Bassett Hounds Smell A Lot
Bassett Hounds smell in two very different ways. By that I mean they CAN smell, as in, they have great sense of smell and also I mean they DO smell, as in, they are odorous.
First they have the ability to smell because they were breed to be excellent hunting companions. The breed has a prize winning way of using their outstanding sense of smell while in the field hunting. Their gigantic ears were developed to capture the smells and channel them, “wave them” or “fan them” toward the nose. They sort of capture the scents and provide the dog another opportunity to decipher the smell. Many people don’t realize that the folds of their skin also help to capture the scents and hold them a little longer to give the breed another advantage over other dogs. In fact the only dogs that are better than Bassett Hounds are the Blood Hounds.
Because of this ability they have also have a chance to catch what is termed a “cold” scent that many other dogs would miss and to do so from a far greater distance. Bassett Hounds have been used as hunting dogs since they were first developed by the French in the 16th century. Their ability in the field can be both a blessing and a curse as they do have a tendency to wander so have to be carefully monitored if not leashed or in a fenced area.
This ability to smell also can affect their behavior in other ways especially if you are trying to train them or just get their attention. They are greatly influenced by the aromas in the air and will most times ignore you if attention has been attached to a scent. In fact they will at times just pretend you don’t exist sometimes to their own peril. An owner has to understand this is great entertainment to them and also what they were breed for. They love to go for walks and partake of all the interesting aromas of the world.
The other way that this breed smells is in the way that they can be very odorous if not properly cared for. The truth is sometimes Bassett Hounds smell bad, there is no escaping it. It is recommended that they be bathed at least once a week in the months that they are kept indoors. It is said that they are kept outdoors for a reason although many have adapted to indoor living by the careful attention from their owners.
A Bassett Hounds coat will get oily if left without a bath for too long and this is most noticeable in the older males. They also tend to smell like a dog more quickly than many breeds and keep that dog smell even after a bath. One way to help with this is to use doggy wipes in between baths. These are similar to baby wipes and help to extend the fresh smell or at least keep the odor away longer. Some theorize that diet plays a roll but with no substantial evidence either way one would have to rely on common sense, keen observation and experience to determine if this is true for your dog.
One thing is for sure no matter how good they are at using their noses, how much they misbehave or how bad they may smell at times, there are a group of us that are for ever attached to these lovable Bassett Hounds with all their distinctive traits.
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Filed Under Bassett Hounds, Health, Smell | 11 Comments
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11 Responses to “Bassett Hounds Smell A Lot”
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I didn’t know that! Thanks for the interesting info about Bassett Hounds sense of smell.
The more you look at the Bassett Hound breed and how they were bread over a very long time for a very specific purpose of hunting it is truly amazing how well this was accomplished and the patience it must have taken to do so. If you look hard sometimes you can even find bassett hounds pictures as the dogs were being molded into what they are today. Thanks for the comment Mark.
Lavender will work for the “smell”..Plus cleaning
the ears weekly..It works for “Chester”
I have heard that Basset Hounds smell is like a freshly opened bag of corn chips. So I sniffed my Bassie Girls, Bella and Sophie, and by using a little imagination they did smell like corn chips (Sophie more then Bella). I happen to like the hound smell, but some people don’t. You are either a hound person or your not.
Also, the Basset is second only to the Blood Hound for their scenting ability!
Gosh yes, they do indeed smell bad, I have a year old Basset and it was the one thing I was not prepared for. If you can’t cope with a doggie smell it’s certainly not the breed for you.
I have been trying to control Sadie’s body odour for some time, I thought bathing weekly would dry out her skin, thanks for the info, will bath her more often and try the lavender as well. Have her on a strict diet to see if allergy may be contributing to the problem , but I guess it is just another “bassett ” thing to get used to . The “corn chip” smell is right on the money. I called it a salty sweaty smell and is worst between the toes and under the “pits”
Great website. I have a bassett/aussie shephard mix. His body is all bassett except for the ears and his long hair. His name is Blue and he’s a rescue doggie. We love him lots. Now, back to the smell. LOL OMG, I don’t think there is a word in the English language to describe his smell at times. I wish it was corn chips. LOL Oh well. We love his smell, his snoring, his farting and his hiccups. I would love to hear from others about their dogs. Bonnie
Thank you for this article. I had a very nice Basset hound for 14 years and he lived outside when I finally realized I could not get the stink off of him. I did not realize that it was a breed trait. Gus. He was a great dog and I miss him.
@ Bonnie
I think we all fall in love with the obnoxious habits of these adorable dogs. Thanks for sharing about your Blue.
@sandra
Yes these are things we as Bassett Hound owners we have to get used to. I hope the hints presented in the post will be helpful to you. I would be very interested in hearing if the lavender helped at all. I have found it helps on some dogs and on others it does not seem to help at all.
@ Becki
Couldn’t agree with you more. You have to love them or you are in for a not so pleasant experience.