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Dog Articles
Past and Present:
Basset Hound
The
Basset, which is little known in this country, was imported into
England from France between fifty and sixty years ago. It was a
popular sporting dog in Germany and Russia also at that time. With
its keen scent, extremely short legs, and very slow movements, it
was well equipped for finding game in dense cover. The face of the
rough basset is often very wistful; it is one of the most beautiful
canine faces I know.
The Basset
is doubtless a compound of the old long-eared hound and the
Dachshund. Indeed, the type is exactly described if we picture a
small bloodhound set on a dachshund's legs, and further words become
unnecessary, except to say that the breed 'comes' in two forms -
smooth or hound-coated and rough or terrier-coated.
The latter
has never, I think, and the former but seldom, been introduced into
this country, where the more active (though possibly more erratic)
beagle has so firm a hold. In Europe it is used as a rabbit dog,
being low enough to enter the warren. Here, where the rabbits do not
dig, but live on the surface, the lively beagle is more useful than
his slow, sedate, and steady congener. Any 'hound color' is correct.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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