Arkhyn's Asylum
***Basset Hound***
***THE BASSET HOUND STANDARD***
14.01.2013 / EN
Standard-FCI No. 163
BASSET HOUND
TRANSLATION: Teacher. R. Triquet. Update: J. Mulholland /
Authentic language: (EN).
ORIGIN: Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF OFFICIAL STANDARD EN EFFECTIVE: 13.10.2010.
USE: Running dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 6 Hounds, Bloodhounds and Related Breeds.
Section 1.3 Small Hounds.
With epworking river.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Basset Hound is reputed to have been bred in France by monks during the Middle Ages to hunt in dense terrain and for its ability to keep its nose close to the ground. Although very close to all French Bassets, the breed evolved to perfection in Great Britain. It is able to hunt its natural prey, the hare, at a relatively slow pace over extraordinary distances.
GENERAL ASPECT: Short-legged Hound, of considerable substance, well-proportioned, distinguished. It is essential to bear in mind that this is a working dog which must be able to carry out its function and which must, therefore, be powerful, active and have great endurance.
BEHAVIOR / CHARACTER: Tenacious dog, of high lineage, hunting on the nose, possessing the instinct of the pack, a deep and melodious voice. Placid, never aggressive or fearful. Affectionate.
HEAD: There may be wrinkles, in small quantities, on the forehead and near the eyes. In any case, the skin on the head should be loose enough to form slight folds when pulled forward or when the head is lowered.
CRANIAL REGION: The top of the muzzle is almost parallel to the top line of the skull and it is not much longer than the skull.
Skull: Domed, the occipital protuberance being prominent. Of medium width at the forehead, the head tapers slightly towards the muzzle.
Stop: Moderately marked.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Entirely black except in light-colored dogs where it can be brown or liver-coloured. The nostrils are large and well opened; the nose may protrude slightly in front of the lips.
Muzzle: Generally lean in appearance, but not whistle.
Lips: The lips largely cover the lower lips.
Jaws/Teeth: The jaws are strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, ie the upper incisors overlap the lower ones in close contact and are set square to the jaws.
Eyes: Diamond-shaped, neither prominent nor too deep set, dark in color, but may be medium brown in light coated dogs. Calm and serious expression.
Light eye or yellow eye is a serious defect.
Ears: Set low, just below eye line. They are long; they slightly exceed the end of a muzzle of correct length, but without excess. They are narrow all along their length and well curled. Very supple, with a fine and velvety texture.
NECK: Muscular, well curved and of good length, presenting a
pronounced dewlap, but without exaggeration.
BODY: Long and well let down in all its length; the withers and the loin are approximately at the same height.
Back: Fairly wide and level. From the withers to the point of intersection of the hips, the back is not of excessive length.
Loins: May present a slight arch.
Chest: Seen from the front, the chest adapts perfectly to the curvature of the forearm. The sternum is prominent, but the chest is neither narrow nor excessively sunken. The ribs are well rounded and without forming a rim, they extend well back.
Underline and belly: There must be sufficient distance between the sternum and the ground to allow the dog to move easily in all types of terrain.
TAIL: Well set on, fairly long, strong at the base, tapering, with a moderate amount of coarse hair on the lower region. In action, the whip is well carried upwards in
forming a gentle curve, saber-like without ever being gay or coiled.
MEMBERS
FOREQUARTERS:
Overview: In its upper part it slopes slightly inwards, but not so much as to interfere with freedom of movement or to result in the limbs touching when standing or in action. A few folds may be present on the lower part of the limbs but they must in no case be excessive.
Shoulder: The shoulder blades are sloping well back. The shoulder is not loaded.
Elbows: They are turned neither inwards nor outwards. They fit perfectly against the sides of the chest.
Forearms: Short, powerful with strong bone.
Pasterns: Bleeding is a very serious fault.
Forefeet: Massive, with good joints and good pads.
The forefeet may point straight ahead or be turned slightly outwards, but in any case the standing position must be perfectly regular, the weight being evenly distributed over the toes and pads so that the feet leave the imprints of a large dog, no region not provided with pads being in contact with the ground.
HINDQUARTERS:
Overall View: Very muscular and well set out, almost giving the impression of a sphere, when viewed from behind. The skin may form a few folds between the hock and the foot and behind the hock joint a slight pocket may appear as a result of laxity of the skin but neither should be excessive .
Grasset: Well angulated.
Metatarsals (Hocks): Well let down; they are slightly tucked under the body and face neither in nor out, but are level with the body when the dog is in a natural upright position.
Hind feet: Massive, provided with good joints and good pads. In any case, the standing position must be perfectly regular, the weight being equally distributed over the fingers and the pads so that the feet leave the imprints of a large dog, no region not provided with pads being in contact with the floor.
DRESS:
Hair quality: Smooth, short and tight without being too fine. The whole outline is pure in its lines and devoid of fringes. Long hair, soft hair with fringes are serious faults.
Coat Color: Usually black, tan, and white (tricolor); lemon and white (bicolor); but any hound color is allowed.
SIZE: 33 to 38 cm at the withers.
DEFAULTS: Any deviation from the above must be considered as a defect which will be penalized according to its seriousness and its consequences on the health and well-being of the dog and on its ability to carry out its traditional work.
FAULTS LEADING TO EXCLUSION :
• Aggressive or fearful dog.
• Any dog with obvious physical or behavioral abnormalities.
NB:
• Males should have two normal-looking testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only dogs that are healthy and capable of performing the functions for which they have been selected, and whose morphology is typical of the breed, can be used for breeding.
The latest changes are in bold.