WHY UNIQUE? THE BASSET HOUND by SUE FRISCHMANN AND KITTY STEIDEL
T he Basset Hound is a long, low scenthound, bred for hunting small game. Its uniqueness in structure is an accommodation for balance due to its shortened forelegs. His ‘different’ stat- ure, a result of achondroplasia is com- monly called dwarfism. However, his form of achondroplasia causes arrested development of only long bones, yet retention of his other normal sized fea- tures. His body remains that of a larger, taller dog. In order to support the rath- er heavy body on shorter legs he needs a special wrap–around front. It is a bal- ance issue: he needs to have a unique column of support. If one understands the reason for his different front, the Basset will not be difficult to judge and intelligently breed. Since the original purpose of the Basset Hound was “to follow a trail over and through difficult terrain”, the breed should be an agile and effortless mover. His conservation of energy provides for endurance. It is important when evalu- ating a Basset to keep his original pur- pose in mind. THE OVERALL PROPORTION AND BALANCE The Basset Hound proportion is rect- angular, approximately two to one; i.e., he is approximately twice as long as tall. We generally measure from forechest to the point of buttocks. In addition, the distance from the deepest point of the chest to the ground should be no more than 1/3 the total height of an adult.
FOREQUARTER ASSEMBLY Because the Basset is an achon- droplastic breed, we sometimes find structural problems that are not gener- ally seen in longer legged breeds with straight columns of support. The Basset has crook’d forelegs meaning curving foreleg to accommo- date the chest. Crook’d is not turned out feet, as is erroneously thought; this adaptation along with his heavy bone and large, well rounded front paws are features that gives him body sup- port, especially to the forequarters. The chest falls below the elbow. Front feet should be matched, that is the feet will turn out a trifle and balance
"IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN EVALUATING A BASSET TO
KEEP HIS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IN MIND.”
204 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , O CTOBER 2017
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