I have sent this again, as I cannot see it on the message board. It may just be me, so I apologise if is on twice!!
Thanks for all of the responses and advice I received. I would like to answer some of your comments and have a couple of questions.

Brody was fed Hills food up until a month ago, when he got quite bored with it, so I changed to IAMS. He gets a treat when I leave him for work on a morning, and also when I return. He also gets treats during the day, in particular when he is behaving or training well. He is very well petted and has playtimes. I do not, however, want to give him something to eat everytime I need to step out of the room for obvious dietary reasons.
I praise him constantly for doing things well, specifically because I want him to notice the two go together!! I believe that dogs don't know what is 'wrong' however I am confused as to why, when I approach him normally when he is doing something naughty, he still runs as though he has been 'caught in the act'.

Regarding the time I leave him - I rise at 7.30am and leave at 8.45am, between that time he is always with either me or my son, he is not left alone, specifically because I will be out until 3.30pm. When I get home i am with him for the duration until I go to be at 12am. I go at this time specifically so the dog is not in bed and longer than necessary. I am confused as to Lindsay's comment about not leaving a dog for longer than 4 hours at a time. Does this mean I am supposed to wake half way through the night to spend some time with the dog, even though he does not have a problem holding himself?

I walk him for 20 - 30 mins per day, as per instruction in my Basset Hound Guide Book.

JeanGenie - you made a good point about the down command, I have changed this - thanks.

Owl - thanks for the advice - as you can see I did feed him Hills until he got bored :-). I keep him in a large pen when I go out with a treat and obviously water. I have two cats who stay in with him at night (not the pen!), however during the day he bullies and chases them, as a game I am sure (to his delight) - they do not like him for it however!!!

Regarding jumping up at people - this happens in the house constantly when sitting or standing to adults and children (which of course is a concern, though I know he would never intentionally hurt them). Can you recommend something specific to help combat this particular problem?

Dogs act as if they've 'done wrong' because it's appeasement behaviour towards (for want of a better term) a 'superior'.  Your attitude will be telling him you aren't happy, and therefore in his mind, are in need of an appeasment behaviour for the status quo to be restored.

Re the jumping up - make sure everyone askes him to 'sit' before making a fuss of him or paying him attention.  If he jumps up simply ignore him - but if he sits he gets a fuss........

Chicken (>20%), maize, animal fat, wheat, poultry meal, sorghum, barley, dried beet pulp, chicken digest, fish meal, dried whole egg, brewer's dried yeast, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, DL­methionine

The above are the ingredients of one of the puppy complete foods by IAMS chicken rich; as you can see the second largest single ingredient is maize (Hills is predominantly maize) added to this are all the other cereals wheat, sorghum, barley.  Cereal is not a natural food for a dog.  Further more Maize is tryptophan deficient.  Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and is a precursor of serotonin which makes us feel good sometimes sleepy say after a drink of hot milk :D  Tryptophan is what is in Clomicalm which is often prescribed for hyperactive dogs.

This food also contains brewers dried yeast which, IMHO, should be avoided by all dogs, not least ones with fold over ears like a Basset as this can increase the likelihood of yeast overgrowths and consequent ear infections/irritations.

I would suggest you change your dog's food to one that has fewer ingredients such as Burns or NatureDiet both of which contain only meat, rice and vegetables.  The former is dry the latter is wet.  Certainly I would avoid foods with maize.

HTH

Hi
I am afraid that a Basset is a breed that matures really slowly and your Basset is only 9months old. Really still a puppy in Basset time.
So you have to repeat everything you want him to learn over and over again. They tend to learn at their own pace.
As to jumping up. It is because they just LOVE people and that is their way of showing it.
My Basset is over 4 stone and I still have to use a short lead on him indoors if someone new visits till he calms down. After they get stroked and petted they do calm down.
I know that a Basset jumping up is not a good thing especially where children are concerned. Perhaps you could give him his favourite toy to play with while you have visitors? This will hopefully take his attention away from the people.
When I take Dexter for his walks I use a padded harness, which goes under his chest and across his shoulders. This gives me more control over him without pulling on his neck. Perhaps this might be a useful thing for you to try when you have visitors - put a harness on him so that you have more control.
I know that you say you have fed him Hills but he is bored with this. Well as far as I know a Basset is never a fussy eater. In fact mine have always eaten absolutely everything.
Perhaps you could alternate his food with some scrambled egg or even add this sometimes to his meals.
A Basset is a deep chested dog and is very prone to Bloat so I think dry food is best, with of course, access to water at all times.
Do try the radio left on when you go out. As Bassets are pigs of course you can't give him a treat everytime you go out of the room, just when you leave him to go to work. Have you tried a nice large dog chew?
Does this help you?
Carol

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