Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Basset Hounds Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Basset Hounds Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Basset Hounds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Basset Hounds Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Basset Hounds Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Basset Hounds Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Basset Hounds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Basset Hounds Easy to Train?
- Do Basset Hounds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Basset Hounds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Basset Hounds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Basset Hounds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Basset Hounds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Basset Hounds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Basset Hounds
- Conclusion on Basset Hound Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Basset Hound
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Basset Hound out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Basset Hound based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Basset Hound breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Basset Hound by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Basset Hound.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Basset Hound for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Basset Hound.
The summary table below shows the score of the Basset Hound for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Stubbornness | 65.2 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 51.0 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 43.9 percent |
Excitability | 43.8 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 43.2 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 40.2 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 34.7 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 33.6 percent |
Energy Level | 29.2 percent |
Prey Drive | 27.9 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 21.6 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 18.8 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 17.5 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 17.1 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Basset Hound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Basset Hound, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Basset Hound.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Basset Hounds Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Basset Hounds are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Basset Hound ranks number 104 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 17.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
101 | Collie | 19.3 % |
102 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 18.8 % |
103 | Portuguese Water Dog | 18.7 % |
104 | Basset Hound | 17.1 % |
105 | Borzoi | 16.9 % |
106 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 16.3 % |
107 | Chinook | 16.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Basset Hounds Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Basset Hounds are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The Basset Hound ranks number 13 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has an owner-directed-aggression score of 43.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
10 | Poodle (Toy) | 48.9 % |
11 | Maltese | 46.0 % |
12 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 45.5 % |
13 | Basset Hound | 43.2 % |
14 | Beagle | 41.6 % |
15 | Bull Terrier | 41.0 % |
16 | Dachshund | 40.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Basset Hounds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Basset Hounds are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Basset Hound ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a dog-directed aggression score of 21.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
104 | Chinook | 26.3 % |
105 | Brittany | 25.7 % |
106 | Italian Greyhound | 23.5 % |
107 | Basset Hound | 21.6 % |
108 | Pug | 21.4 % |
109 | English Setter | 20.8 % |
110 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Basset Hounds Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Basset Hounds are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks low for fear of strangers.
The Basset Hound ranks number 85 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a stranger-directed-fear score of 18.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
82 | Boston Terrier | 19.6 % |
83 | Jack Russell Terrier | 19.5 % |
84 | Alaskan Malamute | 19.0 % |
85 | Basset Hound | 18.8 % |
86 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 17.0 % |
87 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 16.7 % |
88 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 16.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Basset Hounds Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Basset Hounds are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Basset Hound ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a dog-directed-fear score of 33.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
65 | English Setter | 36.0 % |
66 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 35.7 % |
67 | Greyhound | 34.9 % |
68 | Basset Hound | 33.6 % |
69 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 33.6 % |
70 | Vizsla | 32.7 % |
71 | Standard Schnauzer | 32.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Basset Hounds Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Basset Hounds are not fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for non-social fear.
The Basset Hound ranks number 100 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a nonsocial-fear score of 17.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not nonsocial-fearful just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
97 | Pointer | 17.9 % |
98 | Collie | 17.7 % |
99 | Irish Water Spaniel | 17.6 % |
100 | Basset Hound | 17.5 % |
101 | Airedale Terrier | 17.2 % |
102 | Anatolian Shepherd | 16.5 % |
103 | Bull Terrier | 15.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Basset Hounds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Basset Hounds are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Basset Hound ranks number 58 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a dog-rivalry score of 40.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
55 | English Springer Spaniel | 42.7 % |
56 | Bulldog | 42.1 % |
57 | Ibizan Hound | 42.0 % |
58 | Basset Hound | 40.2 % |
59 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 39.1 % |
60 | Bull Terrier | 38.8 % |
61 | German Shepherd | 38.6 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Basset Hounds Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Basset Hounds are not easy to train.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for trainability.
The Basset Hound ranks number 117 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the trainability of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a trainability score of 34.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
114 | Borzoi | 42.0 % |
115 | English Bulldog | 40.9 % |
116 | Miniature Pinscher | 36.7 % |
117 | Basset Hound | 34.8 % |
118 | Australian Silky Terrier | 34.1 % |
119 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 32.8 % |
120 | Pekingese | 32.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Basset Hound is and how the intelligence of the Basset Hound affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Basset Hound is.
Do Basset Hounds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Basset Hounds are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Basset Hound ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a chasing score of 27.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
104 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 28.7 % |
105 | Eurasier | 28.5 % |
106 | Great Dane | 28.0 % |
107 | Basset Hound | 27.9 % |
108 | Shetland Sheepdog | 27.1 % |
109 | Saint Bernard | 27.0 % |
110 | Chihuahua | 26.5 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Basset Hounds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Basset Hounds are not attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Basset Hound ranks number 97 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 34.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
94 | Standard Schnauzer | 37.0 % |
95 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 36.0 % |
96 | Dingo | 35.6 % |
97 | Basset Hound | 34.7 % |
98 | Irish Water Spaniel | 33.7 % |
99 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 33.2 % |
100 | Eurasier | 32.0 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Basset Hounds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Basset Hounds are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Basset Hound ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a separation anxiety score of 51.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
30 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 51.7 % |
31 | Bull Terrier | 51.5 % |
32 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.4 % |
33 | Basset Hound | 51.0 % |
34 | Jack Russell Terrier | 50.8 % |
35 | Bichon Frise | 50.7 % |
36 | American Bulldog | 49.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Basset Hounds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Basset Hounds are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Basset Hound ranks number 23 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has a touch-sensitivity score of 43.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
20 | Australian Kelpie | 46.1 % |
21 | Poodle (Toy) | 45.7 % |
22 | Yorkshire Terrier | 45.7 % |
23 | Basset Hound | 43.9 % |
24 | Whippet | 43.2 % |
25 | Dachshund | 42.9 % |
26 | Alaskan Malamute | 42.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Basset Hounds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Basset Hounds are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Basset Hound ranks average for excitability.
The Basset Hound ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has an excitability score of 43.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
65 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 44.4 % |
66 | Papillon | 44.4 % |
67 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 44.2 % |
68 | Basset Hound | 43.8 % |
69 | Doberman Pinscher | 43.8 % |
70 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 43.4 % |
71 | Schipperke | 43.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Basset Hounds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Basset Hounds
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Basset Hounds are not energetic.
This is because the Basset Hound ranks very low for energy level.
The Basset Hound ranks number 110 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 34 Basset Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Basset Hound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Basset Hound has an energy-level score of 29.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are not energetic just like the Basset Hound are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
107 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 30.5 % |
108 | Tibetan Terrier | 30.0 % |
109 | Irish Wolfhound | 30.0 % |
110 | Basset Hound | 29.2 % |
111 | Mastiff (English) | 29.0 % |
112 | Chinook | 28.0 % |
113 | Newfoundland | 27.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Basset Hound Temperament
The temperament of your Basset Hound comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Basset Hound is exposed to.
You cannot change your Basset Hound`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Basset Hound to.
Exposing your Basset Hound to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Basset Hound to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Basset Hound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Basset Hound.
If you think the Basset Hound is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Basset Hounds cost and Basset Hound puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Basset Hound breeders in the United States and the prices of their Basset Hound puppies.