Head
The head is large and well proportioned. Its length from occiput to muzzle is greater than the width at the brow. In overall appearance the head is of medium width. The skull is well domed, showing a pronounced occipital protuberance. A broad flat skull is a fault. The length from nose to stop is approximately the length from stop to occiput. The sides are flat and free from cheek bumps. Viewed in profile the top lines of the muzzle and skull are straight and lie in parallel planes, with a moderately defined stop. The skin over the whole of the head is loose, falling in distinct wrinkles over the brow when the head is lowered. A dry head and tight skin are faults. The muzzle is deep, heavy, and free from snipiness. The nose is darkly pigmented, preferably black, with large wide-open nostrils. A deep liver-colored nose conforming to the coloring of the head is permissible but not desirable. The teeth are large, sound, and regular, meeting in either a scissors or an even bite. A bite either overshot or undershot is a serious fault. The lips are darkly pigmented and are pendulous, falling squarely in front and, toward the back, in loose hanging flews. The dewlap is very pronounced. The neck is powerful, of good length, and well arched. The eyes are soft, sad, and slightly sunken, showing a prominent haw, and in color are brown, dark brown preferred. A somewhat lighter-colored eye conforming to the general coloring of the dog is acceptable but not desirable. Very light or protruding eyes are faults. The ears are extremely long, low set, and when drawn forward, fold well over the end of the nose. They are velvety in texture, hanging in loose folds with the ends curling slightly inward. They are set far back on the head at the base of the skull and, in repose, appear to be set on the neck. A high set or flat ear is a serious fault.

Forequarters
The chest is deep and full with prominent sternum showing clearly in front of the legs. The shoulders and elbows are set close against the sides of the chest. The distance from the deepest point of the chest to the ground, while it must be adequate to allow free movement when working in the field, is not to be more than one-third the total height at the withers of an adult Basset. The shoulders are well laid back and powerful. Steepness in shoulder, fiddle fronts, and elbows that are out, are serious faults. The forelegs are short, powerful, heavy in bone, with wrinkled skin. Knuckling over of the front legs is a disqualification. The paw is massive, very heavy with tough heavy pads, well rounded and with both feet inclined equally a trifle outward, balancing the width of the shoulders. Feet down at the pastern are a serious fault. The toes are neither pinched together nor splayed, with the weight of the forepart of the body borne evenly on each. The dewclaws may be removed.

Body
The rib structure is long, smooth, and extends well back. The ribs are well sprung, allowing adequate room for heart and lungs. Flatsidedness and flanged ribs are faults. The topline is straight, level, and free from any tendency to sag or roach, which are faults.

Hindquarters
The hindquarters are very full and well rounded, and are approximately equal to the shoulders in width. They must not appear slack or light in relation to the over-all depth of the body. The dog stands firmly on its hind legs showing a well-let-down stifle with no tendency toward a crouching stance. Viewed from behind, the hind legs are parallel, with the hocks turning neither in nor out. Cowhocks or bowed legs are serious faults. The hind feet point straight ahead. Steep, poorly angulated hindquarters are a serious fault. The dewclaws, if any, may be removed.

Tail
The tail is not to be docked, and is set in continuation of the spine with but slight curvature, and carried gaily in hound fashion. The hair on the underside of the tail is coarse.

Size
The height should not exceed 14 inches. Height over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulder blade is a disqualification.

Gait
The Basset Hound moves in a smooth, powerful, and effortless manner. Being a scenting dog with short legs, it holds its nose low to the ground. Its gait is absolutely true with perfect coordination between the front and hind legs, and it moves in a straight line with hind feet following in line with the front feet, the hocks well bent with no stiffness of action. The front legs do not paddle, weave, or overlap, and the elbows must lie close to the body. Going away, the hind legs are parallel.

Coat
The coat is hard, smooth, and short, with sufficient density to be of use in all weather. The skin is loose and elastic. A distinctly long coat is a disqualification.

Color
Any recognized hound color is acceptable and the distribution of color and markings is of no importance.

Disqualifications
Height of more than 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulder blade.
Knuckled over front legs.
Distinctly long coat.

Approved January 14, 1964

ORIGIN : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 27.04.1989.

UTILIZATION :                        Scent Hound.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :                        Group                        6                        Scent hounds and related                                                        breeds.

                        Section                        1.3                        Small-sized hounds.

                        With working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Short-legged hound of considerable substance, well balanced, full of quality.  A certain amount of loose skin desirable.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Tenacious hound of ancient lineage which hunts by scent, possesses a pack instinct and a deep melodious voice, and is capable of great endurance in the field.  Placid, never aggressive or timid.  Affectionate.

HEAD : Top of muzzle nearly parallel with line from stop to occiput and not much longer than head from stop to occiput.  There may be a moderate amount of wrinkle at brow and beside eyes.  In any event skin of head loose enough to wrinkle noticeably when drawn forward or when head is lowered.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Domed, with prominent occipital bone, of medium width at brow and tapering slightly to muzzle.

Stop : Moderate.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Entirely black except in light-coloured hounds, when it may be brown or liver.  Large and well-opened nostrils which may protrude a little beyond lips.

Muzzle : General appearance of foreface lean, not snipy.

Lips : Flews of upper lip overlap lower substantially.

Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Eyes : Lozenge-shaped, neither prominent nor too deep-set, dark but may shade to mid-brown in light-coloured hounds.  Expression calm and serious.  Red of lower lid appears, though not excessively.  Light or yellow eye highly undesirable.

Leathers : Set-on low, just below line of eye.  Long; reaching well beyond end of muzzle of correct length, but not excessively so.  Narrow throughout their length and curling well inwards; very supple, fine and velvety in texture.

NECK : Muscular, well arched and fairly long with pronounced but not exaggerated dewlap.

BODY : Long and deep throughout length; withers and quarters of approximately same height.

Back : Level and rather broad.  From withers to inset of quarters not unduly long.

Loins : May arch slightly.

Chest : Forechest fitting neatly into crook when viewed from front.  Breast bone prominent but chest neither narrow nor unduly deep.  Ribs well-rounded and sprung, without flange, carried well back.

TAIL : Well set-on, rather long, strong at base, tapering, with moderate amount of coarse hair underneath.  When moving, stern carried well up and curving gently, sabre-fashion, never curling or gay.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs short, powerful and with great bone.  Wrinkles of skin on lower legs.

Shoulders : Shoulder-blades well laid back; shoulders not heavy.

Elbows : Turning neither in nor out but fitting neatly against side.

Forearm : Upper forearm inclined slightly inwards, but not to such an extent as to prevent free action or to result in legs touching each other when standing or in action.

Pastern : Knuckling over highly undesirable.

HINDQUARTERS : Full of muscle and standing out well, giving an almost spherical effect when viewed from rear.  Wrinkles of skin may appear between hock and foot, and at rear of joint a slight pouch resulting from looseness of skin.

Stifles : Well bent.

Hocks : Well let down and slightly bent under but turn neither in nor out and just under body when standing naturally.

FEET : Massive, well knuckled up and padded.  Forefeet may point straight ahead or be turned slightly outwards but in every case hound always stands perfectly true, weight being borne equally by toes with pads together so that feet would leave an imprint of a large hound and no unpadded areas in contact with ground.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Most important.  Smooth, free action with forelegs reaching well forward and hind legs showing powerful thrust, hound moving true both front and rear.  Hocks and stifles never stiff in movement, nor must any toes be dragged.

COAT

HAIR : Smooth, short and close without being too fine.  Whole outline clean and free from feathering.  Long-haired, soft coat with feathering highly undesirable.

COLOUR : Generally black, white and tan (tri-colour); lemon and white (bi-colour); but any recognized hound colour acceptable.

SIZE :

Height : 33-38 cm (13-15 ins) at withers.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog..

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.