The “Bassador” is another example of a current “trend” that is going right now in which RESPONSIBLE dog breeders are choosing to “mix and match” certain dog breeds that have been “over breed” in the past.
This over breeding…
Frequently leads to certain “valued” traits or characteristics of a breed to be “promoted” while other traits are selectively avoided.
As a result, the potential gene pool for these breeds become smaller and smaller for each subsequent generation which can lead to the development of may “recessive” diseases which would otherwise not be as prevalent as they are today.
As a way…
To combat this trend, many responsible dog breeders are choosing to “combine” many popular dog breeds together to create a “hybrid” breed.
Often called “designer dogs” or “designer breeds”, these new “designer mutts” are continuing to grow in popularity and is probably why you may be considering adopting your very own Bassador.
But…
Is a Bassador going to be the right kind of dog for you? That’s something only you’ll be able to answer, however, in this article, we’re going to attempt to shed some light on what it might be like to adopt an Bassador puppy and what one should expect if from their new ball of joy!
Bassador Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Presumably the United States
Original Purpose: Companionship
Breed Group: Mixed Breed of Labrador Retrievers and Basset Hounds
Height: Varies Widely
Weight: Varies widely, generally between 50 to 70 pounds
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Origin of the Bassador.
Believe it or not, the “Bassador” has now been “around” for more than twenty years now, which is probably why certain dog clubs like the Dog Registry of America are beginning to “officially” recognize the breed.
The problem is…
That because the Bassador isn’t “officially” recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), it’s history and origin hasn’t been fully determined. That said however, it’s pretty safe to assume that the “breed” was probably first developed with in the United States since the breed is certainly more common here in the USA than anywhere else in the world.
Either way…
Because the breed is so “new” understanding its “origin” isn’t really going to tell us all that much about what your Bassador is going to look like or how he or she will behave.
To understand that…
It’s much better to take a look at the two different breeds that are used to create a Bassador: Basset Hounds and Labrador Retriever.
The Basset Hound
Originating from France, the Basset Hound has a bit of a “mixed” history. Originally it is believed that the breed was first created for companionship and amusement by the French aristocracy in the 15th and 16th centuries. During this time, the Basset Hound really didn’t have any practical use at the time.
Then after…
The French Revolution, the Basset Hound began to be bred as a hunting dog by the commoners. They realized what a useful dog it was and quickly transformed this “Crown Jester” into a quite capable hunting dog with its short, sturdy legs and amazing sense of smell!
While the Basset Hound has been in the USA since the 17th century, it became popular only in the 1960s. Until then, it was generally ignored by the dog breeders here.
For more information about the Basset Hound, we’d recommend you check our our full article: The Basset Hound… Not Just For Hunters! where we go into much greater detail about this fantastic breed.
Now as for the…
Labrador Retriever, what can we really say that isn’t already known? The Labrador is probably one of the most popular dogs in North American and Europe. It is a perfect companion dog and a great addition to just about any family.
This is probably they have been breed so often which is why they can also suffer from quite a few medical conditions. For more information about Labrador Retrievers, we would suggest that you check out our article: Labrador Retrievers: American’s Go To Family Pet!
What will your Bassador look like?
Its fair to say that “genes have a mind of their own”. Which is why you never really going to know what you’re going to get when you mix two very different looking dogs like a Basset Hound and a Labrador Retriever together. Sometimes it’s going to work out great, while other times it might fail miserably.
There is no way to tell how the experiment can turn out when a breeder chooses to mix dogs. And unfortunately, there is little the breeder can do about that.
But regardless…
Of what your Bassador might look like, because he or she is going to come for a long line of dogs with a great personalities, what you can expect is that your Bassador will make a great family pet.
And while its…
True that he or she might have a bit more of the “stubbornness” found in the Basset Hound than is found in the Labrador Retriever, this stubbornness isn’t something that shouldn’t be insurmountable with the appropriate amount of training especially if that training is begun early on.
So what’s a Bassadors temperament like?
The Bassador’s temperament is a function of its environment and to an extent of the temperament of its parents.
The mother plays a big role here – she is more likely to influence the Bassador puppy’s behavior than the father. Genes matter as well, as do the time the dog spends socializing in its early years.
Generally, if the Basset Hound side of the family is strong, the dog is likely to be more independent. The Basset Hound, remember, is a hunting dog.
If the Labrador side of the family is stronger, then the Bassador is much easier to train. It will be more obedient.
Bassadors have strong hunting instincts…
Typically don’t care for cats. Now they can be introduced and socialized to cats early on, however we wouldn’t advise adopting a rescue Bassador if you already own a cat unless you know that he or she is “cat tolerant” already.
The Bassador can be stubborn at times as well…
Especially if the Basset Hound side of the family dominates, but still can be trained with positive reinforcement. He is a quick learner and will learn faster if you make the training fun for him, by praising him and rewarding him with treats for a good effort.
Are there any health concerns for Bassador that you should be worried about?
Every hybrid or designer dog such as a Bassador will have certain genetic health issues, and is likely to inherit certain diseases. There is nothing that can be done to prevent that.
The good news…
Is that in general, these “hybrid” dogs will generally be healthier than the individual dog breed that they were created from. That said however, there are a few things that you should be careful about when adopting any dog.
For example:
- Don’t buy the Bassador from a breeder who does not offer health guarantees.
- Be sure to be able to see the parents of your Bassador puppy before buying so that you can certify the health of the parents.
- Avoid buying your puppy for any breeder that currently offers several different “types” of puppyies. This could indicate you are purchasing from a “puppy mill”.
- Also reach out the to American Kennel Club and see if they are aware of any responsible breeders in your area.
Bassador Health Issues.
Some of the common health conditions that Bassadors are often afflicted with are:
- Back problems or intervertebral disc disease (IVDD),
- Hip dysplasia,
- Eye problems such as glaucoma,
- As well as bloating or gastric torsion.
Now you may be thinking…
“Wait a second, I thought you just said the Bassado dog breed is a healthy breed?”
And we did. But that doesn’t mean that the breed isn’t also susceptible to certain medical conditions just like any other dog breed.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also encourage anyone that is currently considering adopting a new pet to take a moment and see just how much it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on that new pet.
This way…
If your new family member does become sick or injured you won’t be burdened with the full cost of their care on your own! For more information on what a pet insurance policy might cost you, feel free to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
