Designer dogs are popular and there is an uncommon one known as the Basset hound pitbull mix. So what is a Basset hound pitbull mix?
The Basset hound pitbull mix is developed by cross-breeding of Pitbull with a Basset hound. They are medium size dogs who are fun-loving and friendly. They are also known as Basset Bull.
This can be a difficult dog for a novice owner. Let us look at both the parent breeds to know the reasons behind the same.
Pitbulls are good companion dogs in the hands of an experienced owner. But, if not bred properly and trained well, they can get aggressive. Some badly bred Pits generated a lot of negative coverage with some fatal acts.
Basset hounds, as the name suggests, were scent hunting dogs. They have excellent scent tracking abilities and can run off behind a scent.
Basset hound pitbull mix at a glance
| Size | 15 to 19 inches |
| Weight | 40 to 65 pounds |
| Temperament | Playful and Friendly |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years |
| Purpose | Companion Dogs |
| Popularity | Low |
| Grooming | Low |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Appearance
Crossbreeds can be unpredictable based on which parent has got the dominant genes. Let us give you some details on how they can likely be based on what we have often seen.
They would look similar to a Pitbull with short legs and elongated bodies. They are muscular dogs typically having the large outward paws of a basset hound.
These dogs mostly come in a combination of black or tan with white at the chest. They have a short coat and do shed but are easy to maintain.
Size: They can grow to a height of 15 to 19 inches and weigh approximately 40 to 65 pounds.
Lifespan: The lifespan of a Basset hound pitbull mix is around 10 to 12 years.
Cowboy corgi aka Corgi cattle dog – appearance & temperament
Basset Bull – Personality
Let us also look at how their personality would be.
They are good family companion dogs who will enjoy both relaxing with you in your home as well as enjoying a long hike.
They are suitable for apartment living given they can get their regular exercise requirements met.
They are intelligent dogs who can be obstinate. Given early socialization, they can consider other pets as part of the pack and be friendly with them.
Due to Pitbull ancestry, you may have to check for breed-specific laws and if allowed to pet, be prepared for a high pet insurance bill.
Care
Nutrition
They can be a greedy eater and you should be cautious in giving them food when they just beat you with requesting gentle eyes. They are prone to obesity.
And being overweight may further accentuate or make them prone to bone-specific issues.
We suggest giving 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food each day to a Basset Bull divided into two meals.
The amount of diet can vary based on his size and activity level. If he is more active, he can eat more. Consult a Vet for any specific query or recommendation.
With their medium size and strong, muscular, and thick-boned body, they need a minimum of 18% protein to build and maintain muscles.
We would suggest Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula – Chicken and brown rice.
Exercise
They are both sober and active dogs who can idle around while within the house and be fun to play with while outside.
It is ideal if you can have 30 to 45-minute long walks daily with them to keep them fit.
Grooming
They generally have a short and shiny coat which is easier to groom.
Once a week brushing and occasional bathing is good enough. Bathing them frequently may lead to drying up of the skin oils which can lead to dryness of skin and other skin ailments.
We recommend Handson Pet grooming Gloves to brush them easily.
Trimming their nails once or twice in a month would help to prevent nail split that could be quite painful to the dogs.
Training
It is not easy to train these dogs as one of the parents is a Basset hound who is relatively more difficult to train than other dogs.
They would need an experienced dog owner who can train them with consistency and positive reinforcement. Using harsher methods may make them more stubborn.
Short training sessions are recommended so that they don’t lose attention.
Health
Basset hound pitbull mixes are a new and rare crossbreed, so they haven’t been studied much to be certain of what ailments they are likely to have.
It is possible that they inherit the diseases prone to either Basset hound or pitbull. Below are a few of which you should be aware of.
Bloating
Basset hound pitbull mixes are prone to bloating or gastric torsion. This disease likely affects dogs that are medium to large size with a deep chest.
When a dog suffers from bloating. his stomach gets filled with gas and it twists on its axis. He is not able to vomit this air and gets into a shock. This could prove fatal and immediate medical intervention is required.
Here are a few tips to prevent bloating in Basset hound pitbull mix.
- Meal for the dog should be divided into two or three smaller meals instead of one large one.
- Do not let the dog exercise or play just after food. Let him take a rest for some time (half to one hour).
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, if affected severely, can cause lameness and painful arthritis of the joints as the dogs get older.
This can be passed upon to the offspring and hence dogs suffering from this should not be bred.
Having the weight of Basset hound pitbull mixes under check may help.
Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is an abnormal development of the elbow joint. This again leads to arthritis in the forelimbs of the dog.
This is also an inheritable disease and dogs having this should be neutered.
Von Willebrand’s Disease
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective von Willebrand factor (VWF), a clotting protein. This can lead to incessant bleeding if not treated.
Glaucoma
This is a medical condition that causes a build-up of pressure in the eye. As the pressure of the eye increases, it causes damage to the retina and the optic nerve leading to complete blindness.
As soon as you see any signs of a dog squinting or rubbing his eyes, it is best to get him checked by the Vet.
How to get a Basset Hound Pitbull mix puppy?
You will rarely find a good breeder for a Basset hound pitbull mix. You might have to check with dog shelters first in your local area and then in nearby cities as well.
In case you do find one at a breeder, we would suggest doing some checks on the breeder to avoid any challenges later. Here are a few tips that you can follow.
- Check about the breeder from locals and past owners.
- Ask for the health records of the puppy and parents. This would give you peace of mind that he is not suffering from any known disease that can be checked and also his parents were in good health so you have avoided inheritable diseases.
- Look how puppies and dogs are kept to give you an idea of how good the breeder is.
Origins
Basset hound pitbull mix is very rare to find and hence not much is known about him. Let us give you some idea about his parents to understand more about him.
Basset hound
Basset hounds were originally bred in France and Belgium. They derive their name Basset from the french word Bas meaning Low.
They were used to hunt small animals like rabbits with their excellent smell tracking ability which is second in dogs only to that of bloodhounds.
Basset hounds are medium size dogs with powerful, heavy-boned long bodies, and short legs. They are known for their large domed head with extremely long soft ears.
Bassets have a calm and sober expression in their eyes. They are gentle at home but are known to be obstinate while outside. You would need a lot of patience and consistency while training them.
They get along with children well and are quite loyal. They are also known to be greedy eaters and are prone to obesity.
Most of the time, they come in a combination of three colors black, tan, and white. Though you may also see red and white as well.
Their soft coat is short and they do shed. Two to three times a week grooming is recommended for them to avoid fur in all the places.
Early obedience training, crate training, and socialization are recommended for the Basset hounds.
They can grow to a size of 12 to 14 inches and weigh approximately 50 to 65 pounds. The average life span of the Basset Hound is 10 to 12 years.
They are the 39th most popular dog in the USA in the most popular dog list by AKC.
Pitbull
Pitbulls have got a bad name as aggressive dogs which mostly is a misconception. They are lovable and friendly companion dogs if they can be given the right training and early socialization.
Some Pits who were raised badly and not trained well became aggressive. This, unfortunately, led to some fatal incidents generating a lot of negative media hype.
Pitbulls were originally bred in the nineteenth century in Scotland, England, and Ireland as a crossbreed of English bulldog and terrier dogs.
Idea was to develop a dog having the agility of a terrier and the strength of the bulldog so he can be a good fighter in the hunting bulls and bear games which were quite popular back then.
Pits are medium-sized dogs that do well as companion dogs. They have powerful, strong, and muscular bodies.
Pitbulls are intelligent, confident, and strong-willed dogs who can be obstinate as well with their independent thinking. This can make them difficult for a newbie owner.
They are good with children, but with their medium size, powerful body, and high prey drive, it is always recommended that children be with them under adult supervision.
Pits can be aggressive to other dogs. You should avoid other pets if you want to have a Pitbull.
An adult Pitbull can grow to a height of 17 to 19 inches and weigh approximately 30 to 85 pounds. The average lifespan of Pitbull is around 12 to 16 years.
American Pitbull Terriers are not recognized by AKC while its British counterpart, UKC recognizes them.
Final Thoughts
The Basset hound pitbull mix is a friendly, loyal dog who can be obstinate at times. They generally do well as a family or a companion dog given proper training and socialization.