If you love huskies and hounds, the husky basset hound mix may be a great companion for you. These adorable pooches have a Siberian husky parent, and a basset hound parent.
The cross results in an adorable pooch with lots of energy and a big personality. They are a new mixed, or designer, breed. This means there’s some mystery surrounding them, which can be fun.
Mixed breed pooches always offer an element of unpredictability, but this is even more true when the breed is uncommon, like the basset husky.
Contents
Quick Profile
Before we get into the details of the Husky basset hound, let’s take a look at the basics.
- Other Names: Bassky
- Average Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Average Height: 13-20 inches
- Average Weight: 30-50 pounds
- Coat appearance: short to medium coat length, white, gray, black, tan
- Eye Colour: Blue, brown, bi-color
- Activity Level: Medium
- Grooming Frequency: 2 times a week
- Typical Temperament: Friendly, social, stubborn, affectionate, intelligent
- Daily Food Consumption: 2 to 3 cups per day
- New Owner Friendly: No
- Suitable to live with children? Yes
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Yes
- Suitable to live with cats? If socialized with them at a young age
Appearance
As you might have guessed, the husky basset hound has some traits from each parent.
The appearance of a mixed breed pooch, particularly if there are a new breed, can be difficult to predict, because it’s impossible to know which traits your pooch will inherit from each parent.
They will also look more like one parent than the other, with some features of each parent present.
To get a better idea of what the bassky can look like, let’s take a quick look at their parents.
Husky Appearance
Huskies are lean, graceful, and slightly longer than they are tall.
They have a thick plush coat that protects them in arctic conditions. They have erect ears, and a thick, strong tail.
They are the breed most similar to wolves in appearance and share more DNA with wolves than most breeds.
Huskies have expressive faces, and will often reveal how they feel through their expressions.
Basset Hound Appearance
Like huskies, basset hounds have a very distinctive appearance.
They are significantly longer than they are tall. They have short legs, so their body remains close to the ground.
They have large droopy ears. They have a large head with drooping lips, and wrinkled foreheads.
Their droopy features and large eyes give them a constantly mournful look that is at odds with their gentle and relaxed nature.
Average Size
Just like their overall appearance, the size of the bassky can vary greatly, depending on which parent they take after.
They can reach 13-20 inches tall, and weigh between 30-50 pounds.
Just like the parent breeds, you can expect the females to be slightly smaller than the males.
Coat Appearance
Basset hounds and huskies have very different coats. However, there are a few similarities as well.
Both breeds are double-coated. This means they have a soft dense undercoat and a topcoat.
The undercoat keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, while the topcoat provides protection from dirt, rain, and other outdoor hazards.
Basset hounds have a short coat, while huskies have a medium coat.
Your bassky will likely inherit a coat that is longer than a basset hound, but shorter than a husky’s coat.
Owners of these pooches note that their coat is incredibly soft.
When it comes to colors, it’s possible for them to inherit any coat color or pattern from either parent.
Huskies come in a range of coat colors including:
It’s common for them to have two coat colors, or bi-color. In fact, a black and white coat is the most common for huskies.
They can also have 3 different colors in their coat, which is known as tri-color. Solid colored huskies are rare, with solid white considered the rarest coat color.
Basset Hounds can also come in a range of colors.
Like huskies, they are typically bi-colored or tri-colored, with a solid colored coat being rare.
Basset hound coat colors include:
- Black
- White
- Tan
- Lemon
- Red
Black, tan, and white is the most common coat color for basset hounds.
Physical Features
There’s no way to know for sure what your husky basset hound will look like. This mystery is part of the charm of the breed.
They may have the body shape of a basset hound, which is long and low to the ground, or they may be shaped like a husky, with a graceful lean body.
They can have a medium to long muzzle, like a husky, or a shorter, slightly boxier head like a basset hound.
Their ears can also vary. Some will have erect ears like a husky, while others will have larger droopy ears.
Blue eyes are rare in most breeds, but they are common in huskies thanks to a genetic mutation that prevents the eyes from making pigment.
Your husky basset hound can have brown or blue eyes. They can also inherit hetereochroma, which means each eye is a different color, from their husky parent.
Grooming Guide
Your husky basset hound shouldn’t be particularly difficult to groom, but you will need to brush them at least twice a week.
Both parent breeds have a double coat, so you can expect them to shed in the spring and fall.
Grooming Tools
Before we get into how to groom your bassky, let’s take a look at the tools you’ll need for the job.
You’ll need:
- Nail clippers
- Dog shampoo
- Undercoat rake
- Pin brush
- Dematter tool
When it comes to nail clippers, there are two options. You can choose scissor type clippers, which work well for thick nails. You can also choose a grinder.
Instead of clipping the nails, this tool grinds the nails down to shorten them.
Always use shampoo designed for dogs. You may choose a shampoo designed for sensitive skin.
If they are shedding, you can use a deshedding shampoo.
An undercoat rake is essential for caring for your bassky’s coat. This tool is used to brush the undercoat, and remove shed hair.
A pin brush is used for the topcoat. It will remove shed hair, dirt, and detangle your basset husky’s beautiful coat.
You may find a dematter tool helpful as well, particularly if your pooch has hair that is husky length.
It removes any mats in their coat gently and painlessly.
Brushing
When your bassky is shedding, it’s a good idea to brush them daily.
This will remove shed hair, and limit the amount of hair that makes its way all over your home.
Bathing
Huskies typically need to be bathed once every 3 to 4 months, because their skin produces little oil.
They are also fastidious self-groomers. Basset hounds, on the other hand, need to be bathed every 2-6 weeks.
You can bathe your basset husky once every 4-8 weeks.
If they get very dirty, feel free to bathe them. However, frequent bathing can dry their skin over time.
Nail Trimming
When it comes to nail trimming, huskies only need their nails trimmed once every 3 to 4 months, if at all.
Basset hounds, on the other hand, need their nails trimmed once every 2 weeks.
They have strong, fast-growing nails that they use to dig holes when hunting.
If their nails get too long, it can interfere with their gait.
Because they love to dig, the nails are impossible to keep clean if they aren’t trimmed regularly.
Temperament
Both parent breeds are very social. They are also independent and can be stubborn.
You can expect your bassky to love everyone they come into contact with, including strangers.
They don’t make good guard dogs. However, their bark can be intimidating to potential intruders.
Some basset huskies are more energetic and outgoing than others, but all will develop a very close relationship with their family members.
Some dogs gravitate towards one person, but this breed will be a great dog for the entire family.
To get to the heart of a bassky, provide them with plenty of playtime. Spending quality time training and playing with them will help to deepen your bond.
Use positive reinforcement when training them. They can be stubborn, but will respond well to firm but gentle training.Â
These pooches require a confident and authoritative owner to be the alpha of the “pack”, or family. Remain calm and set firm boundaries with them, and they will be well behaved.
Bassky’s are great with children. They have endless patience, and are gentle with little ones. They also get along well with other dogs. In fact, interaction with other dogs is important to meet their social needs.
Both parent breeds have a high prey drive.
If you plan to have them around smaller animals, like cats, you’ll need to socialize them early.
If they aren’t introduced to animals at a young age, they will view them as prey, rather than playmates.
Huskies are dramatic, and love getting their owners’ attention. Basset hounds are more laid back, but still need lots of attention and affection.
A basset husky may have a flair for drama and attention seeking, especially if it takes after it’s husky parent.
Health
Both huskies and basset hounds are relatively heathy breeds, but they are prone to some health problems.
The most common health issues for basset huskies are:
- Eye problems
- Joint problems
- Hypothyroidism
- Thrombopathia
- Bloat
Eye Problems
Huskies and basset hounds are prone to some eye problems.
Huskies can develop cataracts, which interfere with their vision. They can also have progressive retinal atrophy, which causes blindness over time.
Both parent breeds have a risk of glaucoma, which causes increased pressure in the eye, which can lead to blindness.
Joint Problems
Both parent breeds can develop joint problems as well. Basset hounds ae prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, due to their short stature. Huskies can also develop dysplasia.
Hip or elbow dysplasia occurs when the joint doesn’t form correctly. This causes pain, particularly when they are walking or running.
Bassky’s are also at risk of developing arthritis, which typically occurs in senior pooches. Arthritis causes joint pain and inflammation. The condition can cause stiffness and pain with movement.
Hypothyroidism
Basset hound huskies are at an increased risk for hypothyroidism as well. This occurs when the thyroid is underactive. The thyroid is responsible for metabolism.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, hypothyroidism can cause lethargy, unexplained weight gain, and a dull coat.
Bloat
Both parent breeds are at a higher than average risk of bloat, so your basset husky mix is also at an increased risk.
Bloat is a life threatening condition. It occurs when gas gets trapped in your dog’s stomach.
As food digests, gas continues to increase, which also increases the pressure in the stomach.
If it’s not treated quickly, this can cause the stomach to twist. Without prompt treatment, stomach torsion is fatal. If bloat is treated quickly, your pooch has a good chance of surviving.
The symptoms of bloat include bloating or swelling of the stomach, gagging or retching without vomiting, and severe stomach pain.
You can reduce the risk of bloat by feeding your bassky at least twice a day. Avoid exercising them within 30 minutes of eating. If they eat too quickly, you should use a slow feeder bowl.
Exercise Needs
Basset hounds are laid-back and relaxed pooches, requiring only 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day. Huskies, on the other hand, have an intense amount of energy.
They need at least 2 hours of vigorous exercise each day.
How much exercise a basset husky mix will need varies, based on which parent they get their energy from. You can expect them to need from 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day.
In addition to physical exercise, they need plenty of mental stimulation.
Both parent breeds are working dogs, that require lots of mental activity.
You can provide the mental exercise they need by playing games, teaching them new commands, and providing them with puzzle toys.
In Summary
The husky basset hound mix makes a great pet for families and individuals who are active. Although their exercise needs aren’t quite as high as huskies, they do require plenty of activity each day.
They require a strong leader to keep them in line. They are friendly, and will steal the hearts of everyone they encounter.
I love my basset husky mix. Her name is Coraline Ann. She’s absolutely gorgeous