Hi all
Ok dont laugh not even a snigger!
Can a basset do agility safely?
We have a local club renting some land of my dad and i would love for ginger to try!
But being a basset with a long spine i wonder if it would be safe?
I know we arnt going to set the agility world on fire but we could give them a laugh.
Hes not a baby he is 3 yrs old and well about as obediant as any basset that finds a nice new smell:rolleyes:
Responsive to all people friendly a bit thick in fact typical basset.
I would love to challenge him a bit. I cant show him which is such a shame as he has one undescended testie the poor baby (but we dont talk about you know)
Thanks
Mandy

most dogs can do agility to some degree, my poodle boy loves to do the mini jumps!

Mandy,

Actually, exercise is highly recommended for Bassets!  Mine gets a daily walk (sniff I should say) and several good runs around the yard with his 'brothers and sister'.  I've often thought of getting him into agility class if, for nothing else, comic relief.  :)  The only thing that I've been warned against is jumping down from high objects which would put too much stress on the shoulders/back.  They're all such goofballs I can't imagine them having anything but fun on the agility course!

Check out these sites for info on BH's and agility:

http://www.bassethoundrescue.com/agility.htm
http://www.basset-bhca.org/Activities/Agility1.htm

The second link has some great photos of BH's competing.  :)

Thanks for the links will have to speak to the people that run the group and see if they need a clown (oops i mean basset)
Mine is just so lazy wanders along sniffs cocks leg wanders a bit further cocks leg again sniffs for a bit.
He does run if i run with him (not the safest of things to do with a long wheel based dog that has the turning circle of a 40ft truck) but not as often as i would like and i worry he doesnt get enough exercise i walk him for 2  30 min walks a day come rain or shine and all farm walks as well (as we live on one) Plus if im out on farm he is generally with me. But he does give you the impression that its all to much like hard work! and would much rather be upside in front of the fire.
I wonder if being a large basset that might be why he isnt as active as smaller ones i have had in the past.
Thanks for your help
Mandy

Dunno as Dudley is my first experience with the world of Bassets.  :)  I had impressions of them being very fat and lazy...he's anything but.  He's a bit fleshy but not fat and his energy level is out of control.  I don't know if having Boxers to play with does it or I just have an energetic BH.  I've not met any others to compare him to.  He likes to walk the bike trails, sniff around in the woods and swim in the river...have you not found that with yours?  If I'm up, he's up...if I'm down, he's down.  I've noticed that he's very adaptable to the level of activity in the house.  Like I said, he's my first...he may be unusual, I really don't know.  He came to me by accident of sorts so anything I've learned about them has been through the internet strictly.

i handle PBGV's and they can do it they are the same as normal bassetts just hairy

I have been looking at that breed for about 2 yrs now on and of as a companion for ginger and i also would love another dog now we have moved back to uk into the family farm im in a postion to get a second.  From what i have read about them they are lighter boned than the basset and more active but have very similar tempraments.
My main concern with ginger is that he is a very big basset his breeder i belive is know for her large bassets.
He has no current medical issues but i dont want to make any either so im going to speak to the agility group before i do anything to make sure its safe for him.

I think mine is just a little to laid back for his own good. Mine is a rescue as well so im not 100% on his background the reasons the people gave when they gave him up to the dutch basset rescue where um well a bit petty things like he smelt when wet and they couldnt cope with the smell he also had terrible separtion anxiety. i dont think  he was mis treated as such but i dont think he was ever really played with as a puppy so doesnt really understand play he wont chase a ball. You throw it he then looks at it and then you as if to say "so you will be getting that then wont you"
He will play tugger and fetch his teddys if you throw them and he has only learnt that in the past 6 months.
He has a nylon bone thing is currently in love with and carries it every where looking extremely goofy!
Tonight my 3 yr old Daughter  was laid on the floor and he laid down next to her with his bone and started chewing then pushed it in front of her as if to say your turn sat and watched her a few minutes as she didnt touch it and then took it back and wandered off.
We have lots of dogs in our family  my mum and sister none bassets (3 collies, 1 GSD and 2 goldens) All girls and when he sees them has a sniff but doesnt play with them. When one of the collies bit his bum the other week he kind of yelped turned looked at her and carried on sniffing!
I just feel he needs a bit of motivation
mandy

Hi Mandy,
Just wanted to say your boy sounds absolutely adorable :-) I sometimes meet a man with three Basset bitches, mum and two daughters. They are all really nice dogs, but somewhat slow, meant in the nicest possible way :-P We usually meet them at the beach, where mine are enjoying running off lead, doing more or less what they want. So are his girls, it's just that their chosen activity is sitting still, watching life go by :-D
I think your boy might be enjoying life "the Basset Hound way".
Karen

Yeah he loves the basset way maybe  i just want more for him and he happy plodding along and sniffing i dunno i just feel he could do more you know?
Thanks he is baby heavy large baby but still my baby and you want to do whats right.
mandy

Sounds very similar.  :)  Mine was kept outside all day with a Rottie because he destroyed things in the house.  Crating was 'mean' so it was much better to leave him out in the yard for 8 hours a day instead.  He dug out (as bored Bassets will do) and found himself at the police station.  I brought him home and he's been here since.
I was a bit surprised with the smell myself, having never owned a hound breed.  I didn't really  know what the smell was all about until his blankets soaked it up and the whole house smelled like horrid wet dog.  I studied and learned very quickly after that.  ;)  His little armpits turn brown if I don't keep up with his hygiene.  Ugh. 
Dudley wouldn't know to chase a ball!  Not a chance.  He was destructive (separation anxiety) for maybe the first year I had him (it's been almost 3 now) but grew out of that and he's an absolute love now.  He does play with toys every so often but seems to have to be VERY motivated to do so.  He'd rather roll around on the bed begging me for a scratch.  Nylabones are the only thing he's in love with as well.  His favorite so far has been the Nyla-ring.
Ours seem to have personality traits in common...so maybe the things we think are individual are just Basset traits.  :)  I say go for it with the agility!!  If you go into it with the right attitude, which you seem to be, you two will have nothing but a great time!

Mandy you've left me with a great image. He could start a new method of going through the weave poles. ;-) I can just see him marking each one on his way through!

Thats exactly what he would do! you know the boxer at crufts when he got placed in group 4 lifted his leg thats my ginger he would do exactly the same!
In fact my other vision with the weave poles is coming out of the far end before the back end starts!
Oh dear me
Mandy

There's a basset in our agility class, doing pretty well actually!  He's never going to win any prizes for speed, but he's very accurate and has a great time!!

i would say just go steady, dont do any high jumping, and dont expect a place in the team at Crufts Have fun!

Darn it thats one plan out then :) no crufts agility will break it to him gently LOL  Having said that he watched it on the TV and was very interested sat bolt up right head in one side god i would love to know what he was thinking!
Im just going to talk to the lady and maybe if we are both happy take him along and see what he thinks to it all.
mandy

Thats nice to know thanks
mandy

There was a basset in our first agility class who did pretty well, BUT.  It gave us all the heebie jeebies when she did the dog walk.  Her ears hung down below the walk and, in true basset fashion, she sniffed the whole way across - sniff left, sniff right.  And every time she did her ear would drape across the walk and then she often stepped on it.  We were afraid she would trip and fall off but she never did.  A relief though, when she did not come back for the second class.  Her handler was her little girl owner, about 12 I think, the owner, and they far surpassed our teacher's expectations.

This is one of things that worrys me if he fell and hurt his back after all sniffing is there world nothing else matters to them.
Im going to speak to the lady thats runs the class and she what she thinks stuff a few inches of the ground i think great but up in the air eck not sure i want to stand under him he weighs 35 kilos.
thanks
mandy

This girl was not a really big basset and when she did the dog walk we all stowed our own dogs somewhere and had spotters all down both sides of the dog walk.  Have to say too, it was more fun watching her than any of the other dogs.

Why don't you go along and give it a go as Bassets look as if they are made up from bits of other dogs that they dont wan't:rolleyes:
Little stuby legs really long body and a bottom that waddles along looking cute.
They also tend to trip over their really long ears and have a pointed shaped top of their head that would look good in a police helmet
They will give everyone a good laugh and make everyone smile they are the clowns of the dog world, when I take my Basset out she always get lots of smiles and lots of attention which of course she just loves, so even if she cant jump or balance like the other dogs I bet you she will enjoy herself and all the attention she is bound to get especilayy when she looks at people like she is wearing glasses and looking over the top.
My Baset is just funny and she makes us laugh all the time
Carol

Yeah they are clowns! We are going to go and watch a class see what we reckon to it
They are due to start here after easter so i have spoken to the lady that runs it and she is happy to let him try and is aware of my concerns. So will let you all know what he and i think to it.
Even if he cant do it all i hope he enjoys it as thats what its all about
thanks
mandy

Aww thats a relief then as tumbling bassets arnt funny!
Im glad she at least gave it a go i think he could do most of it and would enjoy it as well All thou high walks i have to say do fill me with dread currently
thanks
mandy

I'd just give it a go. Even if you don't do the jumps or the high work you can both have fun and that's the most important thing. Hey, he's built perfectly for the tunnel! I'd cheer him on if I were in his agility class.

Awww thanks
we are going to give it ago and see what happens he has always been pretty good at trying new things so confidence wont be a problem he loves every one and every thing.  Oh yes the tunnel he can do he goes thru the kids play one in the garden following them
Thanks
Mandy

Just a update went along this afternoon and spoke to the lady that runs the class and she is more than happy for him to try
so next saturday is D Day
will let you all know how it goes
mandy