Basset Hounds are considered moderate to heavy shedders. They have a short coat that’s pretty water-repellent. While they do shed considerably, their coats are very easy to maintain, and their hair is quite short. Therefore, they don’t tend to leave quite as much fur lying around as other dog breeds do.
With that said, they do need to be brushed regularly to keep their shedding under control. They will shed consistently year-round. However, they shed more during certain parts of the year—usually the spring and fall. During these times, these canines may need to be brushed extra to help control their shedding a bit more.
How Do I Stop My Basset Hound from Shedding?
You cannot keep your Basset Hound from shedding altogether. However, you can reduce their shedding considerably with a few key guidelines. Shedding is normal and natural for Basset Hounds, but you can reduce shedding in some dogs.
Diet
Shedding is directly related to your dog’s diet. While all dogs need to shed somewhat, a dog that doesn’t get all the nutrients they need will likely shed more. Their hair will die sooner, and their skin may not be as healthy. Therefore, they tend to shed more.
All commercial dog foods will have the bare minimum for your dog. However, many canines require other nutrients, as well. For instance, dogs often benefit from omega fatty acids. These can help improve your dog’s skin and coat health, which can reduce shedding.
Nutritional deficiencies can absolutely lead to more shedding, too. Therefore, if your dog needs more than the bare minimum of a nutrient for one reason or another, you may need to choose a different food or work with your vet to select supplements.
Brushing
All Basset Hounds shed. To reduce how much fur ends up around your house, you can brush your dog regularly to remove some of the loose fur before it ends up on your floors. You don’t want to brush too much, and brushing won’t completely eliminate fur around your house. However, brushing can go a long way to preventing fur buildup on your floor and furniture.
Furthermore, be sure you’re using the correct brush. A pin brush works well for a Basset Hound. Combs and similar tools don’t work well, as they’re more effective for reducing matting (which you don’t have to worry about with a Basset Hound).
Brushing can also keep your dog’s coat clean to some extent. It can remove dirt and dust, which reduces the number of baths your dog needs. As you’ll see below, this can help reduce shedding even more so.
Reduce Baths
Bathing can help keep your dog clean. However, it can also dry out their skin, leading to increased shedding. Basset Hounds don’t need many baths. You should preferably only bathe them when they are truly dirty.
You can elongate the time between their bathing by brushing them regularly. This removes some of the dirt and dust, preventing buildup. In this way, you can reduce baths to when they are only truly necessary.
Are Basset Hounds Low Maintenance?
Basset Hounds are pretty low-maintenance. They require weekly brushing to reduce shedding. However, that’s about it. You’ll need to perform some normal maintenance that is required for all dog breeds, such as trimming their nails.
They have floppy ears that sometimes need to be cleaned. At the very least, you’ll need to check their ears for dirt and grime. These tend to get stuck in their ears because they are so long and floppy, and it can lead to ear infections if you aren’t careful.
However, these dogs are low-energy and don’t require much exercise. They also don’t need tons of playtime either.
How Hard Are Basset Hounds to Groom?
Bassets are very easy to groom. They have a smooth coat that repels water, dirt, and grime. Therefore, they don’t need tons of brushing or bathing. They aren’t prone to mats or tangles, either.
You don’t have to brush a Basset Hound all that often. However, some people may prefer to brush them daily if they seriously don’t like fur on their furniture or floor. If you decide to brush your Basset Hound more than absolutely necessary, we highly recommend choosing a very gentle brush. Irritating your dog’s skin can lead to more shedding.
Are Basset Hounds Hypoallergenic?
Basset Hounds are not hypoallergenic. They shed a lot, though their short fur takes a while to build up. Their coats also produce plenty of dander, and their saliva contains proteins that can cause reactions.
All dogs produce dander and saliva, which is what causes allergic reactions in those sensitive to dogs. Therefore, Basset Hounds aren’t going to cause more allergies than other breeds, as all breeds pretty much cause the same reactions.
Conclusion
Basset Hounds do shed quite a bit. However, they’re considered “moderate” shedders. They aren’t the heaviest shedders out there, but they will leave a fine layer of fur across your house. Their coat is short and shiny, shedding throughout the year.
However, they may shed more in the spring and fall. Therefore, you can expect extra shedding during this time. You may have to up the amount of brushing you do during these periods.
Featured Image Credit: Bill Anastasiou, Shutterstock
