<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><div><span>Hi Rose,</span></div><div><span><span class="tab"> I am not sure if you have a long history with bassets or not; so, I can tell you that bassets are extremely <span id="misspell-0"><span>tolerant</span></span> of children, humans in general, and the elderly BUT impatient and very much aware of pack <span id="misspell-1"><span>hierarchy</span></span> being pack dogs by nature. As you may or may not know, it was and is common for hunting bassets to be kept in large packs that live together. If you live in a large group, pack hierarchy must be clearly established or you will never know peace. Bassets are aware of affection and they are aware of the precious nature of personal space and attention. I find females tend to be "grumpier" them males but not always
so. </span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> </span>I have an 8 year old girl named, Fancy, who will not tolerate a violation of her sleeping area or her entitlement of her allotment of affection. She will snap and snarl at all interlopers. She sounds like a vicious attack dog but no real harm is being done. She will snap but rarely makes contact. She sounds absolutely crazy violent at the time but it is all show. My big boy, Luke, who is around 4 years old is the same. He challenges every <span id="misspell-2" class="mark">Newf</span> male I've got. Even though neutered, he is convinced he is the Romeo of the group and will challenge an intact, 165 pound <span id="misspell-3" class="mark">Newf</span> male. He once lunged 4 feet <span id="misspell-4"><span>across</span></span> the room to go for my 34 inch at the shoulder, 175 pound, <span
id="misspell-5" class="mark">Newf</span> boy, Gideon. He just ricocheted off Gideon's chest and Gideon ignored him. It was unbelievable. My <span id="misspell-6" class="mark">Newfs</span>, Saints, and Bassets get along not due to my Bassets' tolerance but because my <span id="misspell-7" class="mark">Newfs</span> and Saints are so wonderful. </span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> Fancy will crawl on their chests while the big dogs are sleeping and nibble their <span id="misspell-8" class="mark">flews</span> until they wake up and play with her. She grooms them against their will. She snaps at them until they get off the couch or if they dare to crowd in on her petting time--Luke is the same but WORSE. Luke is a talker and a complainer. He has needs that need to be met and thoughts that need to be expressed. I know many people that aren't as
conversant or interesting as Luke is!!!</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> My third basset, Beau, loves everyone and NEVER, EVER, snaps, snarls, or fights. He loves everyone and he will cuddle with anyone and everyone. He is incredibly <span id="misspell-9"><span>tolerant</span></span> and fun BUT he has verbal diarrhea and howls and cries without impunity!!!! He can't shut up and every homecoming is ear piercing. What are you going to do? You have to take the bitter with the sweet.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> I think what you are witnessing is basset behavior with Annie. If you read some basset breed books, all with tell you that basset are sweet, comical, and charming but NOT TIMID! They have very clear boundaries and
will not tolerate other dogs trespassing on what they believe is their territory.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> I am not sure what a trainer or behaviorist will accomplish. It is hard to change intrinsic breed behavior. Bassets are what they are. I had one rescue lady tell be she had a basset returned by an adoptive couple because the boy they adopted "talked" too much. Needless to say, they did not get another basset from that rescue group.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> People get <span id="misspell-10" class="mark">Newfs</span> or Saints and then complain that they drool or shed too much and that they are too needy of
affection. <span id="misspell-11" class="mark">Newfs</span> and Saints adore people and need to be companion animals and family members---I believe bassets need this too. If you don't like to be touched, have dogs sleeping in and around your bed, don't like drool, or if you want to shower without an audience, <span id="misspell-12" class="mark">Newfs</span>, Saints, and Bassets aren't for you.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"> I think Annie is only being a basset. She is letting your younger male know his place and establishing her territory and power over him. I don't think this will change. It is also probably part and <span id="misspell-13"><span>parcel</span></span> of her personality. I am anxious to
read other <span id="misspell-14"><span>points</span></span> of view form other <span id="misspell-15" class="mark">listers</span>. I know my Fancy rules the house with an iron fist. Ironically, I have a <span id="misspell-16" class="mark">Landseer</span> boy named <span id="misspell-17" class="mark">Much<var id="yui-ie-cursor"></var>acho</span> who protects any basset that look like they may be about to get a bit of their own back by another pack member. He is a big, black and white, intact, <span id="misspell-18" class="mark">Newf</span> boy and he adores the bassets and will wrestle with them for hours.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab">Marie Campbell & the Basset Crew</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div><div><font
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