charady2

Hi everyone! I have been reading online as much as possible about bassets-training, behaviors, what to expect, etc. I have a basset puppy picked out, he is only 5 weeks old so it will be a few weeks before I can get him though!

We obviously have never owned a basset. Until January, we were the very proud owners of a lovely male rottweiler. Unfortunately he became very ill and even with vet care, did not make it. He is greatly missed. My husband didn't want another pet. But my kids and I did-not so much to replace our beloved Rottie but because we did miss the companionship of having a dog home with us.

My husband kept looking at bassets on craigslist that people were rehoming. I wasn't sure at first, but then an aquaintence told me her dog had puppies-pure bred bassets. Well the husband jumped at that, so here we are!

The more I read about them, the more excited I get. Don't laugh-husband has decided to name ours Flash, from the dukes of hazard I guess. I named our cats so it is only fair Sounds like bassets are about as opposite of a rottie as you can get, I am up for the challenge though.

anyway, enough rambling. My main question is this-what are some names of good pet insurance? And how can you tell if it is accepted by your vet (or if they accept the vet, not sure how it works?) After reading about possible spinal problems and other injuries, I want something there to help, if ever needed. We didn't have it with our rottie and we managed to be quite lucky with him being very healthy most of his life, but I know better than to push my luck!

Also, I keep reading about crate training. What length of crate do you all recommend? I currently have a 24 inch long one (which I know isn't going to be big enough). Is it possible Flash will fit in it at all in the beginning, or should I just go buy a new one? And do I want a 36 inch or 40 inch?

thanks for any help you can provide me. Sorry for any typos, it is only midnight!

If it works, I am trying to attach a semi current picture of Flash for you all, because everyone loves puppy pictures!

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Annie714

Flash is definitely very cute!

I know not one thing about pet insurance so am no help there. I would imagine you could go to your vet, or call, and ask them if they have a preferential insurance company they work with.

As for the crate, Annie has been in one since I brought her home. I'll have to measure it to see what size it is. When she was a puppy I went about things all wrong with the crate thing LOL. I bought the one she has now and just let her have full reign of it. I should have used the partition that came with it to reduce the size. But she turned out ok so I guess I didn't permanently damage her psyche lol. But you can get a pretty good idea of what size Flash will be when full grown if you take a look at his parents.

Anyways, some pretty knowledgeable folks will be along shortly and they will have some better answers for you.

Welcome!!! And you're right, we love pictures

__________________
Blog about the antics of Annie and I. http://thechickandthehound.blogspot.com

Mikey T

many pet if not most work on a reinbursment principal very different then human heath insurance. in you have to pay up front submit claim to insurance compnay and they reinbursde you wha they will pay. As far as what the vet accepts the best thing is to contact your vet directly

charady2

Thank you for the responses. I am in a small town with larger cities about an hour either direction from me, so I am not sure if my vet has much clue about it! I know that he didn't recommend it when we originally got the rottie, but that was a long time ago. I guess I will add that to my list of errands to do tomorrow-call the vet!

Thanks again. And just for fun...here is a pic of him at not quite 2 weeks old.

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Mikey T

If you start with one that is adult size when the adust to that one you don't have to worry about what happen when you later swap the crate out some dog don't adjust that well to such a change. 36" works for most except the bigger dogs that like to sleep streched out instad of curled up If you have the space for a 40 -42 I would go with that there is rarely a problem wiht too big.

That said when using a crate to help house train then you do not whant the pup to have too much room in the crate. Rather than a den it can become a hous on corner is the kitchen another the bath room and a thrid a bedroom. Bany manufactures have ther own divider that can be used to make the interior of the creat smaller and by moving the diver exand the inside as the puppy grows. An aternitive if filling the inside with appropriate size boxes to take up the exess space.


Keep in mind there is a difference between crate training, teaching the dog to be comfortable when in a crate, then using the crate to assiste in house training which helps prevents accident when the puppy can;t be closely supervised and two teaches the puppy to hold it . It is best actual crat train the puppy first before using the crate a a house training tool.

Boomer's Mom

Awww, Flash is adorable!

As for crate, I wish I had gotten a larger one from the beginning, now Boomer needs a bigger one. I plan on donating his old one to a local shelter, but I feel like I wasted my money not getting him the right size one in the beginning.

lplow13

we just adopted a basset pup named flash as well!!!!! he is tan black and white!!! he seems to be very very smart! good luck with your pup!

charady2

This is what I am worried about. This crate was basically given to me, so i took it (it was five bucks lmao) I figure if nothing else, I can put the cats in it at the same time. So not a huge waste. I have been looking at wire kennels (that is what this is, btw) the only one really available without an hour drive doesn't have a divider-BUT! it is at walmart and my husband gets a discount there! He thinks this will work at first to buy us some time.

Now...since I have never owned a basset, what would you all, as experienced owners, like to offer as advice? We do not have a fenced yard, he may occasionally get tied out but mainly will be on leash at first. I know not to let him off leash (which is completely opposite of my rottie, he always stayed right with us no matter where we were!)

we basically live outside all summer long, unless I am at work of course. We go camping and fishing a lot, takes drives, etc. We plan on bringing him with us a good majority of the time. I love having doggies as companions My boys are very excited about getting him, my 9 year old hasn't seen him yet except in pictures and my 4 year old got to hold him at 2 weeks old, when we picked him out. they both were great with the rottie so I don't really foresee any problems with a basset, at least I hope not!

Any ideas on introducing the puppy to our cats? One is an 11 year old cat, I got her from the pound when she was young enough to be bottlefed still. Then last year we acquired a stray cat, approx 6 months old, that had frostbite and resp. issues. She never did like our dog, would literally tip toe around the dog. the older cat would just walk by like she owned him-but she basically did. When we first got him, she clawed his nose numerous times and he learned that cats are NOT a chew toy fast. It was amusing to see a 150 lb rottie scared of cats I will say!

I guess I worry that since flash will seem smaller than taz was, that my cats will hurt him. Do I let them just "fight" it out like we did before, or do I lock up either the cats or the dog to introduce them, any suggestions?

sorry, i will be asking a million questions for awhile. If I ask too many, tell me to shush....I will try to listen

charady2

Awww! Another flash! Hubby said that flash on dukes of hazard was a tricolor female. But instead we have a brown and white male-he still insists on that name though. So flash it is!

ChucksMom

Having just got our Chuck a few short months ago, I would recommend a plastic one. Bassets are harder to potty train than other breeds I've had in the past. If they have an accident in a wire kennel while you are away, you're flooring is going to get damaged. With the plastic one you can just take it outside and hose it out.

Chuck is great with our 5 year old, my nieces and my step kids. He just LOVES everyone (including the cat)!