Greek Harehound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Hellenic Hound, the Greek Harehound is an ancient breed, and it is a dog which has come down through the ages with very little change to the way he looks.

The ancestors of the Greek Harehound go back thousands of years and are believed to be the ancient ‘Laconikoi’ dogs of the Peloponnese.

In was in 1996 that the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the Hellenic Hound. The Greek Harehound was also recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006.

The Basset is a French dog bred in Great Britain in the late 1800s. The history of the Basset goes way back to ancient times as there have been discoveries of short legged dogs found in the catacombs of Egypt. These dogs also became popular during Emperor Napoleon III’s reign. Controlled breeding of the Basset began in France in 1870.

Hunting was popular with noblemen during the Middle Ages, and Francois Hubert bred hounds for this purpose. After his death, in his honor, the monks named the hounds bred at the monastery the St. Hubert's Hound. It is accepted that the St. Hubert's Hound is an early ancestor of many hound breeds that we see today.

French Bassets were imported into England in the 1870s. Everett Millais, thought to be the father of the modern Basset Hound, bred such dog to a Bloodhound to create a heavier Basset. The puppies were later refined with English- and French Bassets, and the first breed standard for the Basset Hound was made in the UK at the end of 19th century. To this day, many cartoon dogs are based on this extraordinary looking dog, and they also appear in adverts, a popular one being the logo for Hush Puppies, a shoe brand.

These dogs have a short, dense coat which is black and tan in color. He is a medium sized, well proportioned, deep chested dog standing at roughly 47 – 55cm in height and weighing between 17–20kg.

His legs are straight, well boned and strong. The skull of the dog is fairly flat, the eyes are brown while the ears are set high and are floppy. The tail is long, tapering down to a tip.

Temperament:

Lively and outgoing, the Greek Harehound is a skilled, brave hunter. These are active dogs and will require quite a bit of exercise if you get one as a pet. He becomes devoted to his owner, making a good, all-round family pet.

He has always been used in the past to hunt in packs so he gets on well with any other dogs in the family.

As a scenthound, the Greek Harehound is an independent, stubborn, strong-willed dog that will respond well to a firm, strong owner. His stubborn, strong-willed nature means it will be important to have him trained and socialized so that he becomes a well-rounded, obedient pet.

If you're looking for a true around-the-house family pet, this isn't the ideal choice as he is essentially a hunting dog, wanting to be running off on a hunt as opposed to lying quietly indoors. He is therefore better suited to life in the country than being cooped up in a small city property.

Short but Large Stature

The Basset Hound is a scent hound, a short-legged breed of dog belonging to the hound family. He is renowned for his long body, his loose skin and the very characteristic long, droopy, low-set ears. This is also a dog that drools a lot. The Basset Hound stands only 33 – 38 cm in height. You wouldn’t call him a small dog as he is robust and solid, weighing anything from 18 to 30kg. The Basset Hound is also well known for his eyes, where the red of the lower eyelid shows. Their calm, serious expression is also a familiar and much loved feature of these dogs.

A Friendly Tri-colored, short-haired dog

The Basset is a short-haired dog, but in spite of that he sheds constantly. Coat colors can vary but the most common colors are white, tan and black – a tri-color coat.

This scent hound is a friendly canine, outgoing and playful. He gets on well with children and other pets in the family, and training and socialization can make him even more amicable with them. He adapts easily to life in the city or in the country.

Fast, courageous, smart, playful, independent and strong willed, the Greek Harehound is a slow maturing breed and he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and not so stubborn.

Once trained he becomes a truly wonderful companion, being affectionate, loyal and outgoing. He makes a good friend of children too.

He is friendly and non-aggressive, though he still makes a good watchdog. He is a low maintenance pet too, and even though he is essentially a hunting dog, he can make anyone a splendid pet.

The Basset's long body with his short legs give him a unique look. Add to that this breed is among the most even-natured and easy-going. It is why he makes such a cool pet. While he adapts well to both city living and country living, you can’t afford to let him become a couch potato. Sitting around and eating consistently will just make your best friend sick and increase your medical bills for him.

The amicable Basset Hound is child friendly and because he isn’t particularly territorial, he will be alright with your other pets too. If you're looking for a wonderful friend who will be loyal to you, the Basset is waiting to fill the role of companion for you.

The Greek Harehound is a healthy dog breed with no particular genetic defects. But like other dogs with floppy ears, they are more prone to infections and the insides of the ears will need to be cleaned frequently. Always do this with the utmost care to avoid damaging your pet's ears.

He is a deep chested dog and this puts him at risk of gastric dilation and volvulus which is commonly referred to as bloat. Its a life threatening health issue where the stomach can twist. The stomach is sealed off as a result and gas builds up. The dog can go into organ failure.

The Basset Hound is a pretty robust breed and with proper nutrition and exercise, can live up to 12 years of age but this particular breed is prone to some major health conditions.

Eye Diseases

Cherry Eye is seen quite often in Basset Hounds. It is very painful because the tear gland tears away and it will require surgery before infection sets in. Also, glaucoma is an inherited eye disease that needs to be checked out as it can lead to blindness. The eye is red and the dog is constantly rubbing at it.

Joint Disease

This is when the cartilage in the Basset’s joints don’t attach to the bone properly. It is known as osteochondritis dissecans or OCD. Be careful to stick to the recommended growth rate suggestions for feeding with a Basset puppy.

Heart Disease

Basset Hounds are more prone to a heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. It is where the heart becomes large and weak so that it battles to pump blood to the body.

Other illnesses to look out for are Canine Hip Dysplasia and obesity.

Exercise:

The Greek Harehound is happiest when he senses he is free to follow scents and run. This is why this particular dog breed isn’t suited for life in the city where he has a small garden. He requires large pieces of ground to run free. If you own one of these dogs, he should be taken on daily walks and be involved in lots of sporting activities and games. If you’re a jogger or cyclist, this dog will be thrilled to join you.

Grooming:

Dog owners love that this dog is a low maintenance breed. The short coat simply requires a brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs and to also keep his coat shiny and healthy.

Vaccinations:

Every new puppy will require a series of vaccinations in his first year to make sure he doesn't develop some of the serious dog diseases there are such as distemper, parvo-virus and rabies among others.

Diet:

Dogs are carnivores and without human interference have always eaten fresh meat in the wilds. For convenience many people feed their dogs commercially manufactured food.

There are some excellent brands. Choose the best one for your pet and mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked rice, chicken and vegetables.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Keepingyour Basset Hound healthy and happy requires

Watching his diet. He will need quality, nutritious food and plenty of exercise.

It is also a good idea to get into the habit of brushing his teeth a couple of times a week with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use toothpaste made for humans.

Clean his long ears and keep them dry. The vet will show you precisely how.

Be sure to see that he get his puppy vaccinations, and that you continue to give him vet check-ups when he shows signs of sickness.

He has low grooming needs but brush his coat twice a week to get rid of dull, loose hairs.

He is a smart, active dog with lots of energy so set aside time to have ball games with him and to get him out of the yard with walks.