Play Time

One of the myths about basset hounds is that they sleep all day. It is very obvious that people who spread this myth have not been around basset hounds during play time. Basset hounds love to play. First there is the basset 500. The basset hounds race each other around the house. Because they are not the most graceful animals around, they tend to run into chairs, the coffee table, and doors. However, none of these items stop the race. It is not until one of them tires out do they slide to a stop in front of me, expecting a treat for their trouble.
Bassets also like to play with stuffed toys. Each one of the three bassets has a minimum of 5 toys. One of the bassets likes to put his toys on the couch. Another likes to try and steal the squeaker out of his toys, and the third basset likes to play tug-of-war. Every now and then I will buy new toys for the basset hounds. When I give the toys to the bassets, they run around the house squeaking the squeakers, showing me how happy they are with their new prizes. Then each basset will test all three toys, and choose the one he wants best. This task is done with the alpha basset choosing first, then the next basset, and finally the most submissive basset gets the left over toy.
So to those who think bassets are just couch potatoes... It is apparent you’ve never really been around a basset hound!

Basset wishing he had a treat!

Scared basset hound

Have you ever noticed that basset hounds are afraid of the silliest things?  One of my basset hounds is afraid of his own shadow.  Even though he has lived in this house his whole life, he still gets startled when he walks by the oven and sees his shadow in it.  Perhaps he is worried that he will one day end up in the oven?  Or maybe he is concerned that there is already a basset hound in the oven?  Maybe he just needs therapy..