Basset hounds are a marvelous breed to show in conformation competition. They are the original wash-and-wear breed: a quick bath, a few swipes with a hound's glove, and a little trimming around their legs and tail make them more than ring-ready. (Compare that to the seven or eight hours required to prepare a poodle!) Bassets have traditionally been a breed which can be successfully handled to their championships by non-professionals. Many of us suspect that this happy circumstance is due to the fact that basset hounds are the Great Levelers of the dog show world: the best professional and the rankest amateur often look equally silly attempting to convince a stubborn hound to stand nicely. Still, the thrill of watching a beautifully-moving basset strut around the ring is one not to be equalled by many other experiences. When bassets are good, they are very very good!
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