A SUPER SNOOT design: the Basset Hound!
“Basset” comes from the French word bas which means “low” – because Basset Hounds are indeed low to the ground. So I call this design Le Chien Bas.
One of my three dogs is a Basset Hound named Tupelo. The smooshy droopy face might make people think this breed is low energy, but I’m here to say no way!
Bassets are strong working dogs, with the stamina and energy to hunt all day through any terrain, following that amazing nose wherever it goes. Did you know those long ears and wrinkled skin are for sweeping scent closer to the nose?
The Basset Hound we know today was developed in France and England in the late 1800s. From “A Noble Clown and Loyal Hunting Dog” by the AKC:
“The job of hunting furred game over rough terrain or heavy brush requires, first and foremost, a great nose to find the scent of the prey. The dog needs to move on the trail at a speed that allows the hunter to follow on foot, and he must have the endurance to keep up the chase for hours. Of equal importance, the dog needs to be determined that he will find the game — even if it takes all day.”