The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog in the hound family. The Basset is a scent hound that was originally bred for the purpose of hunting hare. Their sense of smell and ability to ground-scent is second only to the bloodhound. The modern Basset Hound descends from French dogs that were bred in Great Britain in the late 1800s.

 

Many Bassets have a clearly defined white blaze and a white tip to their tail, intended to aid hunters in finding their dogs when tracking through underbush. 

 

The Basset Hound is a friendly, outgoing, fairly intelligent and playful dog, tolerant of children and other pets. They are extremely vocal and famously devoted to tracking. They are also widely known for being stubborn. Prospective owners must be prepared to handle Bassets firmly and patiently.

 

Grooming is fairly quick and easy and involves just a swipe with a brush just once a week. In between groomings, the Basset may track a great deal of mud or dirt into the house because of their low stature and big feet.