Things to Know About Bringing Home a Basset Puppy

Basset Hounds

• The basset hound is a short, long-bodied and relatively heavy breed, known for its clownish and unhurried demeanor. Given their short limbs, bassets have unique needs over other breeds. For example, basset puppies should not be allowed to go up and down long flights of stairs or to jump off of couches, beds or porches until they are at least a year old. During this first year, the puppy's joints are still forming, and its short legs provide little cushion for impact, so the risk of injury from these activities is high.

Supplies

• Preparing for the arrival of a basset puppy means buying supplies. The puppy needs a collar, leash, food bowl, high quality food, water bowl, chew toys and a dog crate. When purchasing a dog crate, it's advisable, to save money, to buy one that will fit an adult basset. A crate measuring 21 by 24 by 36 inches should do the trick.

Security in Car Ride Home

• The basset is a generally a calm breed, so the puppy's car ride home should not present much of a challenge. However, the basset is also sensitive, so you should take care to address any anxiety caused by the vibrations and sounds of the vehicle and traffic. For example, a passenger holding the puppy and distracting it with play or talk may alleviate its anxiety.

Activities

• Basset puppies possess a hunting instinct, so they tend to roam. Outdoor activities must, therefore, be supervised and/or conducted in a secure, fenced area. Basset puppies need a lot of attention and are unlikely to do well if left alone for long periods of time. Owners should plan to spend a lot of time with the basset puppy, particularly in the first few days.

Feeding

• As with other puppies, a basset should initially be fed the same food it was on before coming to its new home. A new diet should be introduced gradually over a period of 10 days to avoid stomach upset. The effective method is to add a small amount of the new food to the old food and increase the overall proportion of the new food daily.

  Owners should pay careful attention to how much they feed their basset puppy; because of its body structure, weight gain is particularly problematic for this breed. Further, bassets are prone to bloat, a potentially serious condition, so they should be fed smaller, more frequent meals, rather than one large meal.

Health Care

• Besides providing the veterinary checkups and vaccinations all puppies need, basset owners must pay attention to the special health concerns of this breed. For example, because of their long ears, bassets are prone to infections, so owners must clean a basset puppy's ears at least three to four times a month.