The Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix is a cross between a Basset Hound and an American Cocker Spaniel.
The first generation Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix is also known as a Hush Basset.
Both the Basset Hound and the Cocker Spaniel are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Both breeds are very popular in the United States.
Read on to view pictures and learn more about the Basset Spaniel Mix.
The History of the Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix
The Hush Basset is a new mixed breed dog with a droopy expression, just like his purebred Basset Hound parent.
While this hybrid has a limited history, both the parent breeds have interesting historical backgrounds.
In order to get a good understanding of where the Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix came from, let’s take a closer look at the origins of both the Basset Hound and the Cocker Spaniel breeds.
Some Quick Facts About The Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix
Breed Type: | Crossbreed/Mixed Breed |
Size: | Medium |
Other Names: | Hush Basset |
Good Guard Dog: | No |
Average Weight: | 26 to 60 Pounds |
Average Height: | 11 to 15 Inches |
Suitable for first time owners: | Yes |
Lifespan: | 10 to 15 Years |
Suitable for apartment living: | Yes, they do like to bark so if you’re in an apartment take that as something to consider |
Coat: | Usually short to medium length |
Coat colors: | black, brown, red, gray, tan and white with white markings, black markings or ticked pattern |
Eye Color: | Brown |
Trainability: | Moderate difficulty |
Level of Shedding: | Moderate to High |
Grooming Needs: | High-maintenance dogs, should be brushed at least two to three times each week |
Hypoallergenic: | No, not good fit for allergy sufferers |
Energy Levels: | Moderate |
Exercise Needs: | Moderate, at least 30 to 45 minutes of exercise every day is required |
Feeding and Diet: | 2.5 cups of high quality dog food each day, divided into two to three meals |
Possible Health Issues: | Bloat, glaucoma, allergies, ear infections, eye problems, hypothyroidism, hip and elbow dysplasia, skin fold dermatitis and bleeding disorder |
Temperament: | Calm, patient, intelligent, exciting, friendly, affectionate can also be stubborn and strong-willed |
Cat Friendly: | Moderate, they have tendency to chase small animals, so early socialization is must |
Dog Friendly: | Yes, with early socialization |
Kid Friendly: | Yes, with early socialization |
Family Friendly: | Yes |
Barking: | Frequent |
Price: | Anywhere from $1000 to $1800 |
The History of the Basset Hound
The Basset Hound breed shares a common ancestral home with the Bloodhound. Both breeds originated from the St. Hubert hounds of France.
These dogs are famed for their strong sense of smell and they were developed to hunt small animals such as foxes, hares and rabbits.
They also have floppy ears to help direct the scent towards their nose as they follow it along the way.
In fact, “Basset” is a French word meaning low and describes the low-lying bodies of these dogs, which allowed them to navigate dense underbrush in search of small prey.
The present-day Basset Hound is considered to be gentle, loving and patient. However, he can also be stubborn and strong-willed, whether he is following a scent path or looking for food. Therefore, proper training is an integral part of owning a Basset Hound Mix.
The History of the Cocker Spaniel
The history of the Cocker Spaniel stems from as far back as 1620 when these dogs were first seen aboard the Mayflower.
The first Cocker Spaniels were introduced to the country by huntsmen in the 19th century thanks to their skillful display in hunting birds like the gamecock.
American breeders worked hard to refine these dogs further to make them smaller and easier to maintain as hunting dogs, show dogs and family companions.
After refinement, their popularity soared, leading to the explosion of puppy mills just to keep up with demand (thankfully, most of these have been stopped by law).
Today, the Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the world thanks to its sweet demeanor, high intelligence levels and cute looks.
What Does a Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix Look Like?
The Hush Basset inherits many physical characteristics from his Basset Hound parent, including his low-lying body, elongated frame, strong chest and droopy expression.
However, he also inherits the long coat and muscular body of the Cocker Spaniel.
Hush Basset Size, Height and Weight
How Big Does a Full Grown Cocker Spaniel Basset Hound Mix Get?
The size and physical features of this dog are important to all new owners.
First of all, this is a medium sized dog that should measure somewhere between the Cocker spaniel and the Siberian Husky.
On average, a full grown Hush Basset dog will stand 14 inches tall and weigh around 26 to 60 pounds.
Due to their medium size, these dogs are well suited for apartment life provided they get plenty of exercises.
Coat and Coat Colors
These dogs often have short to medium-length coats. Both parent breeds are high frequency shedders and are not generally recommended for individuals with allergies.
The most common coat colors include black, brown, red, gray, tan and white with white markings, black markings or ticked pattern.
Hush Basset Behavior & Temperament
The Hush Basset temperament is considered to be calm, patient and intelligent.
These dogs are generally exciting, friendly and affectionate. They also crave for the attention of those close to them and use their sad, gloomy expression to get it.
They do well in social settings thanks to their friendly nature towards other dogs and people. They generally remain calm even when there’s a lot of commotion around them.
They are generally vocal dogs, so prospective owners should be careful not to leave them alone for an extended period of time in order to prevent unwanted behaviors like excessive barking.
Does Cocker Spaniel Basset Hound Mix Get Along With Kids?
Yes! The Hush Basset gets along well with children. They also make excellent playmates for kids since they are gentle and tolerant of them.
However, you should teach your children how to behave around all dogs. Adult supervision is important when allowing your children to interact with your dog.
Behavior With Cats and Other Pets
Since both parent breeds have a hunting background, they have a strong prey drive.
Therefore, you should not leave them unsupervised around cats and other small pets such as hamsters and guinea pigs. They usually need training and socialization. An early and gradual introduction will help your dog to get along well with cats and other household pets.
Training
The Hush Basset is known to be good natured and eager to please. Therefore, training should be relatively easy especially if started from a young age.
However, these dogs can pick up scents because of their original use as hunting dogs and can be easily distracted.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to train your dog the recall command to keep him under control in emergency situations.
When training a Hush Basset puppy, it is important to have patience and persistence. You should establish yourself as the pack leader of your pup by starting training when they are still puppies. Also, be firm and consistent when training this dog.
The other issue that you may experience is if your pup has acquired the stubbornness that is typical of Basset Hound.
Due to this, housetraining a Hush basset can be a demanding task. If you are calm, consistent and patient, housetraining will be much easier for you. With the right approach, you can successfully housetrain a healthy Hush Basset puppy, no matter the age or history.
Another important thing is to socialize your pooch from an early stage with children and other family pets. While the Basset Hound Cocker spaniel mix can be active and playful around young kids, be sure to teach your children how to play with your pup without taunting, teasing or hurting him with rough play.
All owners that have trouble with these training needs should turn to Doggy Dan the Online Dog Trainer.
This online guide let’s you work at your own speed on a range of issues, which is ideal for those that do inherit the Basset Hound stubbornness after all.
Exercise Requirements
While the Basset Hound requires little physical activity to remain happy and healthy, the Cocker Spaniel is a medium to high-energy dog. Therefore, your half Basset Hound half Cocker Spaniel dog will be anywhere in between.
As with any dog, your Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel mix will require plenty of exercises to remain in good shape. However, considering their short legs and body size, these dogs require less amounts of exercises than other dogs of the same size and weight.
Getting your Basset Hound and Cocker Spaniel Mix out on daily walks can be a great way to tire them out and prevent destructive behaviors.
These dogs generally do well in most settings provided there’s enough space for them to play and run around.
Approximately 30 to 45 minutes of quality playtime should be enough to keep this stout dog happy.
Activities that are recommended for this dog include a game of fetch and tug of war. Remember these dogs have moderate levels of energy, so short to moderate activities are ideal.
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Grooming
Let’s face it; Cocker Spaniel Basset Hound puppies, like their parents, are high-maintenance canines.
Since both parent breeds are known for their tendency towards heavy shedding, your Hush Basset puppy should be brushed at least two to three times each week to prevent excess hair from spreading around your home.
The Hush Basset sometimes has extra skin, which means that some of these dogs may suffer from skin issues. Therefore, you should clean any areas around skin folds to prevent irritation and skin infection.
This mixed breed dog has long ears, which should be cleaned regularly to help prevent ear infections.
Like any other dog, these pups should receive regular nail trimming and baths as needed to help keep their coats in good condition and to prevent unwanted smells.
You will also need to invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner to help keep your house, floor, walls and furniture hair free.
Feeding Information
Hush Basset dogs should be fed around 2.5 cups of high quality dog food each day to keep them happy and healthy.
Cocker Spaniels are particularly known to enjoy their food, so properly portioned meals are important to help prevent obesity and other weight-related problems.
The amount of food you give your dog will depend on his age, size, metabolism and activity level. Dogs that are active throughout the day would definitely require more food than inactive dogs.
It is also advisable to feed these dogs a hypoallergenic diet to get rid of any allergens your pup may have. This means you should avoid feeding him any artificial flavors, fillers or preservatives.
You may also provide them with dog vitamins, such as glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for their joints, as well as wild Alaskan salmon oil with probiotics to improve coat and skin health.
Lastly, make sure your Bully Basset has access to fresh water to keep them cool and hydrated.
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Life Expectancy
Cocker Spaniel Basset Hounds have an average life expectancy of around 10 to 15 years.
Your dog can live longer if he is properly taken care of. Also, make sure to feed them high quality dog food and provide them with regular exercise.
Hush Basset Health Problems
Cocker Spaniel Basset Hound Mix dogs are generally a healthy crossbreed, but may inherit certain health problems from their parents, just like all other crossbreeds.
Some of the health problems that may affect a Cocker Spaniel Basset Hound Mix puppy include bloat, glaucoma, allergies, ear infections, eye problems, hypothyroidism, hip and elbow dysplasia, skin fold dermatitis and bleeding disorder.
Before buying a puppy, make sure to get health clearances especially for the parent dogs to rule out any health issues.
Moreover, an at-home dog DNA test kit like the Embark Dog DNA Test Kit can help you understand your puppy’s health and enhance his overall wellbeing.
Finding Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix Puppies for Sale or Adoption
Owning a Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix usually begins with the purchase. You should do your research beforehand to help reduce the price.
Other factors that may influence the price of a puppy include the reputation of the breeder, the health condition of the puppy, their location and their overall popularity.
The average price of these puppies ranges from $1000 to $1800. However, your puppy will also need essential items such as a crate, leash and collar, which would increase the cost by around $400 to $600.
Finding a trusted breeder can be a great way to get the right Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix puppy.
A reputable breeder will provide the medical documents necessary to rule out any health issues common to Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds.
You can also find Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix puppies or dogs for adoption at your local rescue or via various adoption shelters.
Also, your vet can be a good source of information about reputable breeders and adoption centers near you.
Conclusion
Overall, the Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel Mix is a wonderful companion for almost any family.
These dogs are also excellent choices for first-time dog owners.
They are adorable, natural sniffers and hunters and they are great with both children and other dogs.
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