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Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a hunting dog. He was bred for hunting small game. He is a scent hound. He follows ground-held scent or that of trodden foliage that has been bruised by the game in retreat. The Basset Hound is used primarily for hunting rabbit although he is successful in hunting other small game. The Basset’s long ears were developed to stir up the scent for his large nose to smell. The folds of skin under the chin, called the dewlap, are for trapping and holding the scent.
His large feet give him steadiness and his heavy bone is to make him sturdy. His short legs enable the hunter to follow him apace on foot. The Basset Hound must have a great lung capacity and large, strong heart so that he can track game for long periods of time. Basset Hounds were historically hunted in large packs, however nowadays, Basset Hounds are usually hunted in pairs, called a brace. They are expected to have the endurance and stamina to hunt day after day in widely varying terrain, often with dense undergrowth and in all weather conditions that permit hunting small game.
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