Bassett Hounds Smell A Lot
Filed Under Bassett Hounds, Health, Smell |
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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I didn’t know that! Thanks for the interesting info about Bassett Hounds sense of smell.