Should I Breed My Basset Hound?

SHOULD I BREED MY BASSET HOUND?

Unless you have purchased a “show quality” basset and have a pre- arranged future breeding agreement with a reputable breeder at the time you purchase your basset hound, it is not advisable to breed your pet basset.

Basset Hounds that are purchased from pet stores or back yard breeders should not be bred because their puppies will not improve the breed as a whole, which is the goal of a breeder.

Do not breed your basset for any of the following reasons:

ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE THE WRONG REASONS TO BREED
YOUR PET BASSET!

A litter should be bred only after much thought, study and research has been done by the prospective breeder and with the help of an experienced breeder who is a mentor. If you do decide to breed your basset be prepared to make the following commitments:

Have flexible working hours.
Be able to function on little or almost no sleep.
Have a least one person to stay with the puppies at all times.
Be prepared to deal with illness or death of any puppies you place or decide to keep.
Be prepared to keep puppies you can’t place and the possibility of caring for geriatric dogs.
Be aware that puppies are extremely noisy and require hours of cleaning up after and socializing.
Be prepared to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars in vet bills if something “goes wrong” with the litter.

THE BASSET HOUND CLUB OF AMERICA’S RECOMMENDATION ON THE QUESTION OF BREEDING YOUR BASSET HOUND

Because the question of whether or not to breed your pet basset hound is so important, below we have printed the Basset Hound Club of America’s recommendation (reprint is from “Congratulations on your new Basset Hound!” Copyright BHCA, Inc. 2001):

TO BREED OR NOT

“New owners frequently ask, “Shall I breed my dog?” the answer is complicated, for there is much to consider. Breeding is not a casual undertaking. All breeds have genetic defects which can be passed along from parent to puppy. The Basset is no exception. Responsible knowledgeable breeders know these problems and strive to avoid them when selecting mates.

“Breeding is a commitment. You must have a good understanding of the breed standard and what health problems exist. You must study canine structure and movement. You must breed only the best and be prepared to spend considerable time, effort and money. Bassets may have several major health problems, some of which can be detected through testing (bleeding disorders, glaucoma) and others to which he may be predisposed including bloat and immune deficiencies. And of course, one must be very careful with temperament, for this trait is also hereditary and the dog or bitch with known generic problems should not be used for breeding.”

“The breeder who encourages the AKC Limited Registration, a spay-neuter or non-breeding agreement, is the one who understands the over- population problem and has concern for the future of the breed.”

Old wives takes regarding the benefits of breeding abound. They are just that – old wives tales. You will have a healthier, happy pet if he or she is neutered or spayed. Your dog’s disposition will not change adversely with alteration. In fact, you will have a more polite house pet who will not be apt to wander or leave his mark on your couch or cabinets if neutered. And having a litter is in no way beneficial to the female; in fact, it can lead to problems, even death. It is fact that spayed bitches often live longer and have fewer health problems than unsprayed females.

Breeding dogs is a real responsibility. One must have knowledge of what makes top quality animals, understanding of pedigrees and genetics, and have proper facilities to keep and socialize puppies and to take them back, if the situation demands. Also, financial resources for shots, food and unexpected medical emergencies. The average size of a Basset litter is 6 to 8, though 10-12 also occurs. Pet population is a serious problem in all breeds today. Bassets are being produced by indiscriminate breeders in unhealthy environments and with serious health problems which are likely to cause much financial and emotional stress for the owners. Many dogs are put to death annually in animal shelters, and Bassets share in those statistics. You would not want to contribute to this problem.

“As with all American Kennel Club recognized purebred dogs, there is an approved breed standard for the Basset Hound. The standard of perfection is a word picture of how the Basset should look, move and behave. All responsible breeders strive to produce dogs that conform to this breed standard. Bassets with serious deviation in appearance, structure, movement, and temperament should never be bred. A copy of the standard may be found in several books devoted to the breed, or may be obtained from BHCA.”

The American Kennel Club (AKC) allows altered dogs to participate in obedience, tracking, and junior showmanship and in some non-regular conformation classes.