No one told me bassets couldn't swim. So when I had my very first basset, we always used to lower her gently over the edge of the boat (she loved the boat) when we got close to shore. Each time, we'd let her out a little further from shore, and she always managed well. She'd swim in, and go crazy (500) on the lawn. She was a good swimmer. No life jacket either.
I don't think bassets could swim too far though.
Those pics are so cute!

Showed them to my basset-hating (or so he claims

) husband. He said, "oh brother!"
Sandy