Pronunciation: [ Base•shund ]
The Basschshund is a hybrid dog that comes from cross-breeding the Basset Hound with the Dachshund. These medium-sized dogs are playful but stubborn, love company but are fine on their own, and have some habits that must be managed with early and patient training. They are not purebred dogs and as such are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or any other established kennel clubs.
| Type | Lifespan | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 12-15 yrs. | 9-12 in. | 25-45 lbs |
This hybrid dog may be put to work as a hunting dog but they are also great companions. Cross-breeding two great purebred hunting dogs may or may not produce as good or better puppies, and they are not the best dogs for first-time families. For semi-experienced dog owners whose homes have kids and other dogs, these dogs are great. Non-canine pets may pose a problem, however, especially small, furry ones.
There are a fair amount of things to consider with Basschshunds:
PROS
CONS
The Basschshund's purebred parent breeds are both placed in the Hound Dog Group by the AKC. Because both parent breeds are long-bodied, short-legged dogs with a superior sense of smell, you can count on your Basschshund being pretty much the same. There are differences, however, and so some Basschshunds may look more like a Basset Hound than Daschund or vice versa, or it may be a curiously perfect mix of both parents.
Like the more general features, both parent breeds are very intelligent and are sure to pass this on to all their puppies. These hybrid dogs will want to be mentally stimulated, and they are great with agility games, food puzzles and the like. They like to learn on their own, and they can do so swiftly.
They may give the appearance of being awkward and clumsy, but these dogs are sure-footed, balanced and confident in their stride and movements. They are extremely curious and love to dig, and they will try to get into places that are hard for you to retrieve them if they decide they wish to stay there. There is also the possibility that they will have the deep, loud, baying bark of their Basset Hound parent.
These dogs aren't lazy, but they do like to lie around a bit. A couple of hours daily of walking (or running) and play with other dogs in the backyard or at the dog park will keep them fit and happy.
Many hybrid dogs typically have hybrid vigor to help against inheriting some or most of their parent breeds' health problems, but the Basschshund is not really one of those lucky hybrids. They tend to have a lot of their parents' problems due to their long bodies, short legs, and other physical aspects. As their parent breeds are usually very active dogs — especially when hunting — these hybrid dogs generally inherit the desire to eat a lot and be somewhat dangerously overactive. All of these aspects can add up to a lot of problems, most of which can be mitigated with careful diets and proper care.
If you are going to adopt a Basschshund, you should be aware of these potential issues:
Despite all the potential problems, these dogs have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years
