Basador

The Basador is a cross between two very different breeds, the Basset Hound and the Labrador Retriever. He is usually short and stocky and generally has a good-natured personality. His activity level can range from calm to highly active. The Basador is a crossbreed. Opening your heart and home to a cross-breed is like opening a beautifully wrapped package on your birthday: you never know what’s going to be inside. It’s often assumed that a crossbreed will combine the best of two or more breeds, but genetics doesn’t always work that way. The way genes combine and express themselves is not always subject to a breeder’s control, even less so when two different breeds are crossed.

This crossbreed mixes two very different dogs, Labrador Retrievers and Basset Hounds, for an unusual looking result. A Basador can have a wide range of personalities. Both Labs and Bassets tend to be good-natured and love to hunt, but the Basset is more of a rambler and independent thinker, while the Lab is a hard-charging go-getter. A Basador might be calm but stubborn or highly active and always ready to seek out an interesting scent.

A well-bred, well-socialized Basador will be friendly. He can get along well with children and other pets if he is brought up with them, but he may be too rambunctious for families with toddlers. Caution is also warranted around cats, as both component breeds have strong hunting instincts.

In appearance, he is usually short but stocky, with front legs that turn inward like those of the Basset, hanging ears and a moderately long tail. A typical Basador weighs 50 to 70 pounds, although some are smaller. Because he is a crossbreed, his traits are not fixed, so there is no guarantee that a Basador puppy will fall into the size range predicted by the breeder or adoption agency.

While a Basador may inherit the good looks or hunting ability of his parent breeds, he may also inherit not-so-desirable traits, such as the Basset’s tendency toward back problems or the heavy shedding of both breeds.

Basadors can learn quickly, but they can also be stubborn or have a short attention span. Keep training sessions short and fun. If you begin socialization and training early and use positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play and food rewards, you can successfully train a Basador.

Basadors can have a moderate to high activity level. They will enjoy a nice walk or active playtime each day, and if you’re interested and talented at training (and the dog’s overall health is good — your veterinarian can help determine that), they can participate in such dog sports as agility, obedience and rally. Basadors can also make great therapy dogs.

If your Basador takes after either of the breeds used to create him, you can bet that he will enjoy his meals, perhaps a bit too much. Take care not to over-feed him. Excess weight can exacerbate certain health problems, including hip dysplasia and back problems.

Basadors are inveterate hunters, so confine them to the yard with a solid fence to prevent them from wandering. An underground electronic fence will not hinder a Basador if he smells a really interesting scent.

If you do choose to buy one, select a breeder who has done the health testing to help ensure that her puppies won’t carry the genetic diseases common to both Basset Hounds and Labrador Retrievers. And while there are no guarantees in life, it’s also a good way to minimize the possibility of certain big veterinary bills in the future.

Other Quick Facts

• A Basador may drool, so be prepared to wipe his mouth after he eats or drinks.
• Basadors are companion dogs. They love their people and need to live in the house, never outdoors.
• If your Basador has a long body, help protect him from back injuries by providing steps to furniture so he doesn’t have to jump on and off.

The History of Basadors

People have been crossing types of dogs for millennia in the attempt to achieve a certain look, temperament or working ability. That’s how many well-known purebreds, including the Affenpinscher, Australian Shepherd, Black Russian Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Doberman Pinscher, German Wirehaired Pointer, Leonberger and more, originally got their start.

But crossing two breeds over and over does not a breed make. A breed is a group of animals related by descent from common ancestors and visibly similar in most characteristics. To achieve consistency in appearance, size and temperament, breeders must select the puppies with the traits they want and breed them over several generations for the traits to become set.

Cross-breeds such as the Basador have become popular over the past ten or twenty years as people seek out dogs that are different from the everyday Yorkie or Poodle or that they think will have certain appealing characteristics. For instance, it’s often claimed (falsely, by the way) that cross-breeds are hypoallergenic or have fewer health problems or will carry the best traits of each breed.

Unfortunately, genes aren’t quite that malleable. Genetic traits sort out randomly in each dog, so without selecting for certain characteristics over many generations, there’s no guarantee you’ll get the best of each breed. And no matter what his breed or mix, an individual dog may be more or less allergenic or intelligent or healthy.

Whatever his breed, cross or mix, love your dog for what he is: a unique, special and loving companion.

Basador Temperament and Personality

Temperament is affected partly by inheritance and partly by environment, so it can be variable. A Basador’s temperament depends on several things including the temperaments of his parents, especially the mother, who is more likely to influence a puppy’s behavior; the amount of socialization he receives; and the particular genes he inherits. He might be more independent if the Basset side of his family dominates or more trainable if the Labrador side prevails. Be mindful around cats, as both breeds have strong hunting instincts. However, Both Labradors and Bassets are devoted to their families and generally shouldn’t be shy or aggressive toward people or other animals.  Say no thanks if a puppy’s parents won’t let you approach them, shy away from you or growl at you, or if puppies do any of those things.

A Basador tends to be pretty smart, but whether he wants to make the effort to learn depends on whether he has more Lab influence or Basset influence. A Basset can be stubborn and may lack interest in learning whatever it is you are trying to teach. But no matter which side of the family is dominant, if you train a Basador with positive reinforcement techniques, showing him what you like by rewarding him with praise, play and treats, he’s likely to learn quickly.

Start training your puppy the day you bring him home. Even at eight weeks old, he is capable of soaking up everything you can teach him. Don’t wait until he is 6 months old to begin training or you will have a more headstrong dog to deal with. If possible, get him into puppy kindergarten class by the time he is 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize. However, be aware that many puppy training classes require certain vaccines (like kennel cough) to be up to date, and many veterinarians recommend limited exposure to other dogs and public places until puppy vaccines (including rabies, distemper and parvovirus) have been completed. In lieu of formal training, you can begin training your puppy at home and socializing him among family and friends until puppy vaccines are completed.

Talk to the breeder, describe exactly what you’re looking for in a dog, and ask for assistance in selecting a puppy. Breeders see the puppies daily and can make uncannily accurate recommendations once they know something about your lifestyle and personality. Whatever you want from a Basador, look for one whose parents have nice personalities and who has been well socialized from early puppyhood.

What You Need to Know About Basador Health

All dogs, whether purebreds, crossbreeds, or mixes, have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the mixed breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the mixed breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.

Basadors may be susceptible to the health problems of both the Basset Hound and Labrador Retriever, but there’s also a chance that the genetic diversity introduced by mixing two breeds may lower the chances of developing certain inherited diseases. The very nature of genetic variation makes this difficult to predict for a mixed breed dog.  Please refer to the breed guides on Basset Hounds and Labrador Retrievers for an overview of some of the inherited diseases reported in these two breeds.

Not all inherited conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it can be hard to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible.  They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog (and grandparents, etc.) have been screened for genetic defects and deemed healthy for breeding. At a minimum, ask the breeder to show evidence that both of the puppy’s parents have the appropriate certifications from health registries like the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Canine Eye Registry Foundation, etc.

If a breeder tells you she doesn’t need to do those tests because she’s never had problems in her lines and her dogs have been "vet checked," then you should go find a breeder who is more rigorous about genetic testing.

Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices. Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases the dogs can still live a good life. If you’re getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in her lines and what they died of.

Remember that after you’ve taken a new puppy into your home, you have the power to protect him from one of the most common health problems: obesity. Keeping a Basador at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life. Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life.

The Basics of Basador Grooming

A Basador will have a short, smooth, dense coat that sheds heavily and may have a “houndy” odor. Brush the Basador daily to remove shedding hair, bring out shine and reduce the amount of dog hair floating around your home. Bassets and Labs both shed heavily, so a Basador will too.

If your Basador has facial wrinkles, it’s important to keep them clean and dry. Wipe them out with a damp washcloth or baby wipe, dry the folds thoroughly, and apply baby powder or corn starch to help them stay dry — just be sure to avoid getting anything in the eyes. Some Basadors require this wrinkle treatment daily, while others can get by with having it done once or twice a week or every three to four weeks. Some might not need it at all.

In addition, trim a Basador’s nails every few weeks, keep his ears clean and dry, and brush his teeth regularly — daily if possible.

Finding a Basador

Whether you want to go with a breeder or get your dog from a shelter or rescue, here are some things to keep in mind.

Choosing a Basador Breeder

Finding a good breeder is a great way to find the right puppy. A good breeder will match you with the right puppy, and will without question have done all the health certifications necessary to screen out health problems as much as is possible. He or she is more interested in placing pups in the right homes than in making big bucks.

Basador puppies are adorable, and it’s one of the reasons they are so popular. Cute puppies sell, and that makes the Basador a favorite of puppy mills and greedy, irresponsible breeders. But there’s no need to pay big bucks for a Basador. You may find a wonderful example of this cross-bred dog at your local shelter or through adoption organizations such as Petfinder.

If you choose to purchase a Basador, select a breeder who has done the health testing to help ensure that her puppies won’t carry the genetic diseases common to Basset Hounds and Labrador Retrievers. Buying from a breeder who is smart and caring enough to do health certifications, even for a cross-breed, is the best way to do that. And while there are no guarantees in life, it’s also a good way to minimize the possibility of certain big veterinary bills in the future.

Avoid breeders who only seem interested in how quickly they can unload a puppy on you and whether your credit card will go through. You should also bear in mind that buying a puppy from websites that offer to ship your dog to you immediately can be a risky venture, as it leaves you no recourse if what you get isn’t exactly what you expected. Put at least as much effort into researching your puppy as you would into choosing a new car or expensive appliance. It will save you money in the long run.

Many breeders have websites, so how can you tell who’s good and who’s not? Red flags include puppies always being available, multiple litters on the premises, having your choice of any puppy, and the ability to pay online with a credit card. Those things are convenient, but they are almost never associated with reputable breeders.

Whether you’re planning to get your new best friend from a breeder, a pet store, or another source, don’t forget that old adage “let the buyer beware”. Disreputable breeders and facilities that deal with puppy mills can be hard to distinguish from reliable operations. There’s no 100% guaranteed way to make sure you’ll never purchase a sick puppy, but researching the crossbreed (so you know what to expect), checking out the facility (to identify unhealthy conditions or sick animals), and asking the right questions can reduce the chances of heading into a disastrous situation. And don’t forget to ask your veterinarian, who can often refer you to a reputable breeder, rescue organization, or other reliable source for healthy puppies. 

The cost of a Basador puppy varies depending on the breeder’s locale and whether he has obtained health clearances on the pup’s parents. The puppy you buy should have been raised in a clean home environment, from parents with health clearances. Puppies should be temperament tested, vetted, dewormed, and socialized to give them a healthy, confident start in life.

Before you decide to buy a puppy, consider whether an adult Basador might better suit your needs and lifestyle. Puppies are loads of fun, but they require a lot of time and effort before they grow up to become the dog of your dreams. An adult may already have some training and will probably be less active, destructive and demanding than a puppy. With an adult, you know more about what you’re getting in terms of personality and health and you can find adults through breeders or shelters. If you are interested in acquiring an older dog through breeders, ask them about purchasing a retired show dog or if they know of an adult dog who needs a new home. If you want to adopt a dog, read the advice below on how to do that.

Adopting a Dog From a Basador Rescue or Shelter

There are many great options available if you want to adopt a dog from an animal shelter or rescue organization. Here is how to get started.

1. Use the Web

Sites like Petfinder.com can have you searching for a Basador in your area in no time flat. The site allows you to be very specific in your requests (housetraining status, for example) or very general (all the Basadors available on Petfinder across the country). AnimalShelter can help you find animal rescue groups in your area. Also some local newspapers have “pets looking for homes” sections you can review.

Social media is another great way to find a dog. Post on your Facebook page that you are looking for a specific breed so that your entire community can be your eyes and ears.

2. Reach Out to Local Experts

Start talking with all the pet pros in your area about your desire for a Basador. That includes vets, dog walkers, and groomers. When someone has to make the tough decision to give up a dog, that person will often ask her own trusted network for recommendations.

3. Talk to Rescue Groups

Networking can help you find a dog that may be the perfect companion for your family.  Most people who love Basadors love all Basadors. That’s why enthusiasts have rescue organizations devoted to taking care of homeless dogs. A reputable Basador breeder’s network can help you find a dog that may be the perfect companion for your family. You can also search online for other Basador rescues in your area.

The great thing about breed rescue groups is that they tend to be very upfront about any health conditions the dogs may have and are a valuable resource for advice. They also often offer fostering opportunities so, with training, you could bring a Basador home with you to see what the experience is like.

4. Key Questions to Ask

You now know the things to discuss with a breeder, but there are also questions you should discuss with shelter or rescue group staff or volunteers before you bring home a pup. These include:

• What is his energy level?
• How is he around other animals?
• How does he respond to shelter workers, visitors, and children?
• What is his personality like?
• What is his age?
• Is he housetrained?
• Has he ever bitten or hurt anyone that they know of?
• Are there any known health issues?

Wherever you acquire your Basador, make sure you have a good contract with the seller, shelter or rescue group that spells out responsibilities on both sides. Petfinder offers an Adopters Bill of Rights that helps you understand what you can consider normal and appropriate when you get a dog from a shelter. In states with “puppy lemon laws,” be sure you and the person you get the dog from both understand your rights and recourses.

Puppy or adult, take your Basador to your veterinarian soon after adoption. Your veterinarian will be able to spot problems, and will work with you to set up a preventive regimen that will help you avoid many health issues.