Hound Medium size 20-29 kg

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.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
20-29 kg · 33-38 cm
Low-moderate
Exercise needs
Modest needs; a couple of walks a day
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal workday if eased in
Challenging
Training
Willful; needs patient, consistent handling
Low
Coat care
Occasional brushing
Excellent
Fit with kids
Excellent and gentle with children
Good
Other pets
Generally sociable with other animals
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia

The Basset Hound typically weighs 20-29 kg, stands 33-38 cm, and lives 10-12 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a calm, patient family dog that is genuinely great with kids,
steady daily walks suit you better than sport and training ambitions,
you can live with baying, drool, and a distinct hound smell,
you will keep its weight strictly in check - the long back depends on it.

Do not consider this breed if…

you want reliable off-leash recall - a nose on a trail overrides your voice,
quick obedience matters to you; this hound negotiates everything,
stairs are unavoidable daily and you can't carry a 25 kg dog,
howling would be a problem for your neighbors when the dog is alone.

A typical day with a Basset Hound

  1. 7:00 · Morning
    30-40 min slow walk driven entirely by the nose
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Deep sleep; a basset is a champion napper
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short garden break, maybe a food puzzle
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Scent games or a treat-search - work with the nose, not against it
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second walk, unhurried; leash on near open fields
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Snoring somewhere soft, ideally with a view of the family

Temperament and training

Scent drive Very high
Independence High
Trainability Low
Gentleness Very high
Vocality High
Food motivation Very high
Common owner mistakes
Letting it off leash in open country and expecting recall · Feeding to those pleading eyes until the long back carries dangerous weight · Allowing stair-running and furniture-jumping that punish its spine

Family and environment

Kids Excellent
Famously tolerant and gentle; sturdy enough for family chaos.
Dogs Good
A pack hound by history; usually happiest with canine company.
Cats Good
Typically peaceful indoors, especially raised together.
Apartment Conditional
Calm indoors, but baying carries and stairs strain the back.
House with a yard Suitable
Fence low gaps well - a nose-led basset squeezes through.
City Manages
Unbothered by bustle; leash walking is non-negotiable anyway.
Countryside Suitable
Scent paradise - which is exactly why the fence matters.
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 profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Routine dental care and cleanings needed
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for early lameness
Bloat (GDV) Feed smaller meals and know the emergency signs
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.

Smaller, livelier scenthound
Beagle
A merry, kid-proof scent hound that follows its nose over your commands - and tells the whole street when left alone.
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Much bigger nose-first cousin
Bloodhound
The ultimate tracking nose in a gentle giant - loving with family, but drooly, stubborn, prone to bloat and one of the shorter-lived large breeds.
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Similarly heavy, easygoing low-speed companion
Clumber Spaniel
A heavy, mellow gundog that is calmer than most spaniels - affectionate and good with families, but a drooler that gains weight easily.
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Frequently asked questions

How much does a Basset Hound cost?
Expect roughly $800-$2,000 from a health-testing breeder in the US. Budget past the purchase: a 20-29 kg dog eats like a medium-large breed, the ears need lifelong routine care, and back or joint problems in a long-bodied breed can mean imaging and surgery bills in the thousands. An emergency fund or insurance is a sensible companion purchase.
Are Basset Hounds hard to train?
They are hard to train the conventional way, yes. A basset is not stupid - it was bred to follow a scent for hours without checking in with anyone, and that independence shows in obedience work. Food rewards, short sessions, and low expectations for off-leash recall are the realistic recipe. If crisp obedience matters to you, pick another breed.
Can a Basset Hound live in an apartment?
Conditionally. Its exercise needs are modest and it is calm indoors, which fits apartment life. The two catches are noise - a lonely basset bays, loudly and at length - and stairs, which strain its long back daily. Ground floor or elevator access and tolerant neighbors make it workable.
Is a Basset Hound good with kids?
One of the best. The breed is patient, gentle, and solid enough not to be knocked over by toddlers, and it genuinely enjoys family company. The standard rules still apply - supervise small children and protect the dog's food bowl, because bassets take food very seriously.