The Westphalian Basset is a dog breed originating from Germany, developed for hunting. Valued for its calm and affectionate temperament, it is also appreciated as a companion dog, although it is still widely used for hunting. This dog, with its exceptional sense of smell, gets along well with children and other pets, but it requires some attention to its exercise and mental stimulation.
✨ Breed Characteristics
- Origin: Germany
- Hypoallergenic? No
📊 Quick Facts
- Weight:
- Male: 20-25 kg
- Female: 18-23 kg
- Height:
- Male: 38-42 cm
- Female: 36-40 cm
- Life expectancy: 12-14 years
- Exercise needs: 1.5 to 2 hours per day
- Apartment living: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Adapts but requires regular activity)
🧠 Personality (out of 5 stars)
- Intelligent: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Affectionate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Protective: ⭐☆☆☆☆
- Playful: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Vocalizations: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Obedient: ⭐☆☆☆☆
- Hunter: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Calm: ⭐☆☆☆☆
- Athletic: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Independent: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🐾 Compatibility with
- Children: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Good with children, particularly suited for an active family)
- Other animals: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Can be more independent with other animals, but generally sociable)
- Strangers: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Can be reserved, but not aggressive)
- Apartment living: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Needs exercise and mental stimulation)
🧼 Maintenance & care
- Ease of maintenance: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Moderate maintenance is required)
- Maintenance cost: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Average budget, especially for exercise and regular care)
- Frequency of care:
- Brushing: The short, dense coat of the Westphalian Basset requires regular brushing to remove dead hair and keep its coat healthy.
- Ear care: The droopy ears need to be cleaned frequently to prevent infections.
💰 Budget
- Purchase price: 800-1200 €
- Average annual cost (veterinary, accessories, food): 1000-1200 €
🏡 Important note
The Westphalian Basset is an intelligent and affectionate dog that can be an excellent companion for active families. Due to its background as a hunting dog, it needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy. It can be a bit stubborn and independent, but with consistent training and appropriate activities, it can become an ideal companion. It is relatively easy to maintain, although its droopy ears require special attention to avoid infections.
