Basset Hound Rescue
Basset Hound Rescue organizations are non-profit volunteer communities that deal in picking up, treating, inoculating, spaying/neutering and finding new homes for stray dogs. Unfortunately, there is always a job to do for rescue clubs, and there are much more dogs in need than they can actually handle. There are various reasons why Basset Hounds get kicked out of homes. More often than not, this happens because somehow these dogs fail to live up to people’s expectations.
Responsible breeders always warn their potential clients about the breed’s haves and have-nots. They do their best to ensure that everyone buying a dog from them is ready to do some self-sacrifice and is fully aware of difficulties he or she will inevitably face down the path. They take great care studying the client’s life mode to make sure he or she has enough time and energy to handle a dog. Many dog owners abandon their dogs because it is not until the dog spends a while at their homes that they realize they are too pressed for time to care for him. Eventually, they either cast out their dogs or surrender them to Basset Hound Rescue clubs.
Another common reason why there is so much work for Basset Hound Rescue organizations is disappointment of owners in their dogs that fail to pass at dog shows or develop serious health problems. This usually happens to those who buy puppies without much thought of who they are buying from. Blinded by a momentary Basset Hound hysteria, many people do not turn a hair to find a good breeder and purchase puppies from so called “puppy mills”, which breed scores of dogs and keep them under extremely unhealthy conditions. These unethical breeders do not usually care for “a little thing like a dog’s health”, because they are absolutely dollar-oriented and breed for profit. Not infrequently, this business is built at the cost of the breed’s purity and health. There are many genetic diseases common to the Basset Hound that usually surface long after the dog is sold. No wonder, such a dog will not stand a chance at a dog show, and he is likely to lose home after he fails to meet the breed standard.
Basset Hounds are friendly and easy-going dogs, but they have a number of specific temperamental traits that make them a little tough for young owners to train. They have a stubborn streak, and may not respond to commands right away. Therefore, it takes experience, knowledge and patience to properly train a Basset. They have a very keen sense of smell, which often impedes the training process. There is one thing every Basset owner must bear in mind: these dogs should not be walked without a leash, because once they pick up a scent, they run away and may never come back. This is just one more reason why there are so many dogs for Basset Hound Rescue specialists to pick up in the streets of our cities and towns.
