In some parts of the country, Basset Hounds are still used for hunting game, but otherwise make great family pets. This is because of their laid-back attitude and the fact they love playing with kids! They are discussed as being ‘noble’ in appearance but are far from it in personality, with their lovable, docile ways. Although not the smallest, these guys still fancy themselves as lap dogs and will try their best to sit on yours! They have an incredible sense of smell and it’s believed the only dogs with better smelling capabilities are the bloodhound, they also gain weight very quickly – so it’s probably best you hide your food in a very high place!

The Basset Hound is most probably descended from the St. Hubert Hound, an elderly ancestor of the Bloodhound that we know today. It’s thought that the St. Hubert suffered a mutation, that produced short-legged pups. People kept them as items of curiosity until it was discovered that they had an excellent ability to track small mammals in difficult environments. The first illustration and record found of these dogs were in a book about hunting, written in 1585, though these dogs have since changed in appearance. It wasn’t until the 1870s that they truly came into popularity when a British breeding program was created by Sir Everett Millais, who was known as ‘the father of the breed’. But the real turning point for these sweet doggies, was in 1928 when one was featured on the front of Time Magazine, they have since grown and grown and have even featured on advertisements for ‘Hush Puppy Shoes’!