The answer is a resounding yes! With more than fifteen years’ experience as an owner of multiple basset hounds, I can confidently share that basset hounds are wonderful for families with children from all ages, ranging from newborns to our elderly loved ones.
This article will focus on how the basset hounds’ nature is an excellent choice for a family with newborns, infants, toddlers, and young children.
Are Basset Hounds Good with Newborn Babies?
I have two children, and my wife and I brought them both home to two basset hounds as newborns without a single worry. To answer the question, “Are basset hounds good with newborn babies?” directly, the answer is yes—just always be sure to have responsible supervision in the same setting.
To be clear, we are talking about babies from the age of birth to two months of age. When my children were newborns, my wife and I kept a close eye on both the basset hounds and the babies, and fortunately we never had to worry about any sudden snaps or menacing growls. As new parents who love our children and hounds, it is nice to have that kind of peace of mind and not have to worry about aggressive inclinations from the dogs. However, this cannot be said with the same confidence with other dog breeds who may snap suddenly or growl and babies.
Nevertheless, it is extremely important that the owner knows the temperament of their basset hound before trusting their dog around their newborn.
For example, if the basset hound had been adopted and may have a history of abuse and trauma, then it is best to be extra vigilant. Also, if the basset hound is older and physically sensitive, it may not take much for the basset hound to become worried and defensive if the baby puts the basset hound on edge unintentionally.
How Should I Introduce My Basset Hound to My Newborn?
If you already have basset hounds in your family before having kids, it is a good idea to bring a blanket home that your newborn was wrapped in at the hospital and to let the hounds smell it real good before the new family comes home. My wife and I simply had a visiting relative from the hospital take the blanket home for the hounds to familiarize themselves with the scent. Doing so will help ease your hounds into the transition that they will soon be living with a new family member for the rest of their lives.
Perhaps my favorite memory is when we brought our newborn daughter home from the hospital just days after her birth. My wife and I laid in bed with our toddler son and newborn baby girl the first night back from the hospital as the basset hounds slept on the floor. When the kids and basset hounds fell into a hard sleep, all we could hear was the deep breathing of our basset hounds and babies when my wife captured the moment perfectly, whispering, “Our little family.”
Are Basset Hounds Intimidating to Infants?
Yes, it is possible that an infant could be intimidated by a basset hound, especially if he suddenly barks or howls, but beyond that, there isn’t much to be startled about since basset hounds are more slow and deliberate in their movements, if they decide to move at all!
For infants, we are talking about babies from two months to the baby’s first birthday. Usually, this means the infant is able to hold his head up on his own and crawl around the house.
One fond memory is of my firstborn when he was just able to hold his head up. He was bouncing as he straddle his mama’s leg and held her hands. Our basset hound Moses walked in the room and caught my son’s eye who then started giggling uncontrollably. The whole family got a kick out of this while Moses sat calmly by his side, nuzzling his little leg every once in a while.
When both our children were infants, they loved to crawl over to a sleeping basset hound and lay on top of them. The hounds would simply open their eyes for a moment, or if they were feeling especially energetic, they would lift up their heads to see who was trying to mount them before returning to their lazy-dog-day afternoon. Basset hounds are so docile that when our infants seemed to get a little excited, bumping up and down on the basset and cooing, the hound either bemused, tolerant look in his eye, like “oh boy, here we go again,” until the baby moved on, or if the basset hound wasn’t in the mood, he would simply slide out from underneath the baby and find a peaceful place to lay down.
As stated before, it is always good to be in the same room supervising your basset hounds with an infant. We can never be too safe with our little ones!
Are Basset Hounds Good with Toddlers?
For the sake of this article, let’s say toddlers are inbetween the one year and three years of age range. Within this range toddlers will be walking on their own, starting to run, grabbing, throwing, and talking—and basset hounds can handle it all! So, again, yes: basset hounds are great with toddlers.
I remember when my toddlers were starting to pull on the basset hounds’ large ears, cheeks, and tails. The basset hounds handled it like pros. If on an occasion the toddler got a little too rough, the basset hounds would simply signal with a low grumble—not quite a growl, more like a mildly bothered sibling—and move away. These were always good opportunities for my wife and I to remind our toddlers how we handle the dogs, which is by petting them nicely along their backs.
Are Basset Hounds Good On Playdates?
Basset hounds are excellent when having guest toddlers over for a playdate. They are so easy going that they don’t mind a few extra kids running around laughing and playing. My wife and I have hosted our fair share of toddler play dates, and the hounds are very gracious around new company. In fact, the hounds get a kick out of the new smells to explore in the house with visitors.
Are Basset Hounds Good with Children?
Basset hounds may be slow to move, but that doesn’t mean they can’t handle the intensity, excitement, and adventure that comes with having rambunctious children romping around the house. The basset will love chasing the kids around the yard or the living room if you are okay with that kind of energy in the house. Basset hounds are wonderful with children because regardless of how hectic things get, basset hounds keep their cool and never get too aggressive in their play.
In my home, the kids and I love getting on our hands and knees with a fun growl prompting our hounds that it’s time to get a little crazy! Before we know it, the basset hounds are running circles behind the couch, hopping over the lamp electric cords, and making quick pivots, flipping their bodies around to scram around the couch from the direction they just came. The kids and the hounds love it! It only lasts for about three solid minutes until the hounds are panting hard and the kids are on their back laughing.
Basset hounds are also stout and sturdy enough to handle a good romp with kids as long as the children don’t get too rough on them. The craziest the hounds get is rolling, templing, hopping back up on their feet, and running around as they throw in a few good barks for good measure.
When the fun is done, it doesn’t take much for your happy hound to wind down.
Basset hounds also love sleeping with the kids. Once the hounds settle in, they will sleep through the night, and the kids love having their companionship to keep them warm and safe from all the monsters in the house! 😉
What Are the Benefits of Raising Children with Basset Hounds?
Raising children with the companionship of a basset hound is a great way to build empathy, self-esteem, and responsibilities in our kids. Of course, this can be said for most breeds, but basset hounds prove exceptional in this benefit because the risk factor of hurting children or children hurting the basset hound is very low.
Are Older Basset Hounds Good Around Kids?
As the years go on and the basset hounds get older, it is a good idea to establish a safe space for your hound. They may not be able to handle the kind of intensity that kids can bring and are more sensitive to aches and pains they may feel at the hands of children who may have yet to learn how to compose themselves around older dogs. I would err on the side of caution and keep older basset hounds away from children or ensure that the kids truly understand how to behave around older hounds.
Final Thoughts on Basset Hounds as a Good Family Dog
It’s hard to place exactly why they are so good with the kids, but it could be that they are dogs that are bred to work well in packs, which are very social in nature.
The canine kingdom is rich with choices in beautiful breeds to include in your family, but the basset hound should rise to the top of your list if you want peace of mind that your kids will be safe and bring an extra dose of joy to your home.
