Does anyone else have a basset hound?

[KimL]

We have our first. She's one, a rescue from the new england basset hound rescue. We got her at 9 months after her 2 stints in lockdown (the pound). She's the most ill-behaved animal I've ever met! We love her. She's a DOLL. kind, sweet. Loves to play with my son and her and my Sammy dog are THE BEST of friends- they ADORE one another. But , she's our first hound. And, although I have an extensive dog-background (i've rescued and fostered anything from a wolf-hybrid to a weimy mix that only knew spanish) , she is 100% more challanging then any other dog I've known! She WILL NOT be house trained. She barks/bays ALL THE TIME. She eats crayons with the gusto of a crayola recycling factory. She is STRONG for such a little girl and is JUST NOW STARTING to get the leash. We will walk for 1 hour + and she'll come right back in and poop on the floor. I just don't get these dogs and would LOVE to hear from someone experianced with them. To get some insight and help me "figure them out".

[mistymama]

Welcome to the world of bassets!

I've owned 3 bassets in my lifetime and used to be very active in the rescue.

So what do you want to know? They are wonderful dogs - but as you are probably realizing have a mind of their own and can be beyond stubborn!!

I can't recommend crate training enough, esp for bassets. We crate trained all of ours and each rescue that came through. It helps big time with accidents and chewing. Until you get her pottying under control I would keep here right with you, on a walk, or in the crate. Kinda back to basics, kwim?

Let me know if you have any specific questions. I just love bassets and would have gotten one this time around, but had to agree to something smaller for my husband. We ended up with a mini dachshund (I'm a sucker for long bodies!) and he's a challenging little guy sometimes too. Hounds are the best.

[EFmom]

I've got a Basset Hound/German Shepherd mix that we got from a rescue. She's got a body shaped like the BH, with the short legs and funny feet, but the coloration and coat of a GS.

Actually, she's one of the easier dogs I've ever had, but then again, after a Dalmatian, most dogs are a piece of cake. She's eager to please and is pretty easy going.

She was housetrained when we got her. The only time she's had an accident was when dh gave her a big piece of rawhide, and then later crated her to go to work. After cleaning out her crate, he's been trained to no more rawhide.

She does like to eat inappropriate things. TV remote controls are a favorite food, and last night she enjoyed one of dd's Nintendo cartridges. Hopefully, she's made dd believe mommy when she says to put away the DS. She likes shoes and stuffies if she can find them. She'll eat crayons in a pinch, but pencils are her writing utensil of choice.

She doesn't bark very much and she's good with visitors. She's not great on a leash, but she's learning. She wants to chase anything that moves and gets horribly excited over things like blowing leaves. She trees racoons, but thankfully we haven't encountered any skunks yet. She'll dislocate your arm if she sees a bunny.

[KimL]

the good part is the german shepard. I doubt there is a real basset hound alive that's "eager to please" hahahahhahhahhaha

[KimL]

mistymama, thank you! Unfortunatly I do not think that a basset-mix and a basset purebred are the same animal!!! haha.

So, you've survived THREE of the little buggers? My hat is OFF to you. They are SO breed specific it cracks me up! I am NOT a crate person, but without it I would have burried her in the yard by now!

Her constant baying is killing me. KILLING ME. I'm a chornic migraine sufferer and I find her being a trigger on a daily basis. We live in a condo which isn't a prime location for a basset, this I know, but it is what we have now.

My husband threatens to get a shock coller but I will not do that. What can we do? Is there anyway to train that god awful life sucking noise out of them? She does it when she hears things outside (ummm we have people outside often- it's a CONDO!). There are certainly different type barks from her but it's this one that is so chaotic and imbalanced to me. Her playful bark, although almost equally as loud, isn't nearly as migraine-inducing. kwim? WOULD a shock coller train her out of this? I saw in fosters pet catalog that they have a different type collar that sends out a high frequency signal when she starts barking- would that be any gentler?

I do have to say that her leash manners are getting better. much better just this last two weeks. So, she has given us a ray of hope!!

oh, and I grew up with standard doxies. Smart dogs. Yes, they're stubborn but they seem to be MUCH more intune with humans than bassets are. don't you think?

also, I totally understand that a few years makes a WORLD of difference in dogs. I've had many dogs come thru my life and there hasn't been one that has NOT calmed down with after that "toddlerdom" is thru! Does this ring true with bassets?

[beanma]

KimL, I don't have a bassett, but I have a coonhound mix and she bays, too. I have read, but not tried it, that the best way to get them to be quiet is to clicker train them to "speak" and then once they have the "speak" command down you can clicker train them to "shhh". Like I said I haven't tried it, but it sounded really good.

Luckily we have a large backyard so theoretically we can let our dog out in the yard, but that's after we get that bigger fence put in that she can't jump.

[KimL]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH how I dream of a fenced back yard!!! soon, real soon!

I started my Sammy w/ clicker training and not only did he not seem to enjoy it, but I TOTALLY didn't enjoy it. It just seemed unnatural to me? Maybe I'm wierd! That said, we are going to start formal training with her soon. The issue is my headaches. Until I can be sure a migraine isn't going to appear I cannot drive to the classes. B ut until this dog shuts up I cannot be sure a migraine will not happen. It's a vicious circle of head pain! ugh.

I hate to complain about her at all because she's so kind and affectionate... but I'm starting to have moments of really disliking her and that is not normal for me. at all.

what I need is for her to stop the obsssive barking at what's none of her business (like people outside, etc), now! She's slowly destroying any peace I manage to strum up!

[beanma]

KimL, did you just not like the clicking part of the clicker training? You can do the same thing with a word like "yes" in a really happy voice, but you need to be careful to say it the same way each time. If it was the treats and all that bugged you, though, using the word instead of clicking wouldn't change that.

Here are two articles on teaching "quiet":

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1125
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/185

hth, but like I said I haven't really tried it yet.

[mistymama]

Kim, I know you are at wits end, but you totally made me smile and miss my bassets.

Most of mine did not bay unless they were chasing something - but I would honestly consider this http://www.americas-pet-store.com/de...rodid/646.html if I did have a barker. I think it's pretty humane, just sprays a citrus mist.

I will say we tried all kinds of training and well - bassets can't always be trained. Sometimes you just have to work with, and around them. That's why I suggested the citrus collar.

And yes, this Doxie is a sweet heart. He actually cares if I'm upset with him which is a big change from all of my bassets. But I swear - bassets really are great dogs - sweet, funny clowns - and I would get one again in a heartbeat.

[KimL]

Mistymama, I cannot say it enough- I AM AT MY WITS END. But, at the same time, I adore this little girl. Yes, sweet funny clown sums it up! Of course, you left out the piggish, stubborn blabbermouth part! I didn't even tell you all of her bad parts, I'm guessing you already know about the constant counter surfing... stealing food right out of my sons' hand... and there's no denying who's poop is in our common yard because her's GLITTERS with the colors of the crayon rainbow and school project sparkes!

We will find a way for her and I am going to order that spray thing. But, I'm pretty sure she'll be our one and only basset hound!

She sure makes my samoyed look good though!

[Carson]

My neighbor has one that drives me nutso with the baying all freaking day long, so I understand.

I've read up on it, not like it will do anything for me, but found that you should teach her to speak, and reward that speaking. The dog eventually learns to speak when requested, not just randomly.

One thing that worked for our dobe (who are notorious for their whining) was taking a squeeze bottle of lime juice and squirting it into her mouth along with a sharp 'SHHH!' command. It's kept a lot of the excessive whining down, and we really can just do it verbally now. I've always wondered if that would work with the basset next door... Maybe it's worth a try.

[bauchtanz]

We had one. THe most impossible animal ever. It would work all day to escape, run away, then stand in the middle of the park and bark till we came and got it. Oh man, that thing barked inside, outside. ALL THE TIME>

I now have a dauchshound, which, is smimmilar but smaller.

It is my understanding that it was potty trained, but, at the time I was a self absorbed teenager and don't remember that whole thing since she was my brother's pet for the most part.

[it's just apples]

Wow! This thread really makes me reconsider ever getting the basset that dh has always wanted! I've been involved in the dog world for most of my life and never really known a basset...now maybe I know why.

[mistymama]

Originally Posted by it's just apples

Wow! This thread really makes me reconsider ever getting the basset that dh has always wanted! I've been involved in the dog world for most of my life and never really known a basset...now maybe I know why.

Aww, don't let this thread scare you off. They really are great dogs - I've had 3 of my own and lots of rescues. I guess it takes a certain type of person to really fall in love with the breed - but they are not all huge problems, I swear.

Esp if you get one from puppyhood and can somewhat train them. Bassets are certainly a dog that does not change old habbits easily. But I must say every single one of my bassets was potty trained very easily - heck, much easier than this mini dachshund I've got now! They really are great dogs, I can't wait to be back into a house so I can get another one.

[KimL]

Originally Posted by it's just apples

Wow! This thread really makes me reconsider ever getting the basset that dh has always wanted! I've been involved in the dog world for most of my life and never really known a basset...now maybe I know why.

if it's the right dog for your family I would say GET ONE! But... if you're scared simply by these charactoristics- don't do it! They are KNOWN for being difficult to housetrain. for running. for the chronic baying... all common traits of the breed. Of course, getting one at 8 weeks would make a world of difference in helping your dog learn to control it's natural instincts. But, that would usually mean getting one from a breeder and I'm certainly not going to advocate that. Because every pup bought from a breeder is one that will be stuck in a shelter or a foster home.

But, they're super sweet kind funny dogs. they are. They're just BAD- like a two year old all the time!

[Catubodua]

just a thought on the citronella / spray barking collars....

my cousin has a dashund and he figured out within a day how to bark then immediately take off in the opposite direction so that the spray doesn't get him. he takes full advantage of the momentary pause between the barking and the collar reacting and knows if he moves away from the spot he's in, the spray sprays everywhere but at him. regular little pain in the ass he is!