A day in the life of 3 bassets

What Bassets Do When No One is Around

2006-11-29T03:52:00.000-08:00

2006-11-29T03:47:00.000-08:00

2006-11-09T21:04:00.001-08:00

2006-10-22T10:53:00.001-07:00

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Please take my dog biscuit survey

2006-08-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Take my dog biscuit survey

2006-08-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

It is Fun to Tease a Basset

2006-08-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Each morning the three bassets get a rawhide stick to eat. Well, one of the three bassets has decided that it would be a lot more fun to tease his brother bassets with his stick than it would be to eat the stick. So he set the stick on the floor beside him, and waited. Soon, one of his brother bassets started crying because the stick was just sitting there, and that is a waste of a stick!

Soon, the basset with the stick decides that this game is boring and needs to make it more exciting. He leaves the stick in the middle of the room, and jumps up on the couch. His plan is simple. If any bassets go for the stick, he will jump down as fast as he can and grab the stick before they can. So he waits.

Meanwhile, one of his brother bassets is trying to figure out how he can get to the stick first. He knows the game the other basset is playing, for he has played it before. Soon, this basset comes up with a plan. He will go back to the bedroom, out through the doggy door, and woof at the living room sliding glass door. The stick is closer to the sliding glass door than it is to the basset guarding it from the couch. If the brother basset can get the human to open up the sliding glass door and let him in, he will be able to reach the stick before his brother can.

so he decides he will go ahead with the plan. He goes out the doggy door, and woofs at the sliding glass door. Sure enough, the human comes over to let him in. The plan is working! Just as he walks through the glass door, the third basset Jumps into action and runs by, grabbing the stick and heads out of the room. The one thing that the basset did not take into account was this third basset. When the human came to open the glass door, the basset on the couch was distracted, the basset coming in the glass door was distracted, so the third basset saw his chance and stole the stick right out from under both of them.

Never underestimate the power of a rawhide stick!

2006-08-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

want one?

Bassets in Hats

2006-08-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

Basset looking at the rain

2006-07-15T23:40:00.000-07:00

New picture of the 3 bassets

2006-07-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

I made this picture using Photoshop Elements. I think it came out pretty good!

Sketch of the 3 bassets

2006-06-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

Sketch of Max the wonder dog

2006-06-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

Mean mom

2006-05-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

The mom of the 3 bassets has been very mean to them over the last few days. She has been making them wait for their treats rather than just giving them the treats. What she does is set the treats down on the floor right in front of the 3 bassets, and then she will not let them near the treats. If a basset comes near the treat, she will nudge their head away. So the 3 bassets have to just sit there watching the treats rather than eat them. One of the 3 bassets is a very big drooler, so he will drool up a storm as he watches the treats. The other two will just wait looking sad. Finally their mom will give them a look that says, you can now have your treat, and the 3 bassets will move forward to take their treats. Boy is it hard to be a basset!

How to Tell if your Basset is too Spoiled

2006-04-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

You can tell if your basset is too spoiled when...

You are sitting on the floor, and your basset is sitting on the couch
You are eating Beans and Rice so your basset can have his Wellness dog food and Wellness treats
When you purchase a vehicle, you purchase it with your bassets comfort in mind, rather than your comfort
When you go on vacation, you look for places your basset will enjoy rather than places you will enjoy
You spend all of your money outfitting your basset, and you walk around in rags
You make sure you get home in time to feed the bassets because they'd be upset if you don't

Have anything to add?

Bassets and Treats

2006-03-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

As anyone who has a basset hound can tell you, bassets love their treats. They also have been good at determining ways to get more treats than they should get. One of the 3 bassets will sit in the garage after dinner until someone brings him a treat. Only then will he come into the house. He also will bark to come into the house, and then stand at the door until a treat is given.
I believe he thinks it is his right as a basset to be given treats!
Perhaps he is right...

The Year of The Dog

2006-03-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

The three basset hounds are very happy because this year is the year of the dog. Of course, basset hounds think that every year is the year of the dog, but that is besides the point.

It is said that people born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature for they have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire confidence because they know how to keep secrets.

Basset hounds also have these same traits. I have found that all three bassets are very loyal (to whomever has a treat for them), are very honest (they believe that what's theirs is theirs and what's yours is theirs -- can't get much more honest than that), and they always keep secrets. They have never told me where they hid my shoe.

It is also said that Dog People are very selfish, stubborn, and eccentric. This too is true of basset hounds. If they steal your sandwich, they will not share -- even if they have to gulp the whole thing down whole.

Basset hounds are also the most stubborn of all dogs. When on a walk, bassets will often decide to take a nap in the middle of the road, and there is no moving them until they want to move, and they are pretty eccentric as well. The interesting thing is that Dog People are very compatible with Tigar people, and the owner of the three bassets is a Tigar person. I guess this is why we all get along in this household.

So go out and celebrate The Year of the Dog!

Where Did The Squeak Gene Come From

2006-03-03T21:50:00.000-08:00

Bassets are interesting dogs, and one of the most interesting things about them is their squeak. I don’t know where the squeak comes from, but every basset hound I have seen seems to have inherited this trait. When a basset hound wants you to feel sorry for him or her, the basset hound will squeak. This squeak is a high pitched squeak that is sure to get your attention. When the do this squeak, they also have the saddest look on their face, as if they are so sad and lonely. However, this whole squeak thing is just a ploy to get you to feel sorry for the basset. Usually after a basset hound squeaks for a few minutes, his or her owner will come over and pet him/her. Sometimes the bassets owner will even give the basset a treat! I am not sure how this squeak gene came to be, for I am sure the bassets ancestors did not have a need for a squeak gene.

Bassets are Nosy Dogs

2006-02-28T12:14:00.000-08:00

Last night the 3 bassets had to endure 50 MPH winds as a storm blew through their neighborhood. The winds were so strong that the fence between the 3 bassets yard and their neighbors yard blew down. Immediately the 3 bassets had to go out and investigate what was going on. They endured heavy rain and wind to do so. Why must bassets be so nosy? It is not like they could put the fence back up!

Basset getting into trouble

2006-02-27T22:40:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love the most about basset hounds is how they always get into trouble. I am not sure if they mean to get into trouble, or if they just are so nosey that they do things that get themselves into trouble.
The other morning, I heard one of the three bassets urgently barking. I went to see what was wrong, and I found the basset hound standing in the small pond in my back yard. Luckly the pond was empty, however, how and why the basset hound climbed over all the rocks to get into the pond is beyond me. Perhaps he was hoping there were fish for him to eat. Or maybe he just wanted to play a joke on me. I tried to grab a camera and take a picture of him, however, he had gotten out of the pond by the time I returned with the camera. The basset hound had deprived me of my photo!

The Owner of 3 Bassets is Only 50% Weird

2006-02-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

The owner of the three bassets took a test to see how weird she is, and it came back with the following results:

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird...

But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

Follow the link above to see how weird you are....

Say Cheese

2006-02-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

One of the bassets was sleeping and I took this picture. Don't be fooled tough, the picture was actually taken upside down. So if you want to view it correctly, you need to turn your computer monitor upside down!

The world according to the 3 bassets

2006-02-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

I have noticed lately that there have been many incidents where bassets have bitten their owners for one reason or another. I believe that part of the problem is that people do not have a clear understanding of the world according to a basset, and tend to shower their basset with affection instead of maintaining the lead spot in the pack.

In the basset world, there is one leader, and the other dominant bassets will continuously try to take over the leadership spot. The owners of the bassets have to make it clear that they are the one and only leader, and that all of the bassets must respect that position at all times. When owners do not do this, the chances of a behavior problem increases. I have found that the 3 bassets test this leadership role in many different ways daily, and I must always display the leadership role to them.

One example of this is dinner time. While I feed the bassets at the same time every day, and they let me know this, I make the decision that they will be fed. I will lead the bassets to the garage (where they eat) and make them wait for their dinner. Once I have finished fixing their food, I will put the bowl down in front of each basset. If any basset tries to eat another bassets food, he is disciplined right away so this behavior does not happen again. Creating this routine has made dinner time very pleasant for the bassets. They do not have to rush through their food because they know no one will steal it. The key is to make sure you as the basset owner make the decisions, not the bassets.

Exciting News

2006-02-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

The owner of the 3 bassets has two big events happening soon.

The first event is one she has been working for for 4 years. On April 17th, she will complete the last day of the last class she has to take before getting her Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

Then in May 2006, the owner of 3 bassets will be taking an 8 week Sabbatical. The company she works for gives the employees this benefit once every 10 years.

Bunch of Bassets

2006-01-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

Bassets are fun to photograph because you can do silly things to them and they will put up with it as long as you provide a treat.

Bassets Do Get Embarrassed

2006-01-24T18:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was watching the basset hounds, and one of them decided to jump up onto the couch. Well, he miscalculated his jump, and ended up with his front paws on the couch, and his back legs and butt stuck between the ottoman and couch. He looked really pathetic trying to get unstuck. Of course, it was very funny seeing a basset hound stuck between a couch and ottoman, so I had to laugh at him as I helped him get unstuck. He was so embarrassed that he went to one of the dog beds, and turned away from me for a good 15 minutes. A bit put-out about me laughing at him.
I wonder if under all that fur his face was red?

Valentines Day Picture

2006-01-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

Here are the three bassets getting ready for valentines day! They love valentines day because people give their sweethearts candy! And bassets love candy!

Max the Wonder Dog's Gottcha Day

2006-01-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

On January 6th, 1998, I was reading the drool and learned about a very old basset hound that had been thrown from a moving car into a ditch. Dawn of the west was looking for someone in Northern California to go rescue this guy because he was on death row.

When I thought of what someone had done to this dog, I had to go down to Lodi and get him. I had been thinking about getting a friend for Mr. Wiggins and thought that this basset might do. At the time, Basset Rescue of So. Cal called him Flyaway because of what had happened to him.

When I got to the shelter, they had named him Lodi because of where they were located.They brought the basset to me, and I was saddened to see this thin basset with a defeated look in the way he walked. He was so dirty his coat was gray, and his head just drooped low to the ground. He did however jump up and sit in a chair. I gave him a couple of pats on the head, and turned to talk to the officer when all of a sudden, he let out a very loud WooF!

I turned and looked at him and he smiled a toothless smile at me and wagged his tail. I knew then that he was going home with me.

That woof was the only bark Max the wonder dog made for over 1 1/2 years. I found that he had probably been chained out on a concrete patio, beaten with a newspaper, or sprayed with water whenever he barked. So he chose to keep quiet so he wouldn't cause trouble.

Max came to me with many medical problems. His skin allergies were so bad that he had worn down his teeth from scratching himself. His fur also had a pink color to it from his saliva. He also had a very bad back -- all of the disks in his back were fused together from his head to his tail. The vet put his age at 8-10 years old and told me that I'd probably get a good 5 years maximum with him (he has beat that). She also could not understand how he could move with his back problem.

Max the wonder dog is a funny soul, he loves his stuffed babies and insists on placing them on the couch before meal time. He loves to run through the house with a baby in his mouth, and place it on the couch. When he is really happy, he will place as many babies as he can before dinner. He will then go and lay in the middle of the babies when dinner is done.

I am so happy that I belonged to the drool that January day back in 1998, for if I had not, I would have missed out on knowing this wonderful basset hound. I know that one day soon, it will be his time to join all the other basset hounds at the bridge, and while I'll be sad, I'll also be very happy because I was able to give Max the life he deserved.

Happy Gottcha Day Max the wonder dog!
January 7th, 2006

Bassets in Hats

2005-10-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure the bassets like their hats... What do you think?

Bassets getting along with each other

2005-09-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting how one minute the basset hounds will be best friends, and then the next minute they are growling and barking at each other. I cannot even figure out why they are angry with each other. They will have been sitting there happy as can be, and then all of a sudden, they are mad. I often wonder if perhaps they use looks to relay evil messages to each other. Perhaps one type of blink is an insult, where another one is not.
I also find it interesting that they forgive and forget quickly as well. I have seen the bassets going at it, drawing blood, and then sleeping next to each other.

They are strange animals that is for sure.

Drooling for food

2005-09-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Basset hounds sure love their food. Each one will keep an eye on you just in case you are going to visit the treat jar. I have found that if I stand by the treat jar, 3 pairs of eyes will be on me, and drool will be running from each basset. This is dangerous though because if you are not careful, you could slip on the drool.

I have often wondered if this is a basset secret weapon... You slip on the drool, and all the treats that you are carrying goes flying for bassets to grab!

Help the animals

2005-09-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of homeless animals because of the hurricane. They need all the help that they can get. Please go to one of the organizations listed below to find out how you can help.

"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be determined by the way it's animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Best Friends Animal Society: www.bestfriends.org

https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2005?source=drfhb4

Banana Loving Basset

2005-07-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

One of my bassets really loves bananas. He will do anything to get his paws on one. Once I had a whole bunch (about 6) of bananas on the counter. When I came home from work, they were gone. At first I had thought that a friend of mine had eaten them. However, I discovered the stem of the bunch in his dog bed. He had eaten them.
I have even caught this basset hound attempting to steal a banana off of the counter. He jumped up and grabbed the banana without even touching the counter. Had I not been there, he would have made off with the banana.

Perhaps the reason the basset loves bananas is because they are very good for you. Read on to learn more about the power of a banana... And listen to your basset the next time he wants to steal your banana... He might know more than you think!

Bananas:
Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood
glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel
action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake,
sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the
honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and
re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from
heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with
the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at
reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps.
Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid
panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by
snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten
without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the
physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for
example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool
temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they
contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

------ End of Forwarded Message

Lift of the lip

2005-06-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

Today two of the basset hounds were mad at each other. They stood in the living room facing each other, and both lifted their lip and made low growling noises. The noise was very, very soft, and the lift of the lip was hardly noticeable , but they both knew what the other was saying... Perhaps this is where the saying, “Don’t give me any lip!” originated from. It was interesting to see how they could control how far up their lip went when showing their displeasure.

What do they howl at?

2005-05-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, the bassets will all start to howl. I am puzzled as to the reason. It’s not like there are wolves in the neighborhood howling, or even dogs barking. Everything will be quiet and calm, and then all three will start howling. Then as if it were planned, they stop, and go back to sleep. Perhaps they are just singing a silly basset song. Or, maybe they are plotting to take over the world, and are communicating with some other basset hounds... Who knows... But it is funny to listen to their song.

Play Time

2005-04-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

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!

2005-04-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

Scared basset hound

2005-04-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

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..

How to Photograph a Basset Hound

2005-03-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

1. Find Camera.
2. Find Basset.
3. Remove film from box and load camera. (yes, Virginia, we did used to use actual film!)
4. Remove film box from dog's mouth and throw in garbage.
5. Remove Basset Hound from garbage and remove coffee grounds from muzzle.
6. Find a suitable background for the photo.
7. Mount camera on tripod.
8. Find tripod.
9. Redo step 7, and then focus.
10. Find Basset Hound and wake it up.
11. Drag Basset to pre-focused location and return to camera.
12. Return to camera and check focus.
13. Get down on hands and knees and drag the dog from underneath the coffee table.
14. Focus with one hand and fend off Basset with the other hand.
15. Get tissue and clean nose goblins from the lens.
16. Put magazines back on coffee table.
17. Try to get Basset Hound's attention by squeaking toy over your head.
18. Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.
19. Grab Basset Hound by the scruff of the neck (a little too late) and say "No!, Bad Dog, Outside!!!"
20. Call spouse to clean up mess.
21. Decide to draw Basset Hound instead......

Author unknown

It Only Takes A Look

2005-02-17T22:56:00.000-08:00

One of the most interesting things I have noticed about basset hounds is that if one of them is mad at the other, it only takes a look for them to get the message across. Today, I saw one of the basset hounds walking down the hall, where the other one was sitting. As he neared the end of the hall, the basset sitting in the hall lifted his head and looked at him. That one look must have relayed the message that the basset was not allowed down the hall. He turned around and ran back to the living room. Not a peep was uttered by either basset.

Dinner Routines

2005-02-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

The basset hounds have specific routines that they follow at dinner time. It starts when one of them comes to tell me that it is time they are fed. Every night at 6:00 p.m. The lowest member of the pack will come to me and start whining, his way of telling me that he wants to be fed. If I do not respond to him, the other two basset hounds will come over and whine too.
I will then take the basset hounds out to the garage for dinner. As I am preparing their food, the oldest basset hound will dig through his basket of stuffed toys, choose one that he wants, and run back into the house with it. He will take it and place it on the couch. It is as if he is saying, “I’m saving my spot”. He does this every night. The other two will sit by me while I fill up their bowls. When I am almost done, the middle basset will bark, signaling the oldest basset that dinner is almost ready. He will then run back in from the house so that he doesn’t miss his meal.
The basset hounds follow this routine every night without fail. I don’t know if they all sat together and discussed what part each would play in the dinner routine, but it is interesting that each has his own particular role.

Why do they do that?

2005-02-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

Tonight it was time to give the basset hounds a bath. As soon as I took a pile of bath towels out of the closet, bassets scattered. One ran outside, one ran to a chair in the living room, pretending to sleep, and the third jumped up on the bed. When I called them, they had all lost their hearing. Not a look, not even an ear perking up!
However, no basset hound can resist a treat... even if the ploy has been used over and over again! So, I go to the treat jar, rattle the lid, bassets come running. I give each basset a treat, run and close off the doggy door, and start herding the bassets to the bathroom. Did you know that basset hounds can walk in slow motion?
Once the bassets are in the tub (no I don't wash them all at once), they sit still and look at me with sad eyes, letting me know I am torturing them until their bath is done.
Then, they give a big shake, spraying me, the bathtub, and the entire bathroom with water, jump out of the tub, and run around the house, slipping and sliding as they go. While they hate the thought of having a bath, when the ordeal is over, they love the feeling! They run and play with each other, until they realize they haven't received a treat. they then go to the treat jar, and bellow at me to give them a treat!

What a life.

Basset Hound looking for food

2005-01-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

Basset Games

2005-01-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

Take a large towel or blanket and gently throw it over your dog's head. If he frees himself from the towel in less than 15 seconds, give him 3 points. If it takes 15-30 seconds, 2 points. If it takes him longer than 30 seconds, give him 1 point.

If he lays down and sleeps under the blanket, he's a basset hound

Place a treat (or his favorite toy) under one of three buckets that are lined up in a row. Show your dog which bucket the treat is under. Turn the dog away for 10 seconds. Then let the dog go.

If he goes straight to the right bucket (the one with the treat under it), give him 3 points. If it takes two tries to find the treat, 2 points. If he checks the wrong two first before finding the treat, give him 1 point.

If, while you are setting up your buckets, he steals the box of treats you left on the table, he's a basset hound

Place a treat in a square of aluminum foil and fold it twice to close it. If the dog uses his paws to get the foil open, give him 3 points. If he uses his mouth and paws to open the foil, give him 2 points. If he can't get the foil open and just starts playing with it, give him 1 point.

If he grabs the aluminum foil, and eats it along with the treat, he's a basset

On a day you normally don't walk the dog, quietly pick up your keys, and his leash (and whatever else you usually take with you) while he's watching. If he gets excited, score 3. If you have to walk to the door before he knows it is time to go out, score 2. If he sits there with a confused look on his face, give him 1 point.

If he looks at you, and then takes your seat on the couch, than he's a basset

With your dog out of the room, rearrange the furniture. If he goes directly to his favorite spot on the couch, the one with his impression in the cushion, give him 3 points. If he investigates the room and finds his favorite spot within 30 seconds, give him 2 points. If he settles for a less comfortable place because he's just too lazy to make the effort, score 1 point.

If he heads for the bedroom, and snuggles under your comforter, than he's a basset

Construct a barrier from cardboard. The barrier should be higher than your dog when he's on two legs. Attach two boxes to either side as support structures. The entire barrier should be about 5 feet wide. Cut a 3-inch-wide rectangular aperture in the center of the barrier. The aperture should run from about 4-inches from the top to about 4-inches from the bottom. Give yourself 10 points - those were pretty complicated directions! As for the dog, show him a treat from the other side of the barrier. If he walks around the barrier within 30 seconds, give him 3 points. If he goes around the barrier between 30 seconds and a minute, give him 2 points. If he gets his head stuck in the aperture, give him 1 point for trying. Bonus points: If he goes to someone else in the house and gets a treat, give him 3 points - he knows how to get the goodies.

If he knocks the barrier over, steals the treat, knocks you down, drools all over you, and then steals the box of treats you left on the table, than he's a basset hound

Always looking for food

2005-01-28T19:29:00.000-08:00

Basset hounds are always in search of food. Unlike other dogs, they are ruled by their noses, and can find the smallest piece of food even if it is hidden under a couch. One of my three bassets in particular loves to eat. If I go into the kitchen, he is there in an instant. He will crowd my legs, in hopes that I will ether trip, or will drop something on the floor for him.

Bassets are also known for "counter surfing" -- they have the ability to grab anything left on the counter. My one chow hound loves to steal bananas. If I leave a bunch of bananas on the counter, he will take them, eating the peel and all.

Who knows why basset hounds are such chow hounds, but if you make the mistake of leaving food on the counter, know that the basset hound will not only find it, but will eat it before you will notice it missing.

Why do they sleep so long

2005-01-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

The one thing that I have noticed since observing basset hounds is that they sleep a lot. The three that I have get up for breakfast around 5am, and then go back to bed until around 8:30 am. They then get up, play awhile and at 9:30 a.m. it is time for a nap. Up at 10:30 a.m., play, then nap again around 1 p.m. and so it goes all day long. I guess it is really hard to hang around a house all day! I of course wouldn't know, since I have to work in order to support the three basset hounds.