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THE
AKC STANDARD FOR THE BASSET HOUND
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Forelegs.
The forelegs are short,
powerful, heavy in bone, with wrinkled skin. Knuckling
over of the front legs is a disqualification.
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The Paw.
The paw is massive, very
heavy 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.
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The Toes.
The toes are neither
pinched together nor splayed, with the weight of the
forepart of the body borne evenly on each. The dewclaws
may be removed.
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The 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. The topline
is straight, level, and free from any tendency to sag or
roach, which are faults. |
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Hindquarters.
The hindquarters are very full and well rounded, and are
approximately equal to the shoulders in width. They must not
appear slack or light in relation to the over-all depth of the
body. The dog stands firmly on its hind legs showing a
well-let-down stifle with no tendency toward a crouching stance.
Viewed from behind, the hind legs are parallel, with the hocks
turning neither in nor out. Cowhocks or bowed legs are serious
faults. The hind feet point straight ahead. Steep, poorly
angulated hindquarters are a serious fault. The dewclaws, if
any, may be removed.
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TheTail.
The tail is not to be docked, and is set in continuation of the
spine with but slight curvature, and carried gaily in hound
fashion. The hair on the underside of the tail is coarse.
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Size.
The height should not exceed 14 inches. Height over 15 inches at
the highest point of the shoulder blade is a disqualification.
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Gait.
The Basset Hound moves in a smooth, powerful, and effortless
manner. Being a scenting dog with short legs, it holds its nose
low to the ground. Its gait is absolutely true with perfect
co-ordination between the front and hind legs, and it moves in
a straight line with hind feet following in line with the front
feet, the hocks well bent with no stiffness of action. The
front legs do not paddle, weave, or overlap, and the elbows
must lie close to the body. Going away, the hind legs are
parallel.
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Coat.
The coat is hard, smooth, and short, with sufficient density to
be of use in all weather. The skin is loose and elastic. A
distinctly long coat is a disqualification. Color. Any
recognized hound color is acceptable and the distribution of
color and markings is of no importance.
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General Appearance.
The Basset Hound possesses in marked degree those
characteristics which equip it admirably to follow a trail over
and through difficult terrain. It is a short-legged dog,
heavier in bone, size considered, than any other breed of dog,
and while its movement is deliberate, it is in no sense clumsy.
In temperament it is mild, never sharp or timid. It is capable
of great endurance in the field and is extreme in its devotion.
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Skull.
The skull is well domed, showing a pronounced occipital
protuberance. A broad flat skull is a fault. The length from
nose to stop is approximately the length from stop to occiput.
The sides are flat and free from cheek bumps. Viewed in profile
the top lines of the muzzle and skull are straight and lie in
parallel 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 are faults.
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The Muzzle.
The muzzle is deep, heavy, and free from snipiness.
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The Nose.
The nose is darkly pigmented, preferably black, with large
wide-open nostrils. A deep liver-colored nose conforming to the
coloring of the head is permissible but not desirable.
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The Teeth.
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.
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The Lips.
The lips are darkly pigmented and are pendulous, falling
squarely in front and, toward the back, in loose hanging flews.
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The Dewlap.
The dewlap is very pronounced.
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The Neck.
The neck is powerful, of good length, and well arched.
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The Eyes.
The eyes are soft, sad, and slightly sunken, showing a prominent
haw, and in color are brown, dark brown preferred. A somewhat
lighter-colored eye conforming to the general coloring of the
dog is acceptable but not desirable. Very light or protruding
eyes are faults.
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The Ears.
The ears are extremely long, low set, and when drawn forward,
fold well over the end of the nose. They are velvety in
texture, hanging in loose folds with the ends curling slightly
inward. They are set far back on the head at the base of the
skull and, in repose, appear to be set on the neck. A high set
or flat ear is a serious fault.
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Forequarters. The Chest.
The chest is deep and full with prominent sternum showing
clearly in front of the legs.
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Head.
The head is large and well proportioned. Its length from occiput
to muzzle is greater than the width at the brow. In over-all
appearance the head is of medium width.
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The Shoulders and Elbows.
The shoulders and elbows are set close against the sides of the
chest. The distance from the deepest point of the chest to the
ground, while it must be adequate to allow free movement when
working in the field, is not to be more than one-third the
total height at the withers of an adult Basset. The shoulders
are well laid back and powerful. Steepness in shoulder, fiddle
fronts, and elbows that are out, are serious faults.
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DISQUALIFICATION |
Height of more than 15 inches at the highest point of the
shoulder blades.
Knuckled over front legs.
Distinctly long coat.
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