Official Standard for the Basset HoundGeneral Appearance: The Basset Hound possesses in marked degree those characteristicswhich equip it admirably to follow a trail over and through difficult terrain. It is a short-leggeddog, heavier in bone, size considered, than any other breed of dog, and while its movement isdeliberate, it is in no sense clumsy. In temperament it is mild, never sharp or timid. It is capableof great endurance in the field and is extreme in its devotion.Head: The head is large and well proportioned. Its length from occiput to muzzle is greater thanthe width at the brow. In overall appearance the head is of medium width. The skull is welldomed, showing a pronounced occipital protuberance. A broad flat skull is a fault. The lengthfrom nose to stop is approximately the length from stop to occiput. The sides are flat and freefrom cheek bumps. Viewed in profile the top lines of the muzzle and skull are straight and lie inparallel planes, with a moderately defined stop. The skin over the whole of the head is loose,falling in distinct wrinkles over the brow when the head is lowered. A dry head and tight skin arefaults. The muzzle is deep, heavy, and free from snipiness. The nose is darkly pigmented,preferably black, with large wide-open nostrils. A deep liver-colored nose conforming to thecoloring of the head is permissible but not desirable. The teeth are large, sound, and regular,meeting in either a scissors or an even bite. A bite either overshot or undershot is a serious fault.The lips are darkly pigmented and are pendulous, falling squarely in front and, toward the back,in loose hanging flews. The dewlap is very pronounced. The neck is powerful, of good length,and well arched. The eyes are soft, sad, and slightly sunken, showing a prominent haw, and incolor are brown, dark brown preferred. A somewhat lighter-colored eye conforming to thegeneral coloring of the dog is acceptable but not desirable. Very light or protruding eyes arefaults. The ears are extremely long, low set, and when drawn forward, fold well over the end ofthe nose. They are velvety in texture, hanging in loose folds with the ends curling slightlyinward. They are set far back on the head at the base of the skull and, in repose, appear to be seton the neck. A high set or flat ear is a serious fault.Forequarters: The chest is deep and full with prominent sternum showing clearly in front of thelegs. The shoulders and elbows are set close against the sides of the chest. The distance from thedeepest point of the chest to the ground, while it must be adequate to allow free movement whenworking in the field, is not to be more than one-third the total height at the withers of an adultBasset. The shoulders are well laid back and powerful. Steepness in shoulder, fiddle fronts, andelbows that are out, are serious faults. The forelegs are short, powerful, heavy in bone, withwrinkled skin. Knuckling over of the front legs is a disqualification. The paw is massive, veryheavy with tough heavy pads, well rounded and with both feet inclined equally a trifle outward,balancing the width of the shoulders. Feet down at the pastern are a serious fault. The toes areneither pinched together nor splayed, with the weight of the forepart of the body borne evenly oneach. The dewclaws may be removed.Body: The rib structure is long, smooth, and extends well back. The ribs are well sprung,allowing adequate room for heart and lungs. Flatsidedness and flanged ribs are faults. Thetopline is straight, level, and free from any tendency to sag or roach, which are faults.Hindquarters: The hindquarters are very full and well rounded, and are approximately equal tothe shoulders in width. They must not appear slack or light in relation to the overall depth of thebody. The dog stands firmly on its hind legs showing a well-let-down stifle with no tendencytoward a crouching stance. Viewed from behind, the hind legs are parallel, with the hocksPage 2 of 2turning neither in no
