Eagle Valley Bassets is committed to producing quality hounds conforming to the breed standard and purpose. Our hounds are from quality hunting foundation stock, and we are members of the American Hunting Basset Association(the AHBA) and our dogs are registered through either,the AKC, UKCI and the AHBA. Having been raised around dogs all of my life, I wanted to find a breed that was just right for me. I had had beagles at one point, but knew that the beagle was too fast of a dog for me to keep up with. We decided on the Basset for the simple reason you can walk behind these dogs all day long and they pace themselves quite well.
The second reason was for scenting ability. The Basset is second only to the Bloodhound in the ability to track or trail scent. I start our bassets tracking with a long leash or lead and begin them tracking a family member that drops food along the trail. Then advance them toward finding articles left along the trail etc.. I am very pleased with the ability of the basset to perform these tasks. Our Sadie Mae has scented and tracked our son from the school bus stop to a neighbors house just by my wife asking "Sadie, where is J.?" Sadie caught the scent and led my wife to the neighbors home and waited patiently for our son to come down and reward her with a tummy rub.
I offer a word of warning to anyone interested in Bassets; "If the Basset doesn't want to do the job, the Basset isn't going to do the job!" Keeping the "game" interesting and offering rewards such as a tummy rub will assure the hound stays on task.. Bassets are considered stubborn scenters.. they love to follow the scent to where ever it leads so a fenced yard and leash are a must.
We belong to the AHBA and field trial our hounds as often as we possibly can. The dogs enjoy the sport and enjoy the hour long freedom of running through the woods in search of the elusive rabbit. All AHBA events are "NO KILL" events and the hounds do not catch the rabbit, but rather track and trail the rabbit through the brush and grasses. I encourage all of our new owners to come out to the events when they can. Not only does this help keep their Basset fit, it also gives them a job to do and they are grateful to do the job they were bred to perform.
We are Owners and Breeders of Quality Bassets that are bred to conform to Breed Standards and to perform the duties the breed was originally designed and bred to perform; the hunting and trailing of rabbits and other game. Our Bassets, in addition to being the family pets, are also given hours of exercise trailing and tracking rabbits and the grand kids or ourselves through the valley. Our commitment to the breed extends to new basset owners beyond the initial purchase. We guarantee every puppy we sell for health and temperament.
