A wonderfully gentle and happy breed, the Basset is an intelligent and hardworking scent hound. Trailing rabbits and such and indeed flushing and retrieving if called upon to do so, his standard requires a no-nonsense all-weather coat and must be hard, smooth and short. Their coat generally does not require excessive maintenance or grooming. However, the Basset owner’s tasks is to prepare them at their best for the show ring.
This breed can be prone to sensitive skin. Use Plush Puppy Sensitive Skin Shampoo diluted 3:1 (i.e. 3 parts water to one part shampoo) until the condition begins to clear and then dilute further down to as much as 10:1. Repeat at the stronger concentration whenever the condition reappears. It is often a number of reasons, and one cannot dismiss the misuse of disinfectant in the kennel – they can be harsh and this is a low set dog who tends to get a lot of the irritation around his feet making me suspect this as a cause. Diet is also one to consider too. This is a dog who has a few wrinkles here and there and humidity and environmental issues can be a bother to this dog. Keep on top of it before it becomes an issue.
You can alternate the Sensitive Skin Shampoo with the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo which is a great shampoo for shine. Good on all the colours of the Basset – use at 5:1 for shows and dilute down as much as 10:1 for maintenance. Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo diluted 5:1. It won’t lighten but will tone, adding back the lost cool tones to the coat and enhance the whites with a pearly sheen. All coat colours are made of the full spectrum of the colours of the rainbow and first tones to fade are always the blues and purples leaving a reddish, orange overtone to the coat. This is a quick and effective way to give depth back to your blacks and reds without damaging the coat nor violating rules for artificial colouring of a coat.
For stained areas or wanting extra whites use – Plush Puppy Wonder Blok this product is one of our proudest achievements in helping to maintain a white stain free coat. It’s not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but with the use of modern technology and high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerine. This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm/red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp/wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing time (5-10 minutes) and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
There are times when a clarifying shampoo is needed. Use Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo for this. Us at 1-part shampoo to 3 parts water. Amazing at getting that dirty coat back to a clean and fresh state.
For faces use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It – what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products with the latest technology and the highest amounts of naturally sourced ingredients has developed a product that is a must! This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It’s no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro-Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean soothes, adds moisture, aids healing, and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning. An extremely interesting fact the medicinal benefits of the Blue Cypress Extracts are brilliant to use on the folds and pouches on feet/hocks.
Don’t use conditioner on the Basset as this will soften the coat. I prefer to oil this coat with the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil diluted 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon/4 litres water to keep the coat texture but maintain the moisture and condition. This is so nice on the coat and skin. Work it well through – slosh it on! Don’t rinse off – leave it in the coat and allow it to do its work. It is primarily Evening Primrose Oil and Calendula Oil and other organic niceties so all good stuff for optimal coat and skin condition. Use the oil also undiluted onto the elbows and hocks to prevent dry elbows and calluses.
Now as the Basset tends to be willful and stubborn in most cases I recommend keeping a collar on him so as to be able to grab him when you need to – however, collars tend to cut the coats unless you use one of the great Plush Puppy Coat Saver Collars that we have been using for years. This is a variation of the old sled racing collars the mushers use and work brilliantly being the only one we will keep on our top show dogs permanently. When traveling I need to be able to hook that leash on immediately when transferring dogs from the trailer and crates. Keep a collar on them and hence the adaptation of this design to suit our needs and now made available to everyone. They come in several sizes from XS-XL and have several other features besides the coat saving quality.
The Basset’s all-weather coat doesn’t need styling products when blow-drying except for when he is out of coat, but I do insist you blow-dry. This has the advantage of removing all dead hair that even the most rigorous brushing and grooming mitts just don’t seem to find and helps to roll the coat avoiding that dreaded moth-eaten appearance short coats tend to get when shedding. A good strong force of cool air from a dryer such as an Oldfield or Liberty turbo type dryer does a good job. When shedding the coat should be sprayed with Plush Puppy OMG – a revolutionary grooming spray that lives up to its name. People ask, “Why would you spray a short-coated breed with such a product?” A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. Using at an approximate mixture of 1-part OMG to 20 parts water using this break down form the OMG concentrate or using the OMG ready to use. The stronger the mix the stronger the effects. Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. An amazing product for regular brushing also even on a short coat as its active ingredients polish and protects the coat. The perfect product to allow all the benefits of putting a moisturising product into the coat. OMG never builds up, never goes stringy. A product that took years to develop using the latest technology for maximum effects. A true necessity for the tool kit.
A revolutionary innovative Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray that combines the latest active ingredients together to dramatically reduce drying time, adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. It contains a recently discovered ingredient from the Australian Native Flame Tree that makes dry or old coat feel and look perfect. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. FAST is amazing on short coats for a brilliant shine.
For show day don’t forget to use the Plush Puppy Coverup Cream on those elbows and white muzzles or areas that need some white cover. Apply with a barely damp piece of kitchen sponge and dab sparingly, layer upon layer allowing a few seconds between each application rather than one heavy blob. Apply a light dusting of loose chalk or block chalk to the area and leave to dry – then blow-dry to remove excess or brush. You can apply with a toothbrush or a nail brush if you really want to work it well into slightly longer hair, but the Basset has a short coat and the sponge works well on this.
Now a light dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust to the edge of the brush (Plush Puppy Ultimate Pure Black Boar Bristle Brush) and work through against the growth of the coat along the topline, chest, and rear. This gives a hint of shimmer and shine without artifice if done judiciously. A quick spritz of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb finishing spray for that low-level gleam of health and vigour and not to be outdone, Plush Puppy Odour Muncher to get him smelling divine and remove any low-level odours acquired since bath time. Plush Puppy Wonder Wash is also a Godsend when showing this breed for last-minute hiccups in the hit and miss department when doing his toilet or just travel dramas. Spray foam up with the hands and towel off for instant clean.
This tenacious hound is ready for the ring – he can power around that ring despite those shorter legs and moves with a great deal of coordination and purpose. He looks fabulous and his engaging personality and quick intelligence makes him a delightful and exciting pick for any judge. I just wish there were more of them around the rings as their affectionate and appealing dispositions make them a wonderful and worthy competitor.