Basset Hound Dachshund Mix Makes Good Family Dog

Offspring of Popular Hound Breeds Provide Excellent Option as Pets

Oct 30, 2009

This short and sturdy small dog mix provides a great option for people who want a good family dog and faithful companion in apartments or houses.

Purebred dogs remain highly popular due to a desirable breed's history, characteristics and social cachet, but well-chosen mixed dogs can provide the same personality traits while offering the benefits of a lower initial cost, potentially improved health, and the joy of rescuing a dog that otherwise might be destroyed.

One example of a good mix for those not interested in registered or show dogs is the basset hound/dachshund dog. This combination can produce an unusual looking dog with traits such as small body size and a cheerful, spunky personality that prove ideal for companion dogs.

Knowing more about the typical traits of basset hounds and dachshunds can help a person decide if this mix will be a good fit in his or her family.

Basset Hounds as Scent HoundsFrench in origin, basset hounds were bred from several different dog breeds but truly take after the larger bloodhound. After the bloodhound, basset hounds make the strongest scent hounds, aided by powerful noses and long ears that help the bassets track their prey. While the dogs may have short legs, they enjoy exercise outside and can also relax indoors with ease.

Famous Bassets and Their Owners

Made famous by their large sad eyes and droopy ears, the breed experienced further bumps in popularity due to "Flash", the perennial still but expressive basset hound on the Dukes of Hazzard, and with Marilyn Monroe's Hugo, whom husband Arthur Miller ironically referred to as Flash.

Specialized Breeding of Dachshunds in Germany

Dachshunds were popularized in Germany during the 1700s and used for hunting small animals. Through the next few centuries, the dog’s size decreased to the size of today’s standard and smaller miniature versions.

Famous Dachshund Owners

Dachshunds’ coat colors and hair length can vary widely and their confident personalities have engaged Queen Victoria, Pablo Picasso, James Carville and Mary Matalin among many others.

Characteristics Typical of the Breeds

Since both dogs exhibit the deep-chested, long, low-slung body shape, basset/dachshund offspring will typically show that as well. Both breeds can be stubborn, which, while fondly noted by fans of the breeds, is important for novice dog owners to consider. Children who are old enough to respect dogs will find many basset/dachshunds to be excellent playmates, since the dogs grow to a manageable, non-frightening size for children and often exhibit a playful attitude with their human counterparts.

Results of Mixing Bassets and Dachshunds

Many mixed offspring will fall in between the stout, heavier-boned bassets and the slightly more delicate, smaller dachshunds. Ears can be a range of long to shorter, usually well off the ground. Tails may be solid colored (like a dachshund’s) or white-tipped, as is typical in a basset. Coat colors may be closer to the tri-color black, brown and white (or related variations) found in bassets or may be brindle, dapple, or other patterns that occur in dachshund coats.

Mixed dogs often have a longer life span than purebred dogs and may be less susceptible to diseases and deformities common to specific breeds. Since both dachshunds and bassets have the same elongated form, pet owners will want to be considerate of the potential for back problems which can result in partial paralysis, especially if the dog becomes overweight. Adults and children who pick up the dogs will want to provide ample support to the dog's hind end, so as not to injure the dog's back.

Benefits of Mixed Dogs

While purebred basset hounds and dachshunds can each fetch hundreds of dollars, the mixed offspring can be found easily on animal shelter sites such as Petfinder.org and local sites. Rescue dogs are often already spayed or neutered before being available for adoption, so that is one less responsibility required by the new pet owner.

As is evident in animal shelters and in newspaper classifieds, since there are millions of homeless dogs already in existence, pet owners should not purposely breed dachshunds and basset hounds in order to achieve this type of dog.

Each dog will be different and may not show the expected traits, so it is important to meet the dog before purchasing to ensure a satisfying lifelong relationship.

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The copyright of the article Basset Hound Dachshund Mix Makes Good Family Dog in Dog Breeds is owned by Bonnye Good. Permission to republish Basset Hound Dachshund Mix Makes Good Family Dog in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.