Description:
Barney is a Basset/Beagle mix who has suffered a recent tragedy in his life. You see, his owner died. His whole world is turned up-side-down now. He's such a nice dog ~ we want to get him settled into his new home as soon as possible. We know that he isn't much of a barker (huh? are we sure he's half Beagle?!). He loves to go on car rides, plays wonderfully with other dogs, and is a quiet member of the household. He doesn't understand cats and plays with them too roughly, so we'll place him in a feline-free home. He does, however, love to play with his stuffed squirrel, so homes with stuffed animals will work just fine! Oh, and one more thing ~ Barney likes to dig, so if you're planning on planting a row of hedges, just point out the spot to him, he'll get busy, and you'll just have to come out and drop them in!
Barney is very affectionate and very sweet. We think that the best home would be a quieter home, probably where he is the only, and most spoiled, dog....

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 companion dog. Situated between these two factions were the American breeders who proceeded to develop an extremely pleasing companion dog without sacrificing any of the qualities of the hunter. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. Its natural bent is for hunting both in the den and in the open. It is therefore, used for the hunting of fox, hare, opossum, and pheasant. Bassets can hunt in packs or alone. It has an excellent sense of smell, but its reflexes are a bit slow. Their slow pace is convenient for hunters on foot and keeps game from being scared out of reach. The Basset's nose is almost as outstanding as the Bloodhound's. George Washington may have owned Basset Hounds given to him by Lafayette after the American Revolution.
The Basset Hound is sweet, gentle, devoted, peaceful and naturally well-behaved. They fit into family life well. Their temperament should always be friendly with never an indication of sharpness or viciousness. They are mild but not timid; very affectionate with its master and friendly with children. It is incapable of biting, but it may be a bit stubborn. They like to do tricks for food. It has a deep musical bark. Housebreaking is difficult, but they do well with gentle patient training and positive reinforcement. With proper training, they are obedient, but when they pick up an interesting smell, it's sometimes hard to get their attention. They have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.