Bassett Hounds and Beagles, pros and cons please

[BaconAndAvocado]

We're considering getting a dog and the above breeds have always appealed.

Does anyone have any experience of either breeds?

We would like to have it from a puppy.

Also, what does KC mean? I've seen it a lot,on different dog sites.

I love bassets. They smell, they don't start to mature until 2, they look hilarious when they run, you end up with more fur than carpet, they think they're lapdogs...

...but they're not a first dog. As much as they love their people, their stubbornness is immense and they simply don't have that wiggly dog "I'm only here to please and serve you" temperament.

This is what your two preferred breeds would look like in one dog

prude ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

mimsy Yes, I second that - I was very lucky with my first basset because (a) she was unusually biddable and (b) I worked from home and could thus devote my entire life to making her happy. Then I got another and realised what gold I'd struck with her.

They're wonderful dogs, but they don't play fetch. Unless it's a leg of lamb and you've stupidly left it on the side. They don't do 'drop' either. Sigh.

We have had both. Basset we got when I was 4, from breeder and was a pedigree. He lived to be 16 and was my childhood best mate. He was lovely and very intelligent.. but.. greedy, stubborn, could be a bit aggressive with other dogs, fine with cats. Brilliant with kids and very protective.

Our beagle was the next dog, he was a staffie x beagle and was an amazing dog. We got him from rescue when he was about a year old. He had a fantastic temperament, very strong on the lead, but obedient. Again very good with cats, and with other dogs too. He lived to be 15.

Both dogs moulted a lot but were very healthy, rarely needed to go to the vets.

I would have either breed again.

I trained my basset to be a fantastic showjumper.. well I was 6, and wanted a horse... so I set up bamboo canes across plant pots on the lawn and he happily lollopped along, ears flying up in the air like dumbo, clearing those 6" high jumps with ease

His thieving skills were legendary.. my mum put a joint of beef to cool on top of the highest cupboard (she knew any lower than 6ft would be easy game).. well he devised a plan and pushed a stool up to the worktop, climbed up onto the worktop and reached the top of the unit. Beef gone.

He was also a master at trapping his blanket in the fridge door (not quite sure my mother had the right idea putting his bed next to the fridge but...) he would nudge the blanket as she closed the door and as soon as she was out of the room he emptied the contents, bacon and butter were favourites.

We have a beagle, I would definitely have one again. Pros- extremely good temperament, never ever has shown any sign of aggression, nice size bit too big not too small, short coat, can get them to do pretty much anything you want for a treat.
Cons - omg the food obsession!! Very naughty, will steal food if you leave it within reach, absolute no recall off lead. Can be quite stubborn, won't play fetch, crap guard dog!
Ours doesn't bark which I consider another pro

My beloved Toby, beagle x staffie.

crispbutty ....but so impressive on the intelligence front to be able to thieve like that!

We are looking at dog breeds too at the moment (although I'd be happier with a mutt) and I have definitely ruled out either bassetts or beagles for this time in our life!

ray our beagle had the toddler trained for a while too! He thought the high chair was a treat dispenser. He'd sit on the floor and if I turned my back he'd be up like a meercat and sneaking food, then back down before I turned back. My mum shopped him when she saw him do it via FaceTime and I put a stop to that game

OP, if your other half is the one who's most keen for a dog, have you sorted out who'd be mostly responsible for it day to day? Especially if you get a puppy, the work involved is relentless for months. Make sure you are keen too, or you'll quickly resent both dog and husband.

Re breeds, huskies are the most high energy dog you could think of. Seriously hard work. Unless you're a distance runner don't do it. German Shepherds are wonderful but very much what you make them, and need confident handling. If you're inexperienced with training you could end up with a very needy and difficult animal.

Sounds like a traditional family dog like a lab might suit you better? They chew everything as puppies and need training like any other dog, but the breed characteristics are a bit less specialist IMO.

crispbutty he's gorgeous. The beef joint heist is impressive even for a beagle!

tinymeteor I hadn't considered a lab.......are they good with children?

Labs are generally considered one of the best family dogs - they're patient, biddable, and gentle.

I don't mean this to sound as rude as it does (!) but as a newbie dog owner, it's less heartache all round to start with what you can offer a dog, rather than what it can offer you, then find a fit that way. Have you made a list of your living space/time for exercise/dog hair expectations/mess threshold into a breed guide? The Kennel Club Breed Guide is a good place to start, but to be honest, you're probably better off going to a rescue and explaining to them about your lifestyle and expectations. They'll match you with a dog they know will fit and can offer support if you need it.

Just as a general warning - puppies are hard work! I'm really glad we rehomed an adult dog first time round, as she was already housetrained and reasonably obedient - it was much easier learning the dog-owner ropes.

I've got a beagle. She's very lovable, calm, great as a family pet, equally happy to slob on the settee as go out for a walk.

BUT she stinks. Farts constantly, smells very doggy (she's a hound so this is expected!). She is greedy, utterly utterly good obsessed and we can't leave food ANYWHERE that she can reach.
My partner had her from a puppy and spent hours years training her. She'll recall when she wants to but we have to take her on set walks and she goes on and off the lead at set times or we'd never get her back!
Think long and hard about getting one because they are not an easy breed to have!!

Oh yes, and fox shit, horse shit, basically anything stinky!!

Wow you really like the hard work breeds! Working dogs are very high energy.

DO NOT GET A BEAGLE!

Trust me, I have 3 (5 sometimes!) and I am crazy

Seriously though. If you have anything precious left out, they will ruin it. I once had my dissertation shredded, and that was on a shelf!

They can jump fences, dig their way out under fences and have selective hearing!

I recommend a nice calm lab, or a spaniel 😅 (especially if you haven't had a dog before)

Beagles are amazing but so much hard work. We had two - could never let them off the lead, they ate anything and were buggers for howling. Wilful- properly wilful!

I miss them loads - such affectionate dogs - but I don't miss the drooling, the relentless hunt for food or the habit of taking off if they saw the slightest opportunity

Speaking as someone with a spaniel I'd warn you they're high energy and stubborn too! labs are good first time dogs. Or lap dogs like wedgies

It was the basset that was the master criminal. He could reach amazing heights for such stumpy legs!!

After I left home and got my own place I had a staffy (9 mth old) rescue and he was the most loving obedient and easy going dog ever. Never bolted his food, never chewed anything he wasn't supposed to. House trained to perfection. Sociable with anyone - utterly crap guard dog as he would run and hide if anyone knocked at the door.

I've always adored bassett hounds and when we got our 1st dog, that was what i wanted but DHs parents used to breed them and he said no way! Apparently they slobber everywhere, they moult year round, are impossible to train and stink to high heaven! We ended up with a rescue tibetan terrier (he was amazing, 8 years old and the best little dog imaginable with young children) then we also had a rescued labrador puppy. We've now got a cocker spaniel and he's totally amazing but I'd never advise a spaniel for a 1st time dog owner. In honesty, get a labrador. They are such wonderful loyal loving dogs and by far the least trouble of any I've experienced.

OP, if you go for a lab, aim for show/pet lines, not working.

Show/pet lines are nice and quiet and behave themselves. Working ones can be quite different.

Our Bassett definately didn't stink usually but certainly shed hair constantly. When he scratched there was a huge cloud of it every time.

By the sounds of it we were lucky as he was reasonably obedient in mos... scrap that, no he wasn't.

I'm thinking back over 30 years ago now and getting quite a few memories.

He would abscond the moment he was let off the lead. He would come home, usually about 3am and howl, very loudly. My dad would get up and put him in the shed til morning as he was usually covered in whatever he could find to roll in, so thinking about it, the reason he didn't smell was due to frequent baths.

He impregnated a couple of other local bitches. I recall some bloke coming round to rant at my dad... evidence in hand.. - strange looking puppies that were tri colour with exceptionally long ears.

He bit the tv repair man from radio rentals on the arse. We had to switch to Granada rentals.

He went for the bin men (this was in the days when they came through your drive and round the back of the house to get your bin).. possibly my dog can be blamed for the introduction of wheelie bins and having to put them out yourself.

He liked the milkman - he brought him cheese and bones.

Speaking of said bones, he would eat them in the middle of the lawn and growl at anyone if they dared to step foot on the grass, then buried it for a while, usually in my mothers best flower bed.

He would flip the tortoise on its back , where it would remain until one of us found it and put it upright. The tortoise went missing one summer and was found at the bottom of the pond. Suspicion fell on the dog - probably quite accurately.

Then we got a cat...

Basset fell in love, the cat ruled the house. No longer could the dog lie in front of the fire at night.. he got a quick swipe of a black paw and retreated. Cat was in front of fire.

They did become a partnership though and my mum had to be more cunning with hiding food as the cat could get to places the dog always dreamed of reaching, and would pass the ill gotten gains down to him..

Happy days!

Thanks lumela I really know nothing about dogs.

We're thinking a lab might be the way to go.

This will sound like a really really stupid question but is there any way I could look after a lab for a day to see how it goes? bracing myself for a good scolding

We got a beagle a year ago from dogs trust had never owned one before. He is the best dog ever. He can be left alone and causes no trouble, mostly just sleeps. He loves his walks, most of which are spent sniffing everything in sight and trying to eat whatever smells good to him (even if it's really gross!) he's quite independent and not needy, likes his own space but will seek out cuddles and a warm comfy spot at times. He is greedy (currently in a diet) but will do anything for a treat. The only things we have not been able to train him to do is come back once off the lead and stop barking for no reason! He really is the best dog I'd recommend them highly.