[Dailydrool] Is a basset right for you?

[Reed and Becky Pomeroy]

Excuse me for shouting.  I want to differentiate my responses from
the questions.

"Housetraining: Is it true that they are
difficult to housebreak, and
it could take up to a year? That would
definitely put us off a puppy."
A PUPPY AT LEAST 12 - 14 WEEKS
OLD SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO HOUSEBREAK IF YOU ARE CONSISTANT AND USE A
CRATE.  OUR PUPPIES GO TO THEIR NEW HOMES TRAINED TO A FLAP DOOR AND
THE NEW OWNERS USUALLY REPORT THEY HOUSEBROKE VERY EASILY.  

Cats: Most of the rescue listings say "not good with cats."
Is
cat-friendliness a rarity in Bassets? Would we have better luck
raising a puppy?
i HAVE HAD BASSETS AND CATS FOR 35 YEARS AND THEY
GET ALONG GREAT.  I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WITH BOTH AND NO PROBLEMS. 
IT IS TRUE THAT THE BASSETS WILL PERIODICALLY USE THE FELINES AS A
SURROGATE BUNNY AND CHASE THEM THROUGH THE HOUSE, BUT ITS FOR THE THRILL
OF THE CHASE, NOT TO HURT  THE CAT.  CONTRARY TO WHAT FOREVER
QUEEN FEY FEY MAY WOOF FROM THE BRIDGE, NOT EVERY BASSET BELIEVES THE ONLY
GOOD CAT IS ONE IN A CROCKPOT.  I'M SURE A PUPPY WOULD DO BETTER THAN
AN ADULT, BUT AN ADULT WILL LIKELY HAVE A KNOWN HISTORY WITH CATS TO GO
ON.

Noise: Do they really bay when left home alone? My wife
doesn't have a
9-5 job, but she is in and out quite a bit during the
day. I'd say we
are the typical active family, sometimes not home for
a few hours.
IN OUR EXPERIENCE, BASSETS ARE HAPPIEST WITH A BUDDY AND
DO NOT REALLY LIKE TO BE ALONE.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING 2. 
THAT SAID, A CAT CAN ALSO BE A BUDDY.  WHEN WE HAD JUST ONE BASSET
(MANY MANY MOONS AGO) SHE DID HOWL WHEN LEFT HOME ALONE SO WE GOT HER A
BUDDY AND NO MORE PROBLEMS.

Counter surfing: What's the deal
with this? We cook, food does get
left unattended on a countertop
sometimes.
NOT IF YOU HAVE A BASSET HOUND IT DOESN'T!

Ear
maintenance: How hard is it to maintain good ear health? How often?
MOST BASSETS DO FINE WITH A SIMPLE CLEANING WEEKLY.  MOST OF OUR
BASSETS GO THEIR WHOLE LIVES WITHOUT AN INFECTED EAR.  wE'VE HAD 2
(OF MANY MANY) WITH PROBLEMS.  OE WAS CLEARED UP WHEN WE DISCOVERED
THE BLUE POWER TREATMENT.  THE OTHER PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TOO.

Stairs: We read somewhere that pups shouldn't climb stairs until
they
are 1 year old. That would be a dealbreaker for us, our bedrooms
and
office are upstairs.
A BASSET WITH PLENTY OF EXERCISE IN
GOOD HEALTH CAN DO STAIRS. LEAPING OFF FURTNITURE IS ANOTHER MATTER AS THE
BACK JACK-KNIFES AND CAN RESULT IN INJURY.  bUT A BASSET WITH GOOD
MUSCLETONE IS AN ATHLETE.

CRAZY BASSET LADY

MAKE
DROOL NOT WAR 

Please take time to visit these websites: 
Rebec Bassets at 
www.rebecbassets.com 
Basset Buddies Rescue,
Inc. at www.bbrescue.org