Are Basset Hounds Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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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:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. 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:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Basset Hound

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:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

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:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Basset Hound

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:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

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:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Basset Hound a good pet

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:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

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:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Basset Hound. Is it aggressive?

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:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

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:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Basset Hound

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:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

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:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Basset Hound

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:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

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:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Basset Hound

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:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

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.