Basset Hounds are quite easy maintenance in the grooming department because they boast short coats. A weekly brush will keep things tidy and any loose hair off the furniture. Like other breeds, Bassets shed more during the Spring and Summer when more frequent brushing is necessary.
It's also important to keep an eye on a Basset Hound's ears to make sure they are clean and dry. Any moisture in a dog's ears provides the perfect environment for a yeast infection to take hold and these can be really hard to clear up.
When it comes to bathing a Basset Hound, this should only really need to be done when necessary because over-bathing a dog could result in upsetting the natural oils found in a dog's coat and skin. It's also really important to use a dog-specific shampoo which contains the right pH balance for the same reason.
Basset Hound puppies need to be taught that having their nails and paws touched in not a bad experience and they need to be introduced to any grooming tools from a young age too. Like this, dogs will look forward to a grooming session and enjoy the one-to-one attention they are given.
Although Basset Hounds might look like couch potatoes, quite the opposite is true. They need regular daily exercise and they enjoy spending as much time in a garden as possible, but fencing has to be a very secure because if a Basset Hound picks up a scent and they can escape out of a garden, they will.
However, puppies only need a little daily exercise to begin with because long walks would put too much pressure on their growing joints and bones which could lead to serious problems later in their lives. Twenty minutes play in the garden when the weather is fine is all that puppies really need, but as soon as they have had all their vaccinations, they can be taken out for short walks so they get to meet new people, other dogs and new situations which would help them grow into well-rounded, confident adult dogs.
Basset Hounds generally have very healthy appetites which means if they are not given the right amount of exercise on a daily basis, these dogs are prone for putting on too much weight. Both puppies and adult Basset Hounds need to be fed a good quality, well-balanced diet throughout their lives making sure it suits the different stages of their lives.
If you get a Basset Hound puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same type of food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upset and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change their diet again.
Basset Hounds are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean they can be fed a lower quality diet. The reason being that it would not contain the right levels of nutrients that dogs need to remain healthy.
