Please don't let your puppy in the house alone while you are not there.

First,he is a puppy, he will entertain himself the way puppies do, by getting into things and there is no one there to correct him. When someone comes home and possibly yells because of the mess he has made you will make him fearful

enough that you will start to think "He knows he did something wrong." No he doesn't, he only knows you yell at him when you come home. He is getting into a destructive behavior pattern which the longer he is allowed to destroy ,the tougher it will to make him stop. Think like your puppy! :huh: If you were a puppy in the house by yourself what would you do? I use to be a Vet Tech and know of a puppy(not a basset) that got caught in the owner's pocket book straps and hung itself,because the owner thought useing a crate was mean. Does your puppy need a playmate? (another puppy or dog) NO! What one can do two can do better and faster and move on to furniture. This puppy is raising himself, if you want a good dog you need to teach it to be a good puppy. You need to make time to play with the puppy so you can teach the word,"NO!" One word,not" stop that ",or throw him a bunch of words, he has no idea of what you are saying. You probably need to teach bite inhabition so when playing and he grabs your hand growl(yes,I said GROWL) "NOOO" at him. You do not need to yell he is not deaf. If he does not respond(by looking at you) give the scruff of his neck a little shake while repeating NOOO. That should get his attention. Use "NO" for everything you do not want him to do. Any other people in the household need to follow your example. If you see him starting to get into something he shouldn't and you are in another room clap your hands and growl NOOO. The clap should get his attention then the word means something. If you just say "no don't do that" he will not understand what you want. Do not hit him with anything. You will be surprised how fast he can learn that word. Get a crate. When you leave home he goes in it. He goes to bed in it. He takes a nap or time out in the crate. Allow for some frustration on his part. If he gets to barking use a squirt bottle of water,one squirt,"NOOO." He will sit and think about it for a second or two then start again. Try not to pay attention to him except to correct him every now and then. There are some pups that won't take no for an answer easily but don't give in and let him out ,only let him out when he has been quiet for a while ,even just a few minuets. Remember this if nothing else If you are more stubborn (I think manipulative is a better description) than your basset you will get along just fine and the most improtant thing for puppies is being Persistant and Consistant in what you say and do. They are dogs of habit, so what you teach them will affect what they will be like as an adult. Let him do what he wants ,do not correct him ,you will be unhappy and so will he. He needs to be taught. :wub: