charady2

I should be getting my puppy the end of next week, so of course I am still asking questions

Do your bassets enjoy baths? How often do you need to bathe them? I have read on numerous sites that they don't need baths very often-and then I have read on a lot of others that they need them often from being so low to the ground.

Harness or collar? And do you always leave it on? Any guesses on size to get for our puppy (8 weeks old) or do I just have to be patient and get one once we have him here? I am leaning toward harness for him. Our rottie always wore his collar but never had a harness. chances are pretty good that for the first several months, the only time Flash will be alone is during nap time for my youngest (so up to 2 hours) and also bedtime for the rest of us.

I guess my thinking is at first it is easier to keep the harness/collar on the pup so that I can make a quick dash outside on the leash for potty trips. I don't have a fenced in yard so he will always be on the leash with me or possibly tied out (but also with me, just so I can have hands free with the kids sometimes).

I know there was something else I wanted to ask but now I cannot remember it for the life of me! I guess this means I will harass you all again later.

thanks for any help, I really appreciate it! I am so anxious to bring him home! And watching your videos and pics on here just gets me that much more excited!

Mr. Woofus

I think each pup is different, but I'd say most bassets don't like baths. But when you do give them one make it a fun place. Entice them in with treats...don't force them in.

As for the harness, I'd say always have a collar on with the tag. That way if you need a quick dash out for potty training you can just hook up to that. And for walks harness up if you'd like

Very excited for you, can't wait to see the pics

ChucksMom

Chuck really doesn't like baths too much so I give him a bath about once a month and use bath wipes in between to spot clean him.

He is 4 months old and I got him a size medium harness. I put it on him at first for a few hours at a time so he'd get used to it and now I just put it on when we go for a walk.

mhvonalmen8908

Mine don't necessarily like baths but they tolerate them. As for harness versus collars. They both wear martingale collars. And Doppler gets walks with his collar. Virga uses a harness though because she pulls and while I'm working on her pulling I'd rather she didn't choke herself with her collar. But eventually I'm hoping to walk her with her collar too. I would wait to get the harness until you get the puppy. I've consistently underestimated her size. I would have bought both a collar and harness smaller than she is but my husband convinced me to wait until we could bring her to try them on. So I would wait. And most pet stores allow you return or exchange harness and collars if they're too big. So when you get back to your pup you should check the fit of whatever you got.

My husband brought up a very good point. Puppies grow really fast during their puppy months and so an adjustable collar would probably be best at first. Virga is on her third collar right now. She was that teeny when we got her and grew that much.

__________________
Megan & Chris
-Mom & Dad to Doppler (2 year old Basset/Redbone/Golden mix) and Virga (1 year old Basset)

ChucksMom

I do the same thing. It's crazy how quickly they grow...at only 4 months Chuck is a moose!

sadeyes2

Toby hasn't had a bath for nearly 2 years now. He doesn't roll in anything nasty. He doesn't smell at all. I think unless a dog has a medical problem that warrants baths in special shampoo, or they are rolling in animal faeces then a good brush for everyday dirt is ample.

Mikey T

For puppies if you are going to have anything on a would go with the harness it is too easy to damage vertibrea even with a flat buckle collar.

Neck-Throat-Cervical-Injuries
Caused by Pulling and Jerks on Flat Buckles
The answer is as often as the dog needs it It is highly varriable. Some basset end up with primary seborrhea characterizied by dandruff i.e. white flakes and most often a greese coat as well but there is a dry from as well. THere is no cure and the remedy is frequent bathing. The symptoms of allergies can often be controlled by frequent bathing as well, Most of the time brush and simply grooming keep the coat clean and dry.

Gracie's Mama

Gracie is going to be 9 weeks on wednesday. We got her at 6 weeks. She has had more than several baths since we got her. But mostly because when we tried to contain her she peed and pooped on herself. We've gotten better about knowing when she will need to go. So she hasnt had to have one in about a week. Except after we got back from camping. She was filthy then. We took her to the pet store with us and we tried her harness on before we bought it. We had to get the smallest size. I think it was a toy size. We keep it on her all the time. So she will get used to it. Also it makes it a lot easier to take her out. Especially in the middle of the night.
Oh, and her first bath she cried and howled loudly. After that she was quiet. She doesnt like it, but tolerates it.

CatherineM

They certainly need baths. Especially when they have rubbed their face on something dead like roadkill or washed up dead fish on the beach. I find they tolerate it as long as it isn't cold water.

Mine wear harnesses. Their necks end up bigger than their heads, so regular collars are a little too easy for them to escape from.

klm42005

Ok I think my Woody is weird but he likes his baths...when we first got him I bathed him in the sink since he was so little but he wanted to drink the bath water and had a huge belly so the next bath I just got in the garden tub with him and set him on my lap..(ok, so maybe I am the one that's weird). He stands now outside the tub and cries if I am in and he isn't. We have a walk in shower and it is normal for him to pop in there when you least expect it.....