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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>OK, so I had to chime in on this one, being chief
slave to the hairy Rolph.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Long hair bassets used to be far more common. In
fact, I understand back in the mists of time, you commonly had both.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>However, as long hair is an elimination fault in
kennel club competitions, they have been bred, and sadly, culled out of the
bloodlines.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Several people have tried to have the long hair
accepted in the breed standard - much like a long haired dachshund - but to no
avail. Several people have also tried to breed long-haired bassets deliberately,
but certainly here in the UK they have been very unsuccessful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The long hair is not a recessive gene (meaning -
simplified - if you had two long haired parents, they would produce a
long-haired litter), it is a throwback gene that can suddenly jump out in even
the best hound families.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>A UK breeder told me that 30 years ago, she would
expect one or two in every litter. Nowadays they are very rare indeed (here,
anyway).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It is said all the longhairs that pop up in the UK
can be traced back to a pack of hounds owned by Princess (later Queen) Alexandra
who had both types of hounds and kept them together.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I am very biased, but think Rolph's hair makes him
extra beautiful. Most people who meet him think he is a cross breed (I confess I
wondered in the beginning, but had the wonderful Daily Drool to help educate
me). He also had a fat old pedigree chart - but the rescue kept hold of
that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Lots of people comment on Rolph's hair wherever we
go. And I comment on it everytime I vacuum, sweep up, or eat a meal
:)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sally, with Hairy Rolph, and sleek Clara,
UK</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>