If you like walking your Basset Hound as well or instead of showing, then come along to our next walk shown below:
Future walks
Offers invited for 2012: stake your date now. No walk in January.
Provisional dates:
February 5th: Postponed due to weather forecast.
A walk along the Wansdyke (Devizes area), leader Guy (with help from Maude, Alice and Jessica). Details here
March 4th: Harcombe nr Exeter, leaders Gay & Mary (not forgetting little Will).
April 1st: S Cadbury (nr Sparkford, just off A303) - Cadbury Castle - lunch pub stop at Corton Denham. Leader Dave P.
May 6th: Savernake Forest: led by Dianne (not forgetting Hamilton). details later.
June 10th: Cerne Abbas, cream tea to finish.
July 8th (prob) in Devon (leader Gay).
August 5th: Alfred's Tower, lunch pub stop Stourhead, just past, or before Wincanton.
November 4th: Ham Hill, Stoke sub Hamdon, nr Yeovil (just off A303). Pub to finish. Leader Dave P
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Photos of all our past walks and videos for most (don't miss the chaotic video) at Barbary Castle can be found here. |
Basset Hounds are different. They may look cute (6 stone, cute?) in slipper ads, but as every owner knows they are just as likely to be obstinate, stubborn, wilful and natural thieves. We call it intelligence.
Since 1954 the Basset Hound Club has looked after standards, run championships, institutes a Code of Ethics, in short everything to do with the well-being of The Breed. Disappointingly they have shown no interest in what we are doing and refuse to publicise our walks. Anyone know why?
It is our experience that most members are only interested in showing – fine – but some of us prefer to walk our hounds in company with others, for the sheer joy of watching a large group of bassets run together.
When we acquired our first hound, nearly forty years ago, there were six Basset packs, today I am told there are nine – the most well-known of which is The Albany, in the East Midlands. (Three packs are privately owned.) While we don't agree with hunting, it is still a fine sight to see such a large number in the countryside. Compared to the average pet hound, The English Hunt Basset Hound is much longer legged and shorter eared, and certainly fit – some days they will cover 25 miles.
With this end in view the Basset Hound Walkers (got the fleece?) has been formed as a very loose group of friends who will meet usually the first Sunday in the month to exercise their hounds. There is no fee, no constitution and certainly no officers. All are welcome (tell your Basset friends). Just bring some lunch and Bonios.
The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.
Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes on the floor with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not mean . . . more >
(To enlarge the press cutting below - if you must -just click on images. Top one is our walk at Paignton on Feb 6th in the Western Morning News. Really sorry about the bloke blotting out the rest of the group).
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So which is the most peculiar animal here then?
Just a quick note to thank you for your Basset Hound Walkers website. I wanted to get a basset hound for years and after doing our research we adopted Plunkett 2 weeks ago. We found your website extremely helpful and my boyfriend has made a little ramp for him to get down the steep step out to our back garden, inspired by the one on your website.
Thanks again,
Frances Cassidy
"I live in Ipswich in Suffolk and have been searching Google to find a walk to join with my lemon basset Reggie. I've come across your website and think it's fantastic! The only problem is I think it's a bit too far for us to come... Would you happen to know of other groups like yours nearer my area? Anywhere in Suffolk, East Anglia.
If all else fails then I might have to make a special trip in the New year to come on a walk near you."
From Daisy.
And now for some culture.
Click here to open The Beat Hound (opens with Windows Media Player)
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From Toronto:
“I happened across your YouTube video of your recent walk - enjoyed it very much! Then went to your website. I was very impressed (and appreciative) of the thorough job you did on the care of Bassets. I laughed out loud at some of the pix and captions - (my husband just came off nights and is sleeping so laughing out loud in our tiny bungalow isn't something I really wanted to do right now!!)
We have always lived in condos in the heart of Toronto, so could only ever own a cat. Now we have moved to a small property and I am seriously thinking of finally getting a basset for myself. I've loved these guys for many years.....
I live near Toronto, Canada - or else I'd join your group in a heartbeat!
Cheers!!
Selma Dearborn
Basset lover!!
"Me and my hubby .... would love to come on a walk with you all if you do one near here then someone can convince him that we do in fact need another basset to live with us, maybe a lovely girly for bert. I hope you will meet him soon on a ramble and then you can all help me find him later in the day"
Names deleted to preserve marital harmony.
"I’ve been looking at your website and the pictures of your walks are fantastic !! Looks like everyone has great fun and it’s such a joy to see all the bassets together."
Jemma from Norfolk.
I have not smiled that much in a long time seeing the pack romping through the grass.
The highlight for us was the Labrador being pursued by a large pack of Bassets baying. My side still hurts now from laughing. I think that next time we will bring the beagle and let the pack run after him instead of the lab as that will be one way to wear him out!
Matt & Liz
If you've lost a favourite hound, click here to read Leslie Thomas' obit of Furlong, "the greatest dog in the world is dead". Warning: keep a tissue handy. |
Updated:
February 6, 2012 |
Have you got your car sticker yet?
£2 each, £3.75 for two - available now. See me at a walk or send an SAE + cheque if you can't wait.
Are Basset Hounds good with children?
Click here to see a 1 minute video of my grandson biting my Matilda. |
Columbo and his Basset Hound
To remind yourself, click here to see a clip
Two neutered males (not husbands)
looking a home
Becky (Basset Welfare) says "I am desperate for a home for this handsome pair. they are neutered and very loving. Please email me or ring me on 01803 782898 if you can help. Aged 3 and 3½, situated in the East of the country.
many thanks
Stud dog wanted
The above two year old is coming into season and her owner Jodie is looking for a suitable stud dog. She says "my bitch is in excellent health, absolutely amazing temperament and my pride and joy, I want to keep one of her pups for myself but will offer a stud fee or pick of the litter to the dog's owner." If you are interested please email her here (based in Wellington and please make the usual enquiries).
"I am writing to thank you for making and posting your wonderful Basset walk videos. Three weeks ago, my adored Basset, Maggie, died after a long battle with cancer. Watching your videos of the hounds frolicking about the countryside has been a great comfort to me and my family. It had been a long time since my Maggie had been up to a walk. Thanks so much for sharing these delightful videos with the world. Best wishes to both of you and please give my regards to Matilda and Moppet,"
Mitchell McNaylor
"Fred, Rose and I are hoping to come on your next walk, however as Fred is recovering from surgery having eaten my son's sports sock, which then got stuck, it will depend on how he is next weekend." (from Sue)
Marmite sandwiches leads to first Basset
Good morning from South Africa
I stumbled per chance on your website. What a nice surprise ! We live in the country and our nearest big centre is Cape Town, some 250km away, so the opportunity to meet with other basset owners are a bit slim.
I am now almost 60 years of age. My first basset adopted me when I was a kid of 12 years old. My mother always made me marmite sandwiches to take to school. At one stage I was really fed up with the marmite. So, this funny low-slung, lean, clean and mean looking dog followed me on the playground, and I fed him the sandwiches. After the break the dog followed me back to the class. The teacher told me to take my dog out, and I said its not my dog. So the teacher tried to chase the dog out, and the dog wanted to bite him. After school the dog followed me home and stayed with us for about seven years before he died of old age. That was my first basset, and we had bassets ever since.
Keep well,
Frans Breytenbach
(posted 7 May 2011)
Now get the T-shirt (well, fleece)
Here's Sarah (or myself) proudly wearing our new fleeces. (To change the photo mouse over the photo). You can order up your own (choice of six colours) from this eBay shop at the very reasonable cost of £21 including the embroidery. Takes about three weeks to arrive, and the quality is very good.
Stuck for a name?
It's not obligatory to call your new Basset Fred - or as I tell people when they hear me call out Moppet, or Matilda "You're not alllowed to own a Basset unless you give them silly names". To solve the problem click here to see a list of traditional English Basset names, culled from George Johnston's excellent book The Basset Hound, pub 1974 but I see s/h copies still available from Amazon. There are some glorious names here, that just roll off the tongue: Quickaway and Chanter, Jealousy and Joyful: go on, be brave.
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My Matilda at 4 months. This photo made
4th in The Guardian Weekend comp entitled
"Greed". Surely deserved 1st?
Don't like kennels? Here's a lovely alternative
We hate putting our hounds in kennels so we were delighted to find someone who will look after them in their own home. Situated just outside Langport in Somerset, the place is called "Cuddles", which says it all really. When we left ours there were six other dogs, all running round, sleeping together, they had a grand time. The owners have a very large field and they get taken for walks. Price is a very reasonable £13 a night, you supply the food. Book with Janice Board here.
Blocked footpath? Send for Miss Moppet. Click here to see story.
40kgs of Fred + his best friend (For more pics of Fred see video here)
Caption competition
Samantha Yarwood sent me this photo but I was in two minds whether to put it up. If your hound sees it, what on earth will it think? "Aren't I supposed to chase these things? What's this hound doing? We both may have long ears but surely it's not a Basset?"
Anyway send me your caption and I'll award a small prize (Teach Yourself Hunting?) to the best one, to be passed on at our next walk.
Taking your hound abroad? Click here for how to do it (and what to avoid). NB the rules change - for the better - January 2012.
Of course they didn't (Cerne Abbas).
This walking lark is too much for me.
"Can I bury your socks first?"
"Not another walk. I'd much rather stay here and wreck the china."
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