His large feet give him steadiness and his heavy bone makes him sturdy. His short legs enable the hunter to follow him apace on foot. The basset hound must have great lung capacity and a large, strong heart so that he can track game for long periods of time. Bassets are expected to have the stamina to hunt day after day in widely varying terrain, often with dense undergrowth and in all weather conditions. They are truly a breed for whom form follows function.
Females generally weight between forty and fifty pounds.
The basset has a thick, dense coat that repels water effectively and needs little formal grooming, a blessing for both those who exhibit them in dog shows and those who love them as companions. They're an independent breed with a sense of humor, extraordinarily intelligent, affectionate, and entertaining. We must not forget, however, that it is the basset's versatility that brought him fame. He refuses to accept the fact that he is a dog by devious methods. He can affect poor hearing when he doesn't want to obey or pretend to sleep so soundly that you do not have the heart to disturb him.