From Medieval Monks to Elvis Presley: Basset Hound Facts That May Surprise You

Quick Take

• Every floppy ear, loose wrinkle, and stubby leg on a basset hound exists for a calculated reason most owners never suspect. See the anatomy explained →
• A Southern campfire tradition gave a beloved comfort food its name, and a basset hound's bad behavior is entirely responsible for it. Hear the campfire story →
• Elvis Presley once performed one of his biggest hits live on television for a single, completely unimpressed audience member. Watch Elvis serenade a hound →
• Two powerful women in 19th-century Britain quietly engineered the basset hound's transformation from niche hunting tool to must-have companion. Meet the royal patrons →

The basset hound is an instantly recognizable dog breed with its wrinkly skin, enormous velvety ears and droopy eyes. Although they are short (14 to 15 inches tall), they are disproportionately heavy, weighing between 40 and 65 pounds. While the basset hound originated in Europe thousands of years ago, the breed arrived in the U.S. in the early 20th century. Continue reading to discover 9 fascinating facts about basset hounds.

Originally Bred by French Monks in the Middle Ages

Basset hounds were originally bred by French monks during the Middle Ages. Their goal was to develop a short-legged scent hound from older breeds of hounds.

The word basset derives from the French word bas, meaning low. Basset hounds tracked small game slowly enough for hunters to follow on foot.

Scenthounds

Basset hounds are scent hounds with a sense of smell second only to the bloodhound. Their short bodies keep them close to the ground, while their ears drag through the grass to trap odors and carry them toward their noses.

The loose, wrinkled skin around their face and neck also captures and holds scents. This anatomy allows basset hounds to follow faint, old trails over difficult terrain with relentless determination, making them highly effective tracking dogs.

George Washington May Have Had a Basset Hound

The history of basset hounds in America may date back to the first American president, George Washington.

While a popular legend claims that the Marquis de Lafayette gifted Washington with a French basset hound, historians have found no mention of this in Washington’s own extensive diaries or letters. Because Washington did write at length about his dogs, and there is no mention of basset hounds in his diaries, it is unlikely that he had a basset hound.

Beyond Washington’s possible basset hound, there are no records of basset hounds in America for the next hundred years, and it wasn’t until 1885 that the American Kennel Club officially registered its first basset hound.

Basset Hounds Are Royal

Both Queen Victoria and her daughter-in-law, Alexandra of Denmark, shared a passion for dogs and were instrumental in popularizing the basset hound in late 19th-century Great Britain. As a devoted patron of animal welfare, Queen Victoria kept a few basset hounds, integrating them into the royal family’s highly publicized daily lives.

Princess Alexandra also had several basset hounds, which she frequently exhibited at public dog shows. Together, the endorsement from these two influential women transformed the basset hound from a niche European hunting dog into a highly fashionable, sought-after household companion.

Hush Puppies

Legend has it that hush puppies, the fried cornmeal treat, are deeply rooted in Southern folklore involving hunters and their loudly baying hound dogs, which were frequenty basset hounds.

During cookouts on hunting trips, the basset hounds, notorious for their booming, persistent howling, would smell the cooking food and begin barking in anticipation. To quiet the hungry pack and keep them from interrupting the meal, the cooks would fry up small, leftover scraps of cornmeal batter and toss them directly to the dogs, shouting, “hush, puppy,” as they did.

Over time, this practical hunting-camp tactic became so commonplace that the delicious fried balls permanently adopted the name.

Mascot for Hush Puppies Shoes

In 1958, an executive for a Michigan shoe company learned about the hush puppy origin story while traveling through the Southern United States. Recognizing that barking dogs was a popular American idiom for aching, sore feet, he reasoned that his company’s ultra-comfortable new brushed-suede shoes could quiet a person’s barking dogs.

The company subsequently branded the new footwear line Hush Puppies and adopted a basset hound named Jason as their official mascot and logo.

Hollywood Hounds

TThe basset hound’s droopy, melancholic expression has made it a beloved fixture in Hollywood films and television.

A basset hound simply named Dog was a scene stealer in the hit series Columbo. The breed’s characteristic physical limitations are played to comedic effect in The Secret Life of Pets, as Pops, a curmudgeonly old basset hound, uses a wheelchair to navigate his secret routes around New York City.

However, the most iconic pop-culture moment for the basset hound occurred on July 1, 1956, when Elvis Presley serenaded a completely unbothered basset hound named Sherry, singing his future hit song, “Hound Dog,” on the Steve Allen Show.

Basset Hounds Can Sing

Basset hounds have a characteristic deep hound howl. They have strong lungs and can produce loud howls. The heart-wrenching sounds they make are unlike those of any other dog. However, certain birds, like barred owls, can mimic the hound’s howl perfectly.

What will make a basset hound sing? All sorts of things. Sometimes a basset hound sings because of separation anxiety. If a basset hound is left alone and does not like it, it will bay. Basset hounds can be trained to sing on command.

Older Basset Hounds Mentor Younger Basset Hounds

Older basset hounds are usually fond of puppies. When two basset hounds live together, the older dog will mentor the younger one. It’s almost as if the older dog is adopting the younger one, which is incredibly helpful to owners.

As long as the older dog is well-trained, it can teach its good habits to the young pup. Not to mention, the two dogs will provide priceless companionship to each other. Basset hounds are loyal, loving dogs, and they enjoy being social.