Basset Hound History

The very first mention of a Basset Hound was in a book written by Fouilloux in the year 1585. It was the French hounds that were selectively bred to produce a lower to the ground variety of the Hound. The dog moved slower so you did not need to have a horse to track it, you could do so on foot, this fact alone made it easier to use during hunting. The word Basset came from the French adjective bas which means low structured. The Basset Hound was highly regarded in France due to the love of the sporting hunt. While the Basset Hound was a lot more popular in France and England during the 18^th and 19^th century, they were brought to the United States of America by the Marquis de Lafayette, who gave them to George Washington as a gift.

Even though the Basset Hound was so popular it wasn’t until 1882 that the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club followed soon after and accepted them in 1885. The Basset Hound Club of America was formed in 1935 and the love for the hound has been growing in popularity ever since.

The breed seems to be more popular with people that have small children. These dogs are very calm, totally loyal, and incredible low maintained. It is these traits that make them the perfect pet for first time dog owners. In almost every state there are Basset Hound appreciation clubs, where dog owners gather to talk about their wonderful pet. There are even a few festivals that pull in Hound owners worldwide to meet with other owners.