Comments on: Bassett Hounds Smell A Lot

By: John

John — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:46:48 +0000

If your Basset is smelly it is probably due alot to what they are eating. I had problems with my buddy’s odor and shedding while I was feeding dry/wet pedigree and Iams. I switched him to dry Wellness (a much healthier brand) and he is smooth, shiny and needs a bath only once a month now.

By: Tizzzy

Tizzzy — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:49:24 +0000

I have found, with our 2 year old basset (male) named Goober that he stinks worse after being outside for over an hour. Their skin oils and hair pick up the outdoors scent and hold on to it for a while. If you want to limit the bad stink:
1. keep their ears clean (in and out…meaning from the parts that drag on the floor and in the dog bowl, to the ear hole, to the inner ear). Clean the ear itself with the regual dog wash, the ear hole with a wet papertowel or rag (not soaking wet), and the inner ear with a vet approved ear cleaning solution you squirt in.
2. Brush their teeth atleast 3x a week.
3. When showering/bathing the dog:
a. Wash him down once with an antibacterial soap….a mild one.
b. Wash him down a second time with any anti-stink shampoo you can get at the petsmart that is mild…preferably one with enzymes to loosen their excess hair. And really scrub into the hair down to the skin with firm, but gentle strokes. Their hair carries a lot of oil and you have to scrub it all out.
c. Follow with a VERY light conditioner. Not something that will make them greasy. Just something to soothe the skin.
d. Rinse and re-rinse. You really have to make sure you get all the product, excess hair, and oil out of their coat. It is much thicker and holds much more stink producing oil than you’d think.
e. Dry them really well and air dry them in the house in an area where they won’t sweat. Don’t let him get cold or anything, but sweat makes them stink faster…same as a person.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:56:59 +0000

From what I understand, Basset hounds can develop yesat infections between the folds of their skin and between the pads of their paws. Usually these yeast infections smell “salty”. The dogs might chew their paws, lick their skin folds, etc.

I’m fostering a B. hound that smells very “doggy” but does not smell salty like corn chips. I’m sure every hound has their own personal scent but just be aware that it is important to keep these folds and their paws dry. If you notice increased licking of the paws or skin folds then the hound may need a special cream prescribed by your vet to get rid of the yeast infection.

By: Hollie

Hollie — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:53:02 +0000

I have a 14 yr old basset named Spartacus he is a 70 pounder and boy the smeold ll is horrible. He loves going to the groomers!!! I take him every two weeks and he knows which day is “his day” and is in a big rush to get out the door…however the ears remain a problem. Frequent trips to vet cleaning and still the smell is awful, however we have had him since he was 8 weeks (when they’re not stinky), we didn’t know about the breed, the smell, the shedding year round, but he is a big part of our family. Our 6 year old refers to him as her “brother” . AS far as temperment BEST dog I have ever owned but doubt another bassett is in my future im thinking a hairless cat…lol

By: Brianna

Brianna — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:07:42 +0000

You r so right Melissa. We are giving him a bath now.He smells like Fritos and Parmesan cheese . Ugh we can’t stand it when our dog stinks up our couch. About 1 day later after we give him a bath he already stinks. His name is Dallas Zeus.Is there a special shampoo we can use? LOL!!!! Sometimes he likes baths. (Like I said sometimes.) Basset Hounds r so cute. You know if your dogs face is really wrinkly put them on top of u and make then look at u. It is the cutest things u will ever see in your life

By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:29:19 +0000

Okay I clean my 14wk old basset hanks ears like 3x a week and they still smell like he’s making beer in there does anyone please have some advice for me? I can deal with the hound dog smell but this ear smell is horrible!

By: Dazzle

Dazzle — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:06:10 +0000

I was so moved to read your loving comments about your Bassetts. God bless you all for being able to love and appreciate these precious creatures despite their unique smell. Sounds to me like their marvelous personalities more than make up for the odor and thankfully it can be minimized with loving care.

By: Carolina

Carolina — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 03:57:24 +0000

Hello! I have Celeste – and i need your help. She is the best, well natured, super sweet, lovely and cute 1 yr old basset. we got this breed ’cause they are an “easy” breed with no grooming required…. or so the book said!
1. What is the difference between wet face and dry face bassets? how can i tell?
2. what do you do with the lavender? is it fresh? you spray the dog with it? feed it to her? LOL
my baby will kiss her and love on her – but then – the baby smells like Celeste…

UGH she produces the most potent gas, that sweet face “wasn’t me” look, and there are these wiffs of rotten parmesan covered fish – that i don’t know where they come from? bad breath? definitly not gas, those are terrible too…

about the glands – my vet said they can excrete them themselves… i would prefer to take her weekly rather than having the wiffs of fresh rotteness!!! Can these be operated on?

Oh Hound my hound… i appreciate everyone’s help on tips to keep our life together enjoyable not just clean and wipe after my sweet houuuund!

By: Susanne

Susanne — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:28:59 +0000

I recently adopted a 2-year old basset, whom I named Skylar. He came to me un-neutered and not potty-trained and boy, did he smell and shed and his ears were covered with drool and old food, as well as other unidentifyable muck. Good thing the boy loves his baths and daily brushing. After he was neutered, the potty-training didn’t take too long, but the smell remains even after his baths and daily freshen-ups with special sprays. I don’t mind the smell so much because I used to have an old dog that mixed with hound and had a similar strong smell. In a way, he reminds me of him because of that. What I didn’t know and wasn’t told by his former (quite neglectful) owners, was that he needs his anal glands expressed on a regular basis. I’m used to having larger dogs and they usually don’t need that done.
Skylar is a high-maintenance dog who needs the saliva wiped off his ears and corners of his mouth several times a day. Anytime he drinks water, I stand behind him armed with a towel, because once he’s done, there’s a waterfall of drool coming from his mouth. His adorable huge feet reek to high heavens. Haven’t checked his pits yet (and don’t want to). Skyalr is still young and I hope he will be with me for a long, long time. I will put up with the smell and the extra work because his personality is so worth it.

By: Sandra Matthews

Sandra Matthews — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:03:06 +0000

My wonderful baby, Bullit, has that ‘smelly’ problem if he doesn’t get his weekly bath so to keep the odor in check between baths I put baby powder under his legs, front and back, every night. He loves this and I can tell it makes him feel so special. He loves his baths so much that whenever he realizes that he is stinky, he will go jump in the tub where I bathe him and bark until I either do the bath or the baby powder. I bathe him with baby shampoo followed by a rinse with aloe vera gel. I know he’s spoiled but he lives inside and sleeps on the foot of my bed.