The abbots used the short-legged hounds to hunt small game in thick ground cover. The taller dogs were bred for speed and aggressiveness. Some Ashland Basset members say the hounds can reach 30 mph in about three strides. While bassets certainly move faster than you would think, that speed seems a stretch. Anyway, open-field running does not represent a basset's strength.
Bassets thrive in the woods.
Using their stout legs, powerful chest and shoulders, and long, low body, the hounds maneuver through brush and thickets like little tanks. The hounds must also be tough. Briars rip at their ears and tails. Not every basset has what it takes to hunt rabbits. They need the physical attributes, primarily a good sniffer and a good bark.