Hound Small size 15-20 kg
Artesien Normand Basset
A short-legged French basset with a merry pack temperament, a good-natured companion led firmly by its nose and its stomach.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Small
Size
15-20 kg · 30-36 cm
Moderate
Exercise needs
Moderate; a daily walk plus some play
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal workday if eased in
Moderate
Training
Capable but needs motivation
Wash-and-go
Coat care
Wash-and-go coat
Good
Fit with kids
Good, patient family dog
Good
Other pets
Generally sociable with other animals
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia
The Artesien Normand Basset typically weighs 15-20 kg, stands 30-36 cm, and lives 11-14 years.
Consider this breed if…
you want a merry, sociable small hound with moderate exercise needs,
you like unhurried, sniff-heavy walks rather than athletic ones,
there are kids or other dogs at home - it is a pack animal at heart,
you can accept selective hearing once a scent takes over.
Do not consider this breed if…
you expect reliable off-leash recall - a scent trail beats you every time,
barking and baying would be a problem with your neighbors,
you cannot strictly control food - this shape gains weight easily and its long back pays for it,
you want a US-available breed; it is rare outside France and imports take patience.
A typical day with a Artesien Normand Basset
- 7:00 · MorningUnhurried 30-40 min sniffing walk
- 9:30 · MidmorningNaps; checks the kitchen occasionally
- 12:30 · NoonShort garden or leash break
- 16:00 · AfternoonScent games, food puzzle
- 18:30 · EveningLonger walk, ideally somewhere new to smell
- 21:30 · NightFlops down, snores contentedly
Family and environment
Kids Good
Patient and merry; sturdy enough for family life.
Dogs Very good
Pack hound; genuinely happier with canine company.
Cats Conditional
Usually fine indoors when raised together.
Apartment Conditional
Size works; baying may not.
House with a yard Suitable
Fence it well - the nose leads and the dog follows.
City Manages
Leash life suits it; smells everywhere.
Countryside Great fit
Watch livestock scents and unfenced land.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Moderate
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Dental Disease Routine dental care and cleanings needed
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for early lameness
Back problems (IVDD) Long-backed build; avoid stairs and jumping, keep lean
Chronic Ear Infections Keep the ears dry and check them often
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
The heavier, easy-to-find cousin
Basset Hound
A gentle, low-slung scenthound that is wonderful with kids but stubborn on the trail and prone to ear, back, and weight issues.
View profile →
Closely related rare French basset
Artois Basset
A low-set French scenthound, sociable and even-tempered, but a determined tracker that follows a scent regardless of recall.
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Similar merry scenthound, easier to source
Beagle
A merry, kid-proof scent hound that follows its nose over your commands - and tells the whole street when left alone.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does a Basset Artesien Normand cost?
In the US, almost nothing about this breed is straightforward: there are very few if any active breeders, so most buyers import from France. Between the puppy, paperwork and flights, expect $2,000-$4,000 all in. Ownership costs are moderate - roughly $1,200-$2,000 a year - but budget extra for back problems, a known risk in long-backed bassets, which can cost thousands if surgery is needed.
Is it different from a regular Basset Hound?
Yes. The Basset Artesien Normand is lighter, leggier and more agile than the heavy Anglo-American Basset Hound, with less exaggerated skin and ears. Temperament is similar - merry, sociable, scent-obsessed - but the French basset tends to be a bit livelier and carries less structural burden.
Can it be let off leash?
Treat off-leash freedom as a fenced-area privilege only. This is a working scenthound bred to follow a trail for hours; once the nose locks on, recall becomes a suggestion. Long lines and secured fields let it sniff safely without the risk.
Does it bark a lot?
It bays - a deep, carrying hound voice - when excited, bored or on a scent. In a detached house with reasonable stimulation this is manageable; in a thin-walled apartment it can become a neighbor problem. Plan mental work and do not leave it under-occupied for long days.