Basset Hound
Overview
The Basset Hound is a small dog from the Hound group — a fairly laid-back breed with modest exercise needs. In temperament it's intensely devoted and bonded to its family, independent-minded and best with patient, consistent training and it tolerates some alone time once settled. With a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years, the Basset Hound is a medium-length commitment.
Is the Basset Hound right for you?
A good match if — you're newer to dogs and want a forgiving breed; you live in an apartment or smaller home; you have children at home; you want a closely bonded companion; you want a sociable dog that greets everyone.
Think twice if — a tidy household matters to you.
What a Basset Hound needs from you
Day to day, the Basset Hound needs a little daily time from you and light exercise. It does best with little space and a little dog know-how.
Living with a Basset Hound
At home, the Basset Hound adapts well to apartment living. It's great with kids of all ages, openly friendly with everyone it meets, fairly vocal, and a noticeable drooler.
Key facts
- Size
- Small
- Height
- Up to 1 foot, 2 inches tall at the shoulder
- Weight
- 50 to 65 pounds
- Life span
- 10 to 12 years
- Group
- Hound Dogs
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | no data yet |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
Health & what to watch for
The start matters most: get a Basset Hound from someone who health-tests their lines — ask to see the results — or from a reputable rescue, and register with a vet early. Smaller breeds tend to be more prone to dental disease and slipping kneecaps, so stay on top of teeth and watch for limping or skipped steps. Across every breed the single biggest lever you control is weight — a lean dog lives longer and has fewer problems. Food intolerances usually show as itchy skin, recurring ear trouble or an upset stomach; if that turns up, a vet-guided elimination diet beats guesswork. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — your vet knows your individual dog.
Best toys
Good toys for a Basset Hound: tough, durable chews built for strong jaws — avoid flimsy toys it can shred and swallow; lighter plush and soft chews for shorter, gentler play. Rotate a few at a time rather than leaving everything out — novelty is half the value — and always supervise a new chew.
Growing up
Mind the small frame — go easy on jumps down from furniture, and start dental care and house-training patiently from day one. The first months are the socialization window: calm, positive exposure to new people, sounds, surfaces and other animals now shapes the adult dog more than almost anything else.
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 26 kg and a ~11-year life, keeping a Basset Hound works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →
Temperament (at a glance)
| Affection | |
| Energy | |
| Vocalness | |
| Trainability | |
| Tolerates alone |
Its presence, grown
Raised with patience and consistency, the adult Basset Hound settles into a calm, easy-going presence. It devotes itself utterly to its family — your shadow, your second self. It meets the whole world as a friend. It carries an outsized presence in a small frame.
As your partner
Picture it as a grown partner at your side: a relaxed daily rhythm of gentle walks and easy downtime together. It can settle on its own once it trusts the routine. With children it is gentle and patient — a true family dog.
What makes it unique
What sets the Basset Hound apart is a nose or an eye that locks onto a trail and a single-minded drive to follow it.