The above is a statue in Budapest of Columbo (Peter Falk) and his Basset hound.  Not only does it commemorate Falk’s Hungarian ancestry, the legend that is Columbo but also man's best friend aptly called “Dog”!

As a self-confessed Columbophile, I'm happy to say that the first time I ever saw a Basset Hound was in an episode of Columbo, "Etude in Black" if you must know. 

I can hear Lisa groaning in the distance and feel her eyes rolling so before I get carried away in my love of 70's detective shows, let's get back to the handsome hound dog, the Basset Hound!

Not only has he inspired a leisure shoe empire (more on that later!), saved Keith Richard’s life (more on that later too) and inspired an epic Elvis Presley song, the Basset Hound is a loving family dog that's very gentle with children and other pets and one of the best scent hounds you'll ever meet.

His ancestry goes back to France, in fact, the name Basset comes from the French word for low, “bas” and the first recorded portrait of a Basset Hound dates back to 1585, an illustrated book about hunting by Jacques du Fouilloux.

Typically no more than 14 inches tall from the shoulder but weighing up to 65lbs, this is a big dog with short legs that thinks he's a lap dog. Happiest when sat on you I'm told.

He's genetically linked to the Bloodhound and was initially bred for hunting, this is a dog not built for speed but an expert tracker. Short legs mean Bassets move slower than other dogs which makes it easier for humans to follow on foot. They also have a white tip at the end of their tails which allows them to see them in tall grass. As placid as this breed is, the only thing that will get them really excited is a good scent trail!

They are calm and quite lazy and have a sweet disposition. Well-bred Bassets are even-tempered, relaxed and generally happy dogs but you'll need patience and bribes galore to train them.

They do however drool so not ideal for those of you who are super house-proud. Above all, they hate to be separated from their “ family”. This is a hound dog after all and they need their pack. If you know you'll be leaving this dog on its own for more than four hours a day on a regular basis then this may not be the dog you.

As with any breed, research before you adopt but those that live with these surprisingly sensitive creatures sing their praises.

Hush Puppies ( the leisure shoe empire bit......)

According to Wikipedia, the name is attributed to hunters or fishermen who'd fry some basic cornmeal mixtures (possibly that they'd bread-coated or battered their own food with) and fed to their dogs to "hush the puppies" during cook-outs or fish fries. 

A sales manager on a business trip came across this story while dining and decided to use the term and a hound to advertise the shoes, thus so creating an icon. Or so the story goes…….

Hush Puppies ( the Keith Richards bit……)

Hush Puppies' claim that their rubber soles saved the life of Keith Richards when he accidentally touched his guitar against an ungrounded microphone during a Rolling Stones concert in Sacramento, California in 1965.

Richards was knocked unconscious but medics believed that the crepe soles of his Hush Puppies insulated him and saved his life.

George Clooney

Elvis Presley

Brigitte Bardot

Marilyn Monroe

Jennifer Lawrence

Shakira

Burt Reynolds

Doris Day

Ronny Wood

Clint Eastwood

If you're interested in finding out more about Basset Hounds or have room for one in your life, below are some useful links. The first one will lead you to all the Basset Hound rescue centres in the UK.

Basset Hound Breed Rescue - The Kennel Club:

Bassethoundwelfare: 

 

For a cute complication of Columbo and Dog, check this out:

For Elvis Presley singing Hound Dog to a Basset Hound: