Basset Hound Colors: Rarest to Most Common

Basset hounds are loved for their adorable, sad, droopy faces. They are also even-tempered family dogs, happy to nap on your lap or chase a scent trail. In fact, the basset hound’s long, floppy ears lift and trap scents as they walk. They have the second-best sense of smell; the first is the bloodhound. Also, basset hounds are great with children because of their gentle, friendly, and lazy nature. However, they can be strong-willed and challenging to train. But otherwise, they are a delight to have around. Listed below are 10 basset hound colors from rarest to most common.

There are three types of coat colors: solid, bi-colored, and tri-colored. While the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize solid colors, there are some out there, although they are extremely rare. Tri-colored bassets are the most common coat type, but many variations exist, like Black, brown, or black, red, and white. So, below are ten coat colors listed from rarest to most common.

1. Blue

The AKC does not recognize the rarest basset hound color, blue. As a result, finding a breeder is challenging. However, they do accept this color as an additional tone to the coat—for example, blue and white or lemon and white. Furthermore, the blue coat and its variations are recognized by other kennel clubs around the world. For example, one of the variations, the Basset Bleu de Gascogne, is frequently listed as an independent breed. But pure blue basset hounds are incredibly rare.

The AKC doesn’t recognize the solid blue basset hounds because they believe this coat color results in several genetic defects that can lead to problems like alopecia, food allergies, and intussusception (bowel obstruction).

2. Lemon

The second rarest basset hound color is lemon. They have pale yellow coats with a lemon hue. It looks very similar to blonde. Many people think that white basset hound puppies are lemon colored, but they develop their tan markings as they age.

3. Blue and White

The AKC recognizes blue and white basset hounds, but like the lemon coats, they are extremely rare.

4. White and Lemon

The lemon markings look like blonde fur, but they are accompanied by white. There are no traces of darker fur on the body, resulting from a recessive gene that makes the coat colors fade. As a result, puppies are born with darker hair, which begins to fade at about eight weeks old.

5. Mahogany and White

The mahogany and white basset hounds have a white base color and dark brown patches with a red hue. They are also rare, and finding a breeder is tough.

6. Tan and White

There is a minute difference between the lemon and tan basset hounds, which is the depth of the fawn color. The shade is actually closer to brown than yellow and is often present on the basset’s face or ears.

7. Black and Brown

Black and brown basset hounds resemble other breeds with the same combination, like Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Dachshunds. They are mainly black with brown markings on their face and legs. However, the pattern does differ from dog to dog.

8. Brown and White

Chocolate-colored basset hounds are quite popular, but finding a bi-colored one is quite rare. The brown bassets come in several variations, including honey, chocolate, liver, and hazel, which are often present on their bellies and chests, with brown and white appearing on their faces.

9. Red and White

While red and white bassets look very similar to tri-colored dogs, their coats are covered in red ticking instead of solid patches. As puppies, their coloring appears jet-black or chocolate, but as they grow older, it starts to fade. This usually happens at around three months of age. The red basset’s back is covered in red, while the tip of its tail is usually white, along with the chest, paws, and belly. Furthermore, they typically have a white band around their necks. They are often confused with mahogany bassets, but the red coat has a richer coloring.

10. Tri-Colored

The tri-colored basset hound coloring is the most common coat color. However, there are many variations of colors, including:

• Black, brown, and white
• Black, white, and tan
• Black, tan, and white
• Black, white, and brown
• Brown, black, and white
• Black, red, and white
• Blue, tan, and white
• White, black, and brown
• White, black, and red

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