Is The Basset Hound Dog For You?

From the desk of Sharda Baker.

Hi and Welcome Everyone!

This is Sharda with a Basset puppy newsletter!

Basset Puppies can be very cute, cuddly and great fun, but selecting one requires a lot of thought and preparation and can even be a very daunting task.

So, is the Basset Hound Dog for you?

Your pup’s pedigree and breeding are the most important factors, while choosing a pup.

While some people look at only the sire of the Basset puppy, his accomplishments, style of running and nose and are happy with a reasonably good bitch, most others certainly take the pedigree of both the sire and the dam into consideration.

Many also watch one or both of the parents in the field to see if they like the style of the dogs. You should also speak to other field trailers to find out the background of the breeder.

A Basset Hound Breeder may sometimes refer to hound’s nose. By this they mean the dog’s ability for scenting game.

It’s true that some dogs can very easily follow a cold track. But your Basset Hound will choose a more cautious style of tracking.

Whatever his style, you need to know how good he is at it: does he wander off too far or does he pursue his game till he catches it?

And lastly, conformation is important too. You must find out if the Basset Puppies has any serious flaws?

Perhaps he’s bow-legged or his shoulders are turned out?

Whether you are a house owner or a show dog fancier, this is important for you to know as it concerns your pet’s health and well-being. His serious flaws can affect his performance in the field besides also affecting his endurance levels.

Further, flaws also affect the Basset puppies’ ability to go through the tougher brush piles. If he has any skirting of brush, that is a flaw too.

While you are checking out his flaws and strengths, you will also come to realize that he can run for over an hour.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH “DOGNESS?”
Before you make that first trip to the kennel or to the dog shelter, ask yourself if you really are ready to take care of a dog.

Ask yourself why you want a dog? Does your lifestyle allow for it? Which breeds should you be looking at?

Are Basset puppies an appropriate choice?

But before you think you’re done with questions and answers, you need to answer the big one.

Ask yourself if you know the true essence of being a dog owner or “dogness.”

Dogness is a number of things all rolled together. It combines the smell of a dog when you reach the door of your house; it’s the late-night visits to the vet when your dog has eaten something he shouldn’t have; and it’s the easiness with which he adjusts to your comings and goings and gets ready to go for that walk with you.

But dogness isn’t for everyone, so be careful. Once you get a dog, you’ll have to forget all those impulsive vacations you take now–you’d have to find a pet-friendly hotel or reputable boarding kennel, reserve boarding, gather his health records or leave him at home with a sitter.

Apart from the headache there’s the hole in your pocket too that you have to think of.

Vet care is expensive and can come at the most inopportune moments, often setting you back by a cool few hundred dollars at a time, not to mention the on-going expenses such as dog food, grooming, boarding fees and toys.

All the above are easily possible when you specially carve out some time for your Basset puppy every day and you can do this without cribbing. You could begin with three 15-minute walks everyday, to start with.

And you’ll also have to give him a lot of exercise—like playing ball or going for a run—if you don’t want him scratching your walls and ceiling.

GET YOUR HOME READY FOR YOUR POOCH
Before you bring him home, make your home habitable by your pup’s standards.

For this, you will have to make sure that your landlord, condo or co-op board will allow a dog in the building.

This is one of the commonest reasons why dogs end up in shelters, not being allowed into their owners’ apartments or houses.

If you’re bringing home a large dog, check to see if your yard is large enough for him to run about in and that it is fenced so he can play unsupervised.

You need to fix up with your family about who will take care of feeding, walking, grooming him, and cleaning up after him.

If you’re bringing home a dog for your kids, be warned that they will quickly grow tired of him, so make yourself in charge of day-to-day management of this pet.

That’s it for today!

I really hope that you consider these tips before deciding to get Basset puppies for yourself.

All the best and take care.
Warmly,
Sharda Baker