r/bassethounds

This is Amos Moses, he turned one years old last week.

Amos has had such an exciting life thus far. We have traveled to and through over 10 states. He has easily met over 100 people by now, and dozens of other pups. He also goes to a day care once a week and interacts with other people and dogs.

I race bikes competitively and that involves the travel, as well as camping. These races are as much social for me as they are competitive, with long weekends of camping amongst friends and strangers alike at these venues. Amos has so much exposure to the outside world at this point. I call him a well traveled boy!

I consider him people and dog friendly, but i have started to notice a shift. In the past few months I have noticed with women he usually runs straight up to them, tail wagging, and solicits attention/pets/rubbin'. With the majority of men, especially older (60+) men he will stop, stand still about 5 - 10 feet away, and bark. I encourage him to approach the strangers (so long as they are stopped and attempting to say hi themselves and not just trying to walk by and be on their way) but he remains somewhat stiff and apprehensive? He will slowly creep up and sniff. Usually his tail is wagging the whole time but more slowly then when he is truly excited, and he remains in what appears to me to be a slightly defensive posture. No "ridgies" or raised fur on the neck or back, no growling. He has NEVER that I have witnessed had a negative interaction with a man.

I do have a boyfriend and he usually is at my home three days a week. Amos doesn't exhibit any behaviors with him. He treats my boyfriend just like me, comfortable, velcro-y, loving. My boyfriend is not a beefy dude and hes only a few inches taller than me but he does have a full face of beard/mustache. He has shoulder length hair.

What is causing this do you guys think? What can I do to make him not bark at dudes? Ty for any advice!

I grew up with super energetic cattle dogs. They would pull on the leash and we would work on control and staying beside us. I did agility training with one of them. So my dog knowledge is on these types of dog

Me and my boyfriend recently got a basset x lab. He’s is 10 weeks. Doing super good with potty training but he had areas to work on

He doesn’t walk on a leash at home. We live in town. He’s not motivated to walk around the block. He’s happy in our yard. He just lays down when I try to walk him. In other places he sorta walks on a leash but gets tired and flops over

He has amazing recall for me. I whistle. Call him name and he runs to me. My boyfriend tried and the dog just couldn’t care less

He loves to play with the cat and the cats does enjoy playing too. He’s very gentle with his bites but sometimes he grabs the cats paw and drags him around. I have 0 clue how to get him to stop because the cats tries to play

Thanks in advance

Since getting Safari two weeks ago, she has brought so much joy and frustration to the family ahah!

She’s a bit bitey, but to be expected with a 3mo puppy, and always wants to play with my senior chihuahua who is clearly not in the mood 😭. That’s her biggest problem so far.

I’m planning on bringing her to a trusted doggy daycare where other dogs will correct her pushy behavior, as well as get into some scent work as an outlet for her nose when she gets her last round of shots in 2 weeks.

So far I honestly cannot complain; she’s been good about going outside, has FINALLY started to settle in her crate during the day for naps, and sleeps thru the night.

I’m prepared for this to all disappear when she turns 5mo and get thrown out the window in the teenage phase 🫠

Any other recommendations that worked for your puppies?

Phoebus enjoying wild walks

My basset hound Freya with heterochromia.

Hi everyone! I recently made a post sharing my concerns about my basset who developed a fear of loud noises and going outside.

Over the course of a week, she went from being playful, happy, loving outside, catching onto potty training and going on walks to fearful of stairs, going outside, terrified of random noises (tucking her tail and running), not really wanting to play with her toys, and has resorted to pottying inside.

I got her some calming puppy chews and moved up her vet appointment to today, and her vet ruled out any medical problems. She put her on 100mg of Trazodone every morning, but I am really worried about the sedation side of this. I’ve had experience using trazodone and gabapentin for my lab who needs it to take baths, but again, this is a situational type of dosing, and isn’t an everyday thing. I shared these concerns with my vet since the noises happen unexpectedly so it’s hard to target when it might happen, and she told me to keep giving her the calming treats as well and use them in conjunction to the traz, and work on desensitizing her and getting her used to the noises.

I’m all for this because I do not want her to depend on a medication the rest of her life (especially since she’s still under a year old), but I more so want to hear about others’ experiences with anti anxiety medications and overcoming fear in bassets. What training worked for you? How do I help support her while still helping her build her confidence in these unpredictable moments?

My puppy isn’t reactive or aggressive by any means, and rather when loud noises happen, her initial reaction is to retreat and run back to the apartment. She loves humans, other dogs, going new places, riding in the car, etc., and because of this, the vet recommended she continue to go to her doggy daycare (right now she goes 1-2x a week) to help her also learn from other dogs and see how they react when something unexpected happens. She also encouraged me to take her to public places like the park, stores, etc, and work on desensitizing her, but I am unsure how to do this without further traumatizing her. Any tips in this area also are super helpful!

I’m definitely wanting to use patience with all of it since she is entering her adolescent phase, I rescued her a month ago, and I’m sure this also is all not helping her second fear period that comes around this age. In addition to this, she hasn’t been fixed yet, so with all the new routines, emotions, hormones, and everything happening in her little body, I can only imagine how confused and overwhelmed she is feeling, too. I’m trying to be proactive while also taking everything one day at a time and being the most consistent and constant thing for her right now.

"Whatcha doing, need any help?"

It has been so healing and emotional simultaneously. I really want to adopt another basset soon.

(Rescue is Utah Friends of Basset Hounds)

Edit-dogs pictured
1-Bam Bam
2-Sam (Adopted 🥳)
3- Prim (1/2 bonded pair)
3- Trixie
4- Canelo (Bagel hound)
5- Bohdi (Bagel hound)

Just wanted to share for other new basset owners who weren't aware....

Breathable drawstring snoods work like some kind of special magic for keeping those ears from accumulating bacteria on walks. Especially if the ears are long enough for the pooch to step on while walking.

Now, ear cleanings actually make a difference and goodbye to near monthly ear infections!!!

Got mine from Amazon for $15.

This one’s 9v, has died.

Thought I’d show you all my big boy, Ham.

Growing up and engaging her basshole look. The darkside is going to be strong with this one.

Edit forgot to mention she hit 3 months this week and is about 21 - 22 pounds now.

A couple of years ago I sank the woods toy in that mudhole while Maple was sleeping in the back seat. She was extremely judgemental of my actions, and had nothing to do with me for a couple of hours. The look of disdain and disappointment on her face is priceless.

I’ve had four American Bulldog mixes, a mastiff mutt and most recently I rescued a Boston Terrier. I’ve never met a Basset. Or a hound. Just some Beagles. The Boston was a curve ball but the Basset is like a whole new species. I am fascinated by this breed that can put 76 lbs into 15” of stature. She weighs more than my American Bulldog mix who has a block head and chest to match!

She had had an amazing life and is six years old. She currently lives with a pug and two cats peacefully. We have two cats, a young Boston and 14 yo Bully. She comes home with us in a week after a pack meets and greet last night.

Tell me about this breed! I never appreciated that purebreds had such distinct personality traits until I adopted the Boston - but he is a clown, he loves to fetch, he’s high energy and fun- he loves to tease us. True to the breed.

What are Bassets like? What should we know? What should we watch out for?