Description:
Henry is a very handsome hound. I don't really know what kind of hound, but looking at his ears, I am reminded of a Bassett or Bloodhound. I mean, really! have you seen those ear!!! Henry is a great dog but he doesn't do particularly well with our smaller dogs, so it is a safe bet that he wouldn't do so good with cats either. He would benefit from having a yard to romp around in (maybe there's some Beagle in him....). Oh, let me take this opportunity to share a little trick that Mike Shamp of Bark Busters told me. If you have a dog that digs or howls, there is a good chance that he does this because he is bored. Give him something to do by hiding little pieces of carrots or broccoli around the yard, maybe a raw marrow bone or two. He'll spend his time hunting around rather than being destructive. And if you have an area where you'd prefer him not to potty, such as near your deck, make sure you put some of the food treats there ~ dogs avoid pooping in the same area that they eat. See, you learned something new today! Henry would be a great dog with whom to practice these techniques. He is a doll just looking for the right home!

1/22 Foster Update:
Henry is a fun guy who was nervous when we first brought him home. You see, at the shelter he would bark to get attention and he would send all the other dogs into barking fits, which drove the volunteers insane. So, Henry had to spend his days outside at the shelter and since he was dirty from being outside all day, people just kind of glanced at him and walked on by. This broke my heart as he is such a great boy who just needed some attention.

SO we brought Henry home…expecting the worst in regards to barking and howling. Henry has not made a PEEP since he has come home. He hasn’t even whined! So this barking machine does not bark, howl or whine. He is an ANGEL! He is super skinny right now, the stress of being alone hindered his appetite, but he is RAVENOUS now! On his way to and from his breakfast and dinner he takes bites of food from my two dogs bowls and then inhales his own food. He is so funny. He asks to go out to the bathroom and will pace at the door if you don’t see him sit at it for a while. We’ve had to limit his water intake currently because he will drink non-stop if we don’t and in return we need to leave toilet seats down because he is smart and will look for alternative water sources! He has jumped up to look for food on the counter a few times, but he is figuring out that lots of food is available if he is just patient and waits for us to give it to him.

He loves to go for a walk and he loves to run around and play. He lives for stuffed animals. He can find them at the very top of a shelf and you can see him sitting there staring at it, trying to figure out how he can get it.

He is quite submissive too and gets along with everyone he meets. He has obviously been abused in the past, but he is not overly afraid of people…he comes running to them for love, but if you are new and make a quick motion he’ll just kind of jump a little bit and then the wagging tail comes with an “oh you scared me there for a second, now scratch me.”

He is such a great, fun and goofy dog!!! Those ears make me laugh and melt every time I look at him! :)

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the name Basset Hound comes from the French word "bas" meaning low. Some sources suggest the Basset Hound may have originated from genetic dwarf dogs presented in litters of other types of French hunting hounds, however, we do know that it is a rather old breed, descended directly from the Bloodhound. Shakespeare described the Basset Hound with the following poetic image: "Ears which sweep away the morning due." According to research, the true fame of the Basset Hound began in 1863, when it was presented at the Paris Dog Show. Its popularity spread to England where a lively dispute arose between two factions of breeders: Those who wanted to keep the Basset Hound a hunting dog, and those who wanted to transform it into a com