The Basset Hounds are a rather old breed, originated  in France, and are descendants of the old St. Hubert hound, a dog similar to the present-day Bloodhound. The name Basset comes from the French word "bas" meaning low-set.  It is said that the Basset was a result of a mutation in the St. Hubert strain, which produced a  short-legged, dwarfed hound. The breed reached international fame at the Paris Dog Show in 1863  and it is commonly believed that it was first brought to the United States by Marquis de Lafayette as a gift to George Washington after the American Revolution.The Basset Hounds are capable of great endurance, have great lung capacity and a large strong heart, so they can pace steadily over long distances.Due to its slower movements and extreme devotion this breed is  ideal for long country walkings. Their bark is deep musical, similar to the sound  of a ship’s foghorn and its cheerful character, dark soulful eyes,  and apparently clumsy appearance turned the Basset hound into the delight of many admirers,  advertisers and cartoonists.

Basset Hounds are large, long, scenting dogs on short legs, rather heavier in bone, considering  their size, than any other breed of dog. The Body has a long, smooth rib structure that extends well back. The topline is straight, level, and free from any tendency to sag or roach. The neck is powerful. Elbows are set against a very deep chest, the hocks are straight and the legs point ahead. The head is large and long, with much loose skin around that forms wrinkles. The skull shows a pronounced occipital protuberance. The muzzle is deep, heavy, and the nose is darkly pigmented, preferably black, with large wide-open nostrils. The ears are the most exaggerated feature of the Basset Hound: they are very long and low set far back on the head at the base of the skull. They are velvety in texture and hang in loose folds with the ends curling slightly inward. Its dark brown, slightly sunken eyes, are soft with a kind expression. The tail is long, set in continuation of the spine with but slight curvature and stands upright. The short-haired coat is smooth, except for the hair on the underside of the tail that is coarse, and usually comes in black, white and tan or in lemon and white. Coat colors are distributed over the body in no particular pattern.The Basset Hound is one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds.

The Basset Hound is sweet, gentle, devoted, peaceful, never sharp or timid and naturally well-behaved. They get along well with people and other dogs and pets, are very affectionate with their handlers and will gladly play with children. Like other hounds, Basset Hounds may be a bit stubborn and are often difficult to obedience train when a reward is not present. They need patient training and positive reinforcement. They are prone to become  become overweight.They have a hearty appetite and like to do tricks for extra food generally excelling at getting his way due to their  mournful appearance that can cause owners to be "sympathetic". Their unhurried manner and captivatingly clownish demeanor may be deceiving: although very inactive indoors, if given the chance outdoors they will run for hours and should be given plenty of opportunities to run and play to keep them healthy and trim. A single Basset may not do well left alone for long periods for they feel uncomfortable without human companions. For working owners, the company of another dog is the next best thing.

The Basset Hound is an especially healthy breed.  Due to their long bodies and short legs they may be prone to back pain. Hip dysplasia can also be a problem. Some bloodlines may be genetically prone to glaucoma, luxating patella and ectropion. Occasionally older Bassets may suffer from Von Willebrand disease and the youngs may develop panosteitis.

Basset Hounds are occasionally referred to as "Hush Puppies" because they were used in the logo for Hush Puppies brand shoes.