Events
Basset Fun
These are some of the games most bassets play.
They are creative dogs and will find ones that you may never thought of, or wanted to consider. It is important that you take the lead and show your basset which games are acceptable in your household.
Warning, most basset games are accompanied with lots of barking and a-ruffing. 
Bassets are unusual dogs in that the games they play are not "politically correct" according to the rules of dogs of other breeds. This is because they are independent thinkers and will choose how to vary the game to their advantage.
For example: An Afghan Hound (a very fast breed) will run the fence perimeter in a game of chase and have a home base, while a basset takes the shortest distance between two points and will not respect the "home free" space. This allows the basset to get to the end point near when the Afghan arrives, much to the surprise of the Afghan. The poor Afghan then believes it has been outrun by a dog with no legs and the basset is feeling ever so powerful and clever and announces it to the Afghan.
This delights the true basset owner and frustrates those that likely should not have a basset in their life. Basset owners are full of incredible true tales of how their dogs "find" fun.
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Fast Dog
This game is called run as fast as your mini legs will carry you,
holding your head in ear flying position. When engaging in this
activity, the basset believes it is running like the wind, faster than a
speeding bullet and no one/nothing can keep up with it. A true basset
lover will not proceed beyond a jog, so that the dog's spirit will not
be crushed and it's ego can maintain the pride of being the "fastest dog
on the planet". This game is often played after a bath, when chasing
chickens and birds on the beach, or when leaving with your Burger King
Whopper that you so kindly left unattended.
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Stereo Chase
In this game there are other dogs involved. One dog is "it", the others
semi-chase it until it tires and sits or lays for a rest. All the
bassets involved then take position around the "it" and bark until "it"
can stand it no more and will run again. This is repeated over and over
until someone else chooses to become "it" or the current "it" loses
patience and/or screams uncle or simply goes deaf from the onslaught.
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Bite the Leg (played only with other dogs)
When you are a dog with no legs and what little you have is resting
under your body, this is a very challenging game. Trying to nip each
others leg while standing is the hard version. Lying down and nibbling
on the other guy's leg is the most common form however.
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Bite the Face(played only with other dogs)
This involves lots of open-mouthed "gumming", trying to trap the other
guys muzzle in ones mouth. This is not a tough challenge, but will do
when too tired to play Bite the Leg. When they go for the ears, this
game needs to be halted as it can lead to hard feelings and loud
squeals.
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Fetch
With a few rare exceptions, this is not a very fun game with a basset
unless you like to jog. Most take the attitude of, "You didn't want it
so you threw it away. Why should I go get it just because you changed
your mind?
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Hide and Seek
Not all bassets play this. It will often be a game with a human. The
human hides somewhere in the house and the basset has to "go find" It
can also take the form of hiding around the kitchen island, the round
about section of the house or around the shed etc. outside.
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Towel Toss
Some basset use towels, others afghans (the blanket kind, not the hound
type) or a small blanket. They may hide under it, walk around the house
with it on them, peek through it or even toss it about the room.
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Tug-O-War
Played with a towel, a rope toy or your laundry. It is not suggested to
play this with items you wish them to use occasionally, nor with a young
dog that is still developing his correct bite/jaw line.
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Kill the Squeaker
When you buy or make a toy, be aware that most bassets will focus on the
squeaker as an item to be removed. It is not the squeak, but the
challenged of removal. The same goes for stuffed toys that have eyes or
noses. Most basset owners find latex and plastic toys a waste of money
due to the "removal factor".
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Eat the Underwear
Bassets tend to have an undying fascination for underwear and socks,
esp. if they have been worn. Beware where you leave them or they will be
air-conditioned! |
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Flat Basset
This is a game your basset will choose to play spontaneously...generally
at bath time, when you want them to move over, or just move for that
matter. It involves the Basset flattening itself onto the floor, often
with legs spread out. The dog no longer weighs its original weight, but
thousands of pounds and is virtually an immovable. Suggestions for
winning this game may include using a crowbar, renting a back loader, or
crane. |
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Slug
In this game your basset becomes very slow to go or do what you would
like. You may wonder if the dog is ill. A once "fast basset" is now
painfully sluggish unless food is offered to enhance the speed of
operation.
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Bumper Arm
This is when you have a basset that is insistent on getting pets, or
more pets NOW. Your arm or elbow will be elevated to new heights with no
consideration to what may be in your hand or what your arm may touch,
other than the basset itself.
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As you can see, it is questionable as to who is in charge of the house when a basset moves in. That is why basset owners often come to refer to themselves as "slaves".
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