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The ancestral lines of the Basset Hound originated in France but this hound's elongated body, short legs, long ears and irresistible wrinkles make this breed loved by hound owners around the world. The Basset has a tough yet smooth coat, long ears and droopy eyes. All of these characteristics require special attention when grooming the Basset Hound.

The Basset Hound can be bathed as often as needed. The amount of baths your dog gets will depend upon his lifestyle. Like with any dog, frequent bathing can reduce the natural oils in the dog's skin so bathing should be done only when needed. Before bathing, thoroughly give the Basset a good brushing to remove dead hair and any mats.

Wet the Basset avoiding the eyes and especially the ears. Using dog shampoo, wash the Basset from rear to head with either your hands, sponge or a wash mitt. If needed, place cotton balls in the ears to avoid water running into the ear canals. Clean in all of the many folds that are on the Basset's body. Rinse thoroughly, again avoiding the eyes and ears. Dry the Bassett with a heavy towel and/or blow-dry if you prefer.

A slicker brush or grooming mitt works well for grooming the Basset's coat. A thorough brushing should be done at least weekly and after each bathing. If the Basset does not need a bath, brushing and cleaning of the eyes, ears and trimming of the toenails need to be done a regular basis.

Dog breeds such as the Basset Hound that have long ears are unable to get circulation into the ears. These breeds of dogs with elongated ears are prone to ear infections and ear odors. A cotton ball or tissue that has been dampened with water works well but there are also ear cleaning products available on the market. Q-tips are not recommended and always avoid going into the ear canal during cleaning. A cotton ball or tissue can also be used to wipe around the eyes.

The Basset Hound will need its nails trimmed routinely. Long nails for the Basset can become uncomfortable when it walks and even painful. Nail trimming for the Basset should be done every two weeks at minimum. If attempting this process yourself, be aware that the toenail has a "quick" and can hurt the dog or even bleed if cut into. If your dog has light colored nails, the quick is visible through the nail and easier to trim. Cut the toenail within 2 millimeters of the quick. For dark colored nails, trim the nails in small cuts to minimize the chance of cutting into the quick. New equipment for dog nail trimming have become available including nail grinders which file down the nails slowly rather than cutting. These new items may work better for the novice groomer.

During a grooming session, brush the teeth to remove any build-up and schedule regular check-ups with a veterinarian to assure that all of the Basset's needs are being covered. Even though the Basset Hound has a short coat that doesn't tend to mat, regular grooming especially of the folds of the skin, ears and nails should become part of a weekly routine.

Learn more about this author, Angela Pollock.
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