skin loose and elastic. No good hound is a bad colour, so that any recognized Fox-hound colour should be acceptable to the judge’s eye, and only in the very closest competition should the colour of a hound have any weight with a judge’s decision.
Head: The head should be large. The skull narrow and of good length, the peak being very fully developed, a very characteristic point of the head, which should be free from any appearance of, or inclination to, cheek bumps. It is most perfect when it closest resembles the head of a Bloodhound, with heavy flews and forehead wrinkled to the eyes. The expression when sitting or when still should be very sad, full of reposeful dignity. The whole of the head should be covered with loose skin, so loose in fact, that when the hound brings its nose to the ground the skin over the head and cheeks should fall forward and wrinklem perceptibly. The nose itself should be strong and free from snipiness. While the teeth of the upper and lower jaws should meet, a pig-jawed hound, or one that is underhung, is distinctly objectionable. The eyes should be deeply sunken, showing a prominent haw, and in colour they should be a deep brown. The ears are very long, and when drawn forward, folding well over the nose. They are set on the head as low as is possible and hang loose in folds like drapery, the ends curling inward, in texture thin and velvety.
Neck: The neck is powerful, with heavy pendant dewlaps.
Forequarters: The shoulders are muscular, sloping and well laid back. The forelegs should be short, very powerful, very heavy in bone, close fitting to the chest with a crooked knee and wrinkled ankle, ending in a massive paw. A hound must not be “out at elbows.” He must stand perfectly sound and true on his feet, which should be thick and massive, and the weight of the forepart of the body should be borne equally by each toe of the forefeet so far as it is compatible with the crook of the legs.
Body: The chest should be deep and full. The body should be long and low and well ribbed up.
Hindquarters: The quarters should be full of muscle, which stands out so that when one looks at the dog from behind, it gives him a round, barrel-like effect, with quarters “round as an apple.” He should be what is known as “a good dog to follow,” and when trotting away from you, his hocks should bend well and he should move true all round. A hound should not be straight on his hocks, nor should he measure more over his quarters than he does at his shoulder.
Tail: The stern is coarse underneath, and carried “gaily” in hound fashion.
Faults: “Out at elbows” is a bad fault. Slackness of loin, flat-sidedness and a roach or razor back are all bad faults. Cow-hocks, straight hocks, or weak hocks are all bad faults.
Disqualifications: Unsoundness in legs or feet should absolutely disqualify a hound from taking a prize.
Scale of Points
Head, skull, eyes, muzzle, flews- 14
Ears- 10
Neck, dewlap, chest and shoulders- 18
Forelegs and feet- 18
Back, loins, hocks, and hindquarters- 18
Stern- 5
Coat and skin- 5
Colour and markings- 5
Basset Hound character and symmetry- 7
TOTAL 100
Size:
14 in (36 cm) at the shoulder. Can weigh as much as 60-70 lbs (27-31.5 kg).
Temperament:
Basset Hounds have gentle dispositions. They were bred to be pack dogs and to get along with each other. This makes the male as friendly, mild, and easy to live with as the female. Males are not as aggressive as some other breeds of dogs, and they are usually not as prone to "marking" their territory unless there is an unneutered male around. Some Basset Hounds have a tendency to howl when left alone for long periods of time. They will also wander away from home if not kept in a (securely locked) fenced area. The Basset is so good with kids, and often found in homes with children, great care MUST be taken to assure that gates cannot accidentally be left open when the kids enter and leave the fenced area. When a good scent reaches their nose, there is no telling where they will end up, and unfortunately, the Basset is not good at finding the way home.
Health:
Because of the extremely long ears of bassets they are prone to ear disease. If their ears are allowed to dangle on the ground or in food on a daily basis they are capable of developing chronic and potentially fatal ear diseases. In addition to ear problems, basset hounds may also have eye issues. Because of their droopy eyes, the area under the eyeball will collect dirt and become clogged with a mucus. They are prone to Glaucoma, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia , Hypothyroidism, Patellar Luxation, von Willebrand's Disease , and Thrombopathia (a form of hemophilia).
Average Lifespan:
Median longevity of Basset Hounds in the UK is about 11.4 years, which is a typical median longevity for purebred dogs and for breeds similar in size to Basset Hounds.
History:
The Basset Hound originated in France in the 15th century. Basset Hounds are a cross between the Bloodhound the Regular Artisien Normand, and the Basset Artisien Normand. By the turn of the 20th century, the Basset Artesian Normand was developing into two distinct lines, straight-legged hunters and crocked-legged, droopy-eared companion and show dogs. French breeder Leon Verrier developed today's standard, which blends attributes of both varieties. The Kennel Club (UK) accepted the breed in 1882 and the English Basset Hound Club was formed in 1884. The American Kennel Club first recognized Basset Hounds as a breed in 1885. In 1935, the Basset Hound Club of America was organized in the United States. The current American breed standard was adopted in 1964. In the early days of television, Elvis Presley famously sang "Hound Dog" to a Basset Hound named Sherlock on "The Steve Allen Show" on July 1, 1956.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Canada's Guide to Dogs
Canadian Kennel Club
K9 Web
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 2- Hounds
Origin: Great Britian
Purpose: Hunting rabbits
Description:
Bred as a scenting hound with a very keen nose, the Basset is one of the most easily recognized breeds. Bassets hunted in packs using their long ears to help stir up the scent and then drive small prey into open terrain. The sport of pack hunting with Basset Hounds continues even today in France and England.
Appearance-Breed Standards and Show Scoring:
Coat and Colour: The coat should be similar to that of the Foxhound, not too fine and not too coarse, but yet of sufficient strength to be of use in bad weather. The skin loose and elastic. No good hound is a bad colour, so that any recognized Fox-hound colour should be acceptable to the judge’s eye, and only in the very closest competition should the colour of a hound have any weight with a judge’s decision.
Head: The head should be large. The skull narrow and of good length, the peak being very fully developed, a very characteristic point of the head, which should be free from any appearance of, or inclination to, cheek bumps. It is most perfect when it closest resembles the head of a Bloodhound, with heavy flews and forehead wrinkled to the eyes. The expression when sitting or when still should be very sad, full of reposeful dignity. The whole of the head should be covered with loose skin, so loose in fact, that when the hound brings its nose to the ground the skin over the head and cheeks should fall forward and wrinklem perceptibly. The nose itself should be strong and free from snipiness. While the teeth of the upper and lower jaws should meet, a pig-jawed hound, or one that is underhung, is distinctly objectionable. The eyes should be deeply sunken, showing a prominent haw, and in colour they should be a deep brown. The ears are very long, and when drawn forward, folding well over the nose. They are set on the head as low as is possible and hang loose in folds like drapery, the ends curling inward, in texture thin and velvety.
Neck: The neck is powerful, with heavy pendant dewlaps.
Forequarters: The shoulders are muscular, sloping and well laid back. The forelegs should be short, very powerful, very heavy in bone, close fitting to the chest with a crooked knee and wrinkled ankle, ending in a massive paw. A hound must not be “out at elbows.” He must stand perfectly sound and true on his feet, which should be thick and massive, and the weight of the forepart of the body should be borne equally by each toe of the forefeet so far as it is compatible with the crook of the legs.
Body: The chest should be deep and full. The body should be long and low and well ribbed up.
Hindquarters: The quarters should be full of muscle, which stands out so that when one looks at the dog from behind, it gives him a round, barrel-like effect, with quarters “round as an apple.” He should be what is known as “a good dog to follow,” and when trotting away from you, his hocks should bend well and he should move true all round. A hound should not be straight on his hocks, nor should he measure more over his quarters than he does at his shoulder.
Tail: The stern is coarse underneath, and carried “gaily” in hound fashion.
Faults: “Out at elbows” is a bad fault. Slackness of loin, flat-sidedness and a roach or razor back are all bad faults. Cow-hocks, straight hocks, or weak hocks are all bad faults.
Disqualifications: Unsoundness in legs or feet should absolutely disqualify a hound from taking a prize.
Scale of Points
Head, skull, eyes, muzzle, flews- 14
Ears- 10
Neck, dewlap, chest and shoulders- 18
Forelegs and feet- 18
Back, loins, hocks, and hindquarters- 18
Stern- 5
Coat and skin- 5
Colour and markings- 5
Basset Hound character and symmetry- 7
TOTAL 100
Size:
14 in (36 cm) at the shoulder. Can weigh as much as 60-70 lbs (27-31.5 kg).
Temperament:
Basset Hounds have gentle dispositions. They were bred to be pack dogs and to get along with each other. This makes the male as friendly, mild, and easy to live with as the female. Males are not as aggressive as some other breeds of dogs, and they are usually not as prone to "marking" their territory unless there is an unneutered male around. Some Basset Hounds have a tendency to howl when left alone for long periods of time. They will also wander away from home if not kept in a (securely locked) fenced area. The Basset is so good with kids, and often found in homes with children, great care MUST be taken to assure that gates cannot accidentally be left open when the kids enter and leave the fenced area. When a good scent reaches their nose, there is no telling where they will end up, and unfortunately, the Basset is not good at finding the way home.
Health:
Because of the extremely long ears of bassets they are prone to ear disease. If their ears are allowed to dangle on the ground or in food on a daily basis they are capable of developing chronic and potentially fatal ear diseases. In addition to ear problems, basset hounds may also have eye issues. Because of their droopy eyes, the area under the eyeball will collect dirt and become clogged with a mucus. They are prone to Glaucoma, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia , Hypothyroidism, Patellar Luxation, von Willebrand's Disease , and Thrombopathia (a form of hemophilia).
Average Lifespan:
Median longevity of Basset Hounds in the UK is about 11.4 years, which is a typical median longevity for purebred dogs and for breeds similar in size to Basset Hounds.
History:
The Basset Hound originated in France in the 15th century. Basset Hounds are a cross between the Bloodhound the Regular Artisien Normand, and the Basset Artisien Normand. By the turn of the 20th century, the Basset Artesian Normand was developing into two distinct lines, straight-legged hunters and crocked-legged, droopy-eared companion and show dogs. French breeder Leon Verrier developed today's standard, which blends attributes of both varieties. The Kennel Club (UK) accepted the breed in 1882 and the English Basset Hound Club was formed in 1884. The American Kennel Club first recognized Basset Hounds as a breed in 1885. In 1935, the Basset Hound Club of America was organized in the United States. The current American breed standard was adopted in 1964. In the early days of television, Elvis Presley famously sang "Hound Dog" to a Basset Hound named Sherlock on "The Steve Allen Show" on July 1, 1956.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Canada's Guide to Dogs
Canadian Kennel Club
K9 Web
Pictures:
Photobucket