Are you a basset hound lover who’s curious about whether this breed can play fetch? You’re not alone! Many pet owners wonder if their furry friend can enjoy this classic game.
The answer is yes, basset hounds can play fetch and often enjoy it, given their innate hunting instincts and love of chasing. However, some basset hounds may refuse to play due to a lack of interest, tiredness, unsuitable fetching objects, or health issues. It’s always a good idea to consult with a veterinarian before engaging in any strenuous activities with your furry friend.
While playing fetch can be a great way for basset hounds to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise, there are also some serious drawbacks to consider. As a responsible owner, it’s important to be aware of these potential risks and take steps to ensure your dog’s safety and well-being.
In our upcoming discussion, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of playing fetch with basset hounds and provide tips for keeping your furry friend healthy and happy. Don’t miss out on this informative conversation!
Can basset hounds play fetch? The in-depth answer
I love these short-legged, friendly, sociable dogs. So, as soon as I decided to write about basset hounds on my website, I thought it’s better to meet several owners just to get some accurate information about them.
So, Then I came up with a series of articles about basset hounds that you can find HERE. So, I found that many people are curious to know if these ground dogs like to play fetch. So, that’s what brought me to write this article.
Almost every dog breed loves to play fetch no matter what the breed or the age. That means all dogs have some similar traits that aren’t dependent on the breed.
Almost every dog breed loves to play fetch no matter what the breed or the age. That means all dogs have some similar traits that aren’t dependent on the breed.
As my experience goes, these dogs have a high prey drive since they are originally bred as a hunting breed. Because of that, most basset hounds are much harder to calm down.
But, this prey drive could lead to higher interest and engagement with outdoor activities such as play fetch. So, the obvious answer is basset hounds do like to play fetch.
In fact, It really helps to maintain their mental and physical health. But, the fact is we can expect some downsides too by making your dog engage with these kinds of activities. Which I’m gonna cover before the end of the article.
But, I do need to mention that some basset hounds are not much interested in playing fetch. It can be because of some underlying problems or their personalities. So, it really depends on the individual canine.
Some basset hounds seem crazy when they play.
But, when I went to meet those basset hound owners, most of them claimed that their buddies really enjoy playing outdoor. So, We played with them. I don’t know if you believe this. But one funny, crazy basset hound did a funny thing.
My friend threw the ball, and the doggo ran after it to fetch it. But, he fetched back us a dirty wild stone., haha. And sometimes he forgets to use his nose, though. But he enjoyed it.
My friend owns another basset hound, and she seems like a bit of a lazy girl. Then I threw a ball to make her a little more active. She stared at me for several seconds, and it was like, “Why did you throw it away.”
So, overall I can say that most basset hounds love to play fetch. So, It’s time to figure out why some of them don’t like it.
Why some basset hounds don’t like to play fetch?
As you already know, some basset hounds really don’t exhibit much interest in engaging with outdoor games. In fact, it can be due to both normal and abnormal reasons. So, let’s figure out what they are.
- Your dog may lose interest
- He may not like the object you are trying to get him to fetch.
- Tired.
- Potential health issues
- Your basset hound may not understand how fetch works.
1. Your dog may lose interest.
I know playing fetch with your canine friend in the backyard has loads of fun, and it can thrive the bond between both of you. But, Playing the same game over and over again can cause your dog to lose interest in it.
The same is true of how human interest works. Right? So, What can you do to prevent this from happening? The obvious answer is to try to diversify the games you are trying with your dog.
So, here are some games that your doggo would show some interest in.
- Play tug of war
- Try frisbee
- Hide and seek
- Find treats
- Chasing bubbles
- Make your own agility game.
2. He may not like the object you are trying to get him to fetch.
Like humans, dogs also have their own preferences for certain things. It can be toward a specific high-value puppy treat or toy. So, your basset hound maybe got bored with the item you are trying to get him to fetch.
So, try to use different kinds of toys or objects to encourage him to play with you. The shape, weight, texture of the object could be the dependents of their preference.
3. Tired.
These dogs are low-energy dogs, and strenuous exercises or activities could easily make them exhausted. So, playing fetch for a long time could not be the best exercise option for your dog. Let’s discuss the “time” before the end of this article.
In fact, make sure to keep a water bowl outside for your basset hound. Usually, tired dogs exhibit the following signs.
- Forgetting commands.
- Yawning
- Always sniffing the ground.
- When you try to cuddle your basset hound, it doesn’t give attention to you.
- Excessive thirst
- Panting
- Excessive licking
- Hiding
If your doggo exhibits these signs, more likely her exhausted. So, as soon as you identified that, just stop playing and consult a veterinarian right away to create a suitable exercise schedule for your dog.
4. Potential health issues
Sometimes your basset hound will refuse to play fetch due to several health issues. So, a nice rule of thumb is don’t try to get your basset hound to engage with strenuous activities if he is quite old.
In fact, activities like running, frequent jumping, are not suitable for your basset hound. Because they tend to be prone to back and joint problems. So, it’s better to consult a veterinarian and adjust or change its exercise schedule in a way that will suit your dog.
5. Your basset hound may not understand how fetch works.
If your basset hound is not well trained to play fetch with you, he might get confused. Perhaps, he might misunderstand loads of things, and he may stare at you just to understand, “What am I supposed to do?”
In fact, lack of obedience training, lack of mental stimulation, anxiety, and stress could be the other reasons why this matter happens.
So, it seems like you should set aside some extra time just for your dog.
How long should basset hounds play fetch?
As we have understood so far, basset hounds are not a dog breed with loads of reserved energy. So, when you play fetch with your basset hound, it’s very crucial to be aware of the amount of time these dogs can tolerate.
So, it is a perfect rule of thumb to play fetch for around 30-45 minutes. But, this time really depends on several factors, though.
Those factors are,
- Breed
- Age
- Health status
It really hard for your dog to sense if he is over-exerting himself. So, as a responsible owner, you should be aware of this and take necessary action to prevent this from happening.
More importantly, every dog is at least somewhat different. In fact, you are the one who knows about your doggo more than anyone else. So, it’s recommended to consult a veterinarian before making tough decisions.
Obviously, we don’t wanna discuss “breed” as a factor. Because our protagonist is the basset hound. But, when it comes to their age, you need to keep in mind several important things. So, let’s understand what they are.
But, first, we wanna divide them into 3 parts,
- Puppies
- Adult dogs
- Senior dogs
Puppies
As we all know, puppies are very active, sociable, affectionate, and enjoy running and play around the house. In fact, they might do loads of things just to take your attention.
Yes, you were right. Even basset hound puppies are much playful. But this active behavior can only be compared to their adult dogs. Because we cannot compare them with other dog breeds.
So, basset hound puppies require a little bit more exercise than adult dogs. But, it’s not recommended to play fetch with your basset hound continuously for long hours. So, be sure to give shorter bursts to your puppy.
So, You can play for 30 minutes at a time and 2-3 times a day. It’s much safer than playing straight two hours without any break. If you do that, they will easily get exhausted, and it would be way harder on their developing body.
Adult dogs
Usually, basset hounds tend to be prone to various types of health issues just because of lack of exercise. But, when your dog is grown up, you must consider its level of physical activity needs.
Obviously, basset hounds are low-energy dogs. They cannot involve outdoor activities such as playing fetch for a long time.
Since this factor highly depends on its health status, it’s crucial to consult a veterinarian to get the information you want.
Senior dogs
If your basset hound is quite old, he may not be able to play or run as far as he used to. In fact, old basset hounds tend to be prone to back problems and joint problems.
Obviously, even senior dogs do need adequate exercise in order to sustain their well health being. But, be sure to consult your veterinarian to make sure if your basset hound can play fetch.
What are the possible pros and cons of playing fetch?
If you ever played fetch with your basset hound, you might know that it is a kind of funny and enjoyable game. But, we do have several pros and cons that every basset hound owner must be aware of.
So, let’s understand what they are.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It provides good mental stimulation | Playing fetch for a long time straightly would exhaust your dog. |
| Playing fetch is a fun way to relieve stress | It could cause to occur back and joint problems. |
| Playing fetch is a nice physical exercise for you and your basset hound | Damages to teeth |
| Playing on a regular basis will help to wipe up behavioral problems in your dog. | It could cause to occur physical injuries. |
| Playing With Your basset hound would Strengthen Your Bond | The dog could become obsessed with the ball and playing fetch |
| It’s good training. Because the dogs react to your commands. | Some dogs tend to resource guarding due to over-playing fetch |
| If you play fetch in a common playground, it would help to Socialized your dog. | If you miss several days due to unpredictable circumstances, it would lead to occur anxiety and stress problems in your basset hound. |
| It’s a nice exercise for you too! | Potential infections. |
| It’s a nice way to Relieve its anxiety. | |
| Fetch allows your basset hound to use its instincts | |
| It’s a nice and easy game to play at any time during the day. | |
| Usually, adult dogs and puppies love it. |
So, the above table contains almost all the pros and cons of playing fetch with your basset hound. I’m not gonna explain it one by one. I hope all of them are understandable.
That brings us to things to be aware of in the section. So, let’s jump right into it.
Things to be aware of
If you wanna play fetch with your basset hound, you need to be aware of a handful of things. So, make sure you understand the following and follow them.
- Never ever try to play fetch with sticks because it could easily damage your dog’s teeth.
- Important: Be careful with extreme temperatures.
- Always understand the limits of your dog. Limit it around five throws per session. Then involve with a low pace activity and give a small rest.
- Be sure to use a suitable fetch object.
- Ball
- Soft rubber toys are recommended.
- Don’t use any kind of ball throwers. Be sure to do it with your hand.
- Prevent from throwing the fetch object high because your basset hound might leaps up to catch it. It could cause to occur back problems or potential injuries.
- Don’t throw the fetch object into the water because basset hounds are not great swimmers.
Conclusion
Many people love these cute ground dogs. But, as a basset hound lover, you may be curious to know if they like to fetch. So, this is the ultimate guide that you need to go through in order to be aware of this matter and other associated factors. I hope you found this helpful. Consider sharing your own thoughts and experiences. Have a nice day.
