jaylii9

My basset Libby is a rescue that came from OBR. She was owner relinquished at a shelter and then OBR got her out of there and into one of their rescue foster homes which is when we adopted her. That's the background on Libby which means we know nothing about her parents, past owner(s?), where she came from etc etc...

I am curious as to whether Libby is considered really big for a female basset. I have seen other bassets at our local dog park and they seem small compared to Libby! A lot of strangers tell me she is "huge for a basset" but I am under the impression that most people don't know the basset breed well and think bassets are smaller like beagles.

Anyways, people who know the breed pretty well, do you think Libby is a big basset? She weighs 62 pounds and is not overweight since she has a waist and I can feel her ribs. I have measured her height and she is 12inches off the ground which from what I read is normal.

I am attaching a picture for you as well. I fully believe she is purebred as well. If you do think she is big for a female basset, what influences this? Parent size?

One last thing! She does have loose skin, but does not seem to have tons of loose skin like some bassets I see. Is this also a variation in the breed?

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Jnfr

Both Abby (2) and Jake (11) weigh in at about 65 lbs. Neither are overweight. Both have a waist. Although, people comment on how "skinny" they are. I think they are used to seeing overweight bassets with their belly's dragging. Their vet is very pleased with their weights. Doesn't want to see them much higher or lower.

As for the loose skin thing. Jake is an "American" basset and doesn't have overly loose skin. Abby is "European" and has tons of loose skin. Her ears are longer, she is much more wrinkly, her legs look like she has saggy socks on, and her "scruff" is much more than Jake's.

BTW, Libby is a beautiful young lady!

Mikey T

[quote] she is 12inches off the ground [quote]

12 inches measure at the wither ie top of shoulder blades would be short for a basset

62 lbs for a females basset is larger than average but certainly not anywhere close of being outside the normal variation for the breed

jaylii9

Thanks for the information! Just trying to get to know the breed better so it's interesting to know about the American vs. European style of the basset.

MikeyT- I measured her at the wither as you defined and she's about 13 inches. I am no breeder so that you could be a bit off!

houndmomma

As long as you’re vet is happy with her weight I wouldn’t worry much. The same for the loose skin – as you mentioned there are a few different variations in the breeding of hounds. Myself, I have two different kind in my home. Lucy as we call our full figured girl – hits the scale at over 75lbs and doesn’t have the lose skin or as we call it loose pajamas on. She is also much more stocky than Flash was or Mabel for that matter – much closer to the ground and her back is much shorter.

But my Flash hit the scale at about 65lbs till the day I lost her – she had all the loose skin you could want in a hound as does Mabel my almost 10 month puppy that is now 52lbs. She is already showing she is going to have even more loose pajamas than Flash did. We expect Mabel will be around the 65lb mark.

And by the by – I must add – you’re little girl is a cutie

Jen~

__________________
Momma to Lucy age 12 ~ Basset Hound
Momma to Rickie age 5 ~ Shi-Poo (don’t tell him though – he thinks he’s a hound dog)
Momma to Mabel age -1 ~ Basset Hound
Momma to Flash – RIP 2000 ~ 2011 – Gone in body but with me in spirit ~ You will live on forever in my heart baby ~ Je t'aime

Princess Buttercup

I don't know, but I do know that's a 100% Happy Hound!!

jaylii9

Thanks for the compliments on Libby! She is a cutie and I'm not biased at all. The picture is actually from the day that we brought her home in July. She was a scared, nervous dog for the first couple of months that we had her, but that picture does show me how happy she was. Girlfriend must have known that she had safely landed in her forever home!

Houndmama- She was 70ish pounds when we adopted her and she lost about 8 pounds in the first few months that we had her which was good because OBR and the vet thought she should drop a few pounds. Last time we saw the vet she told us that she thinks Libby's weight is perfect at 62 pounds. She told us to keep doing what we are doing in terms of exercise and diet. Nice to hear!

I honestly think she lost the weight and maintained because we feed her good food and walk her. When we first adopted her it seemed like she had never been on a walk before or had interaction with the outside world.

Mikey T

still short typical 13" is reserved for smaller females typical is 14" over 15 tall is a disqualifying faullt but given with out a wicket ie proper measuring device it is likely the is simply measuring error. FWIW macy low 50's in weight is 13.75 inches Mariah 42 lbs 13.5 Zephyr 42lbs 13.75

bubbad

Esa who just had puppies in May sort of BLOOMED after weaning the pups she was about 60lbs when she was bred now goes about 65lbs actually she looks like she just filled out,not gained weight. She is about 14.5 inches tall ,not close to the ground, but by no means long legged. Mabel and Page are taking after mom.If I can post a photo of her in my gallery I will .

iheartbassets4

Hunter is 14 inches tall and tips the scales at 76 lbs! He's HUGE but he isn't overweight at all. My two girls are around 12 inches. They are smaller (not from the best breeder, we got them before we knew better), and weigh around 50 lbs. They are a bit on the chubby side and should probably be around 46 lbs. Scout is my smallest Basset at 13 inches and about 42 lbs. Your pup is a bigger female, but she's very much a Basset Hound