Jelly Belly Litter : Cappucinno

Cappuccino at Six Weeks

Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need. 

Cappuccino was the first puppy to show up six weeks ago.  He was also among the first chosen and will go to live in Vancouver with the Button family where he will be called Dax.  He is a stand out for looks and so many other things Basset.  At birth he was a healthy eleven and a half ounces. He has grown a bit and is now Eight and a half pounds. Not a real bruiser, but certainly a real cruiser. 

Cappuccino on Day One

Structurally Cappuccino is very well constructed. He carries most of the American styling of his Sire. His foreleg bone size is adequate to keeping his extra large feet under him. He does have one slightly flanged rib, which is something of a fault, but he will soon grow out of that. He has a nice wide chest which makes him look quite strong. and his stance is aggressively shaped. Where he is special is in his head shape. He has a very well domed head from which hang perfectly long ears set properly at the back of his skull. Dax has a wonderfully boxy snout with ample facial fews hanging over a somewhat narrow lower jaw. His face is distinctive and nearly perfect. 

Dax is covered in white fur with large black spots. We expect he will add some brown patches as time goes on, but for now he is a lovely little cow colored Basset.  His facial coloring makes him look like he has a big nose, but his nose would have looked that way no matter the coloring.  He is a lovely little boy Basset who will grow into a handsome American Basset.

Of the six points available in our evaluation system Dax (Cappuccino) received four of the five AKC derived points, losing one point for the slightly flanged rib, and one full point for beauty. We are not recommending breeding this little boy. His Sire had the same rib issue and this should not be carried forward. Too bad too. He is otherwise a great little Basset boy. 

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six week Evaluations: Bubblegum

Bubba at Six Weeks

 Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need. Bubblegum (Bubba) is one of the only remaining puppies still without a fur-ever home.

Bubblegum (Bubba) was first runner up in the longest ears contest. His ears seemed longer, but in truth they weren't the better color and the way they hang gives an extra long illusion for length. Still, in a long eared litter, we can't fault second place.  He came to us somewhat lighter in weight at nearly twelve ounces, to day he weighs a solid little six  pounds.

Structurally, Bubblegum is a very strongly built puppy. He has adequate foreleg bone size and feet which favor his Dame's Normande size and styling.  He favors his mother's Normande styling in many other areas as well, being slightly narrower in the chest and hips, but in a way that flows smoothly between the two. His stance is not as strong as some, but in the Normande styling this equates to quickness and an effortless gait without the bone health issues found in heavier Bassets. Bubba's head shape is very much Normande, with tighter fur and narrower appearance. His jaw set and facial fews are slightly narrower than the American styling of his Sire, but might develop as he grows. 

As to coloring, this is a lovely little boy.  He has developed a bit more reddish-brown coloring since whelping, but is still mostly black when viewed from above. We expect there will eventually be quite a bit more brown in his coat, as has his Dame.  Bubba's head has taken a decidedly red-brown turn and his facial fur is very symmetrical. His ears will most definitely become more brown in the next few months. He is a very good looking little boy Basset. 

Bubba is a very active little boy. He is aggressive and brave in all situations. If there is a hole he will explore it. If there's an opening he will go through it.  He is super friendly and playful, well suited for a family of active children. He like being cuddled, but likely won't wan to hang out on the couch much.  His nose is always to the ground and he may develop into a field dog if given some training. 

Of the six points in our quasi-objective evaluation Bubblegum receives all five of the AKC derived points and the one point for beauty. He is not the prettiest on in the bunch, but personality goes a long way and six points is as good as it gets.  Whoever chooses to take him home will have found a wonderful playmate. 

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Cherry

Cherry at Six Weeks

Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

Cherry will eventually end up living in Florida with Akela Haviland. Of the Jelly Belly Litter Cherry is voted as having the best ears. This is important to us as we breed Bassets for smaller sizes and longer ears.  Cherry is a great little Basset girl and will likely develop into a wonderful dog.  At birth she was one of the largest in her litter, weighing just over twelve ounces. Now she is a healthy little girl weighing  eight pounds, two ounces. 

Structurally there is little to complain about in Cherry. Her head shape is very good with a highly domed skull, well placed ears, boxy snout, and long ears and facial fews. She carries herself well, though a bit on the timid side, with a strong stance and smooth flowing form. Cherry's wide set shoulders flow smoothly back to narrow hips, the only area favoring her Dame's Normande styling. She is quick on her feet, but generally just what one expects in a Basset Hound. 

Cherry is a lovely little girl.  Covered in mostly black fur as of this article, we expect there will be quite a bit of reddish brown fur coming out in her future. Her facial markings are not symmetrical, but this doesn't seem to make her stand out in the crowd. She favors her Dame's coloring scheme and Abba Zabba is a pretty girl. We don't believe Cherry will win at any sanctioned dog show, but she will definitely be a hit when walking the neighborhood.

Of the six points available in our evaluation system Cherry receives full marks for the AKC derived points and the point for beauty. She is not the prettiest of the litter, but this is purely subjective. Objectively there is nothing at all wrong about this little girl and she will grow to be a wonderful addition to her new Florida family.

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Coconut

Coconut at Six Weeks

Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

When Coconut arrived at whelping we both agreed that this would probably be the golden child of the litter. And it has been a toss-up as to which puppy was the prettiest since then. But there can be no doubt that She is a very pretty Basset baby girl. She came to us among the smallest of the litter, weighing only around ten ounces. Since then she has had her fill and now weighs a healthy seven and one-half pounds. Coconut will be the newest member of the Townsend family who live in Gresham. 

Structurally there is nothing even slightly out of form with Coconut. Her highly domed head, well placed and very long ears, jaw set, and facial fews are all great and according to form. She carries herself well with a strong hip stance and superb bone size.  Coconut is perhaps the best of the litter for body shape and flawless in how her whole body works together. She is physically everything we expect in an American styled Basset baby. But we have to keep in mind that her Sire and Dame are not entirely the same in respect to form. Coconut will likely develop into the wonderful American Basset we see now, but some of  her Mother's Normande styling may come to the fore as she grows. 

Coconuts on Day one

As to beauty there is nothing at all about Coconut which is not exactly as good as is gets. Her fur is wonderfully white with large black spots. Eventually I believe there will be some emergence of brown in her coloring, but for now all seems perfection. Her head is almost entirely covered in black fur with very symmetrical red-brown accents. She is lovely to look at and wonderful to hold.

Coconut is not a team player. She rarely engages in the puppy panic playtimes where her to play with the adult Bassets here on our Farm. For the most part she likes to watch the others as the rip and tear at each other. She is never a whiner.  And Coconut is cautious without being a bit timid. She likes to explore dark spaces once she has seen others come and go from them.  

Of the six point in out evaluation system Coconut gets all five of the AKC derived points and the full point for beauty. Though we doubt she would win at show due to her lineage, she might be in the running if she develops as good as she appears today. She is the best of the litter when taken all at once and the Townsend family picked a winner. We believe she might be bred to a good male once she has proven herself to be what she appears to be today and rights are secured. There is simply nothing wrong about this puppy and we hope it stays that way as she grows into adulthood.  

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Kiwi

Kiwi at Six Weeks

Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

Kiwi is now, and has always been, a beautiful little Basset.  His new family has a large property near Gaston, Oregon where he will likely find enough running room and trouble to get into. He will be called "Mater" by his new family and we think this is a appropriate name for such a clownish puppy as Kiwi (Mater) will be. Kiwi came to us by far the largest of puppies at fourteen ounces, and he has continued to be be large. He now weighs eight pounds, still number one. 

Structurally Mater is quite good, with a slight provision for jaw set. His jaw set contains a flaw known as Malocclusion, or Parrot Jaw. This is a condition where there is a light underbite and misalignment in how the upper and lower mouth parts mesh together. His Dame's sister, another of our females (no out of breeding) threw a few pups with the same condition, so we are not offering breeding rights for this puppy. In our previous experience the condition cleared itself when adult teeth emerged and there is little to worry about with Mater growing out of this condition.  Otherwise Mater is a great example of the Basset puppy at six weeks. A strong foreleg set with heavy bones and big feet. His head is nicely domed and his ears hang just as they should, toward the back of the skull. He will carry her father's excellent facial fews over a boxy lower jaw.  Mater will be everything his Sire is now, a very good male Basset. Mater's stance is very strong and we believe this will leading into his having few bone health issues later in life. His new home will allow him the sort of space needed to keep him in shape too.

Kiwi on Day One

Aesthetically, Mater is a beautiful little boy. He is covered almost entirely with black fur when viewed form above. He has red-brown markings which are very symmetrical, matching eyebrows which add focus to how good his face looks. The only flaw in his symmetrical coloring is found just over his nose, but I defy anyone calling him less than lovely in appearance. I suspect that his ear coloring, and perhaps a bit more, will turn red over time. He's a pretty little boy Basset.

Mater's personality is brave and his disposition is toward restlessness. He is an explorer and a scrapper. He is often good naturedly growly at play and dominant with his littermates. He truly enjoys his food and is quite vocal about scheduled mealtimes and hints about treats. His personality is strong, as strong as his appearance hints at. 

Of the six point available Mater receives four points of the five AKC derived points and one point for beauty. If it were not for the jaw Malocclusion Mater would be the first six point puppy in this litter.  He is a lovely little boy Basset and just the right stuff for his new family. We offer one piece of advice: get an electronic range limiting collar, or at least a large fenced yard, so that he doesn't stray too far from home. He will likely become a roamer. 

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Licorice

 

Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

Licorice is now named Rocketdogs Alice the White Rabbit Chaser by her new family. Her new family will be another small Basset breeder located in Salem, Oregon. We will be bringing home a female from their newest litter sometime in June as part of our longer termed breeding program.  (The new puppy is a lemon -white with red. We're so excited.)  Alice follows the form of her Sire. In many respects a true American styled Basset, but there are a few features which are more of the Normande Basset styling found in her Dame. The American Kennel Club does not differentiate between styles of Basset Hound, so there are quite a few Basset Hound styles. In Alice I think there is a happy medium of genetics found in both parents.  

Structurally Alice is a wonderful example of a Basset puppy.  Though smaller than others, our focus as breeders is to reduce the general size of the breed and in Alice we might have found a smaller female which maintains the European traits most find appealing in Bassets.   Alice (then Licorice) came to us weighing about twelve and a half ounces, one of the larger of the litter. Today she weighs a respectable, but small, six pounds, three ounces. Her head shape and ear setting are slightly less than optimal, but well formed and placed on a well domed head which again is slightly less than optimal for a breed which prizes a highly domed skull. Her snout is a mix of both her mother's narrow shape and her father's long facial fews and this gives her a distinctive look. Her jaw set is good, but also a mix of both parents, slightly narrow on top, slightly wider on the bottom, not in any way dysfunctional or improperly made, this will simply be another thing that makes this Basset distinctive as an adult.   Her body shape is sleek and slender, as are both parents, but also robustly made and heavy in appearance. Her narrow set shoulders (favoring her Dame) flow smoothly back to a boxy back-side (which favors her Sire). Alice's stance at six weeks, perhaps a good indicator of long termed bone health, is very strong, extending back quite well from her hips in a show quality fashion. Her foreleg bone size is quite heavy and her feet are quite large. She will be a stout, but slender adult, but this will not likely end up becoming a large Basset.

Alice has wonderful markings. She emerged covered mostly in black fur with a light facial blaze and just a few white spots. Since then her facial fur has brought forth very symmetrical red-brown tones in her jaw line and wonderfully red eyebrows which give her eyes a soft appearance. Alice is a beautiful puppy in every respect. But not at all baggy or saggy in her skin. One notable issue is a botched dewclaw removal which left behind enough foreleg thumb to regrow the thumb. This will not be an issue going forward. 

Her disposition is demur and quiet. She is very sweet and is quite happy to be held for long periods. Alice is a patient puppy. She will make a great lap Basset and likely will only be a credit to her new family. 

Of the six points found in our evaluation system Alice receives four and a half of the five AKC derived points, losing one half for her quirky (but definitely not European) good looks and singular dewclaw, and the full point for aesthetic beauty. There is something about this girl that we would like to see grown up a bit before making any final determinations. She is not what we call  a classic beautiful Basset puppy, but she is lovely none-the-less. As a puppy we cannot say much with certainty. As an adult she may become something quite special. 

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Mocha

Mocha at Six Weeks

Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

Mocha is a wonderful little American styled Basset puppy who follow his Sire in nearly every way. He is still available and looking for a family.  Though not anything close to show quality, this is the puppy I would choose to keep (if I were allowed any more dogs than I already have). He is simply a fun little boy and will make a great Basset pet once he is chosen. At birth Mocha was only around eleven ounces and he hasn't missed any meals since then. Today he weighs just over six pounds. 

Mocha on day one

Structurally, Mocha is a pretty good example of the American styled Basset puppy. He is heavy in the foreleg bones, strong in the chest, and well tapered from his wide shoulders to his chunky hips. His neck is thick and supports a highly domed head. His ear setting is nearly perfect, sitting just behind the skull and ear length is great. Mochas jaw setting is strong and he facial fews will likely be quite pendulous. Mocha's stance, the way he stands when at rest or play, is very strong (almost as a bulldog in appearance). He is low in the backside and very wide in the front. 

As good as Mocha is in structure, he is not in fur coloring. He will soon display quite a bit more brown in his fur as black fur is replaced. His facial fur is asymmetrical. but Mocha is not at all an ugly dog. He is simply not built for show.  And what he lacks in beauty he makes up for in personality.

This is a fun puppy. Playful, fearless, aggressive, and always happy.  He is fast on his feet and never a bit timid. If there's a hole he will explore it. If he had thumbs he would probably climb trees. When there's a scrap, he is in there somewhere and usually on top. He is a ball of funny fur which entertains me to no end.  He is as cuddly as they come, but is often too enthusiastic to stay on a lap for long. He is quite happy alone though I wouldn't leave him alone for very long. Mocha was the first to pick up a stick and carry it around, first to find the kibble dish, first to find the water dish. He's a wonderful little boy.

Of the six points in our quasi-objective system I give him five of the five available AKC derived points and a half a point for beauty and beautiful personality.  Five and one-half points is perhaps the best of this litter. We are not recommending breeding Mocha, but would not be averse to it if he develops into something better than he is today and a suitable female with a bit better genetics were available. There is simply nothing wrong with this puppy.  Keep him well exercised and close by and he will develop quickly into a best friend for children or adults.  

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Popcorn

Popcorn at Six Weeks

 Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

Popcorn is a nicely made Basset puppy which follows more in his Dame's form than his Sire's. This means he will likely develop into a Basset which shares styling with the Normande Basset line that the heavier Europeans. His Sire has strong European features in a sleek American body and these traits may emerge as Popcorn grows, but for now I must assume he will have a slightly tighter coat and more narrow features found in his mother's line. The Normande Basset is often a bit more clever than are the American or European cousins but this cannot be known at six weeks.  Popcorn came to us weighing just over twelve ounces and has since gained quite a bit. He now weighs a solid six pounds, three ounces. A bit smaller than some but he more than makes up for size with personality. 

Structurally. Popcorn is very good and quite close to Basset form.  He is sleek and narrow, but his sternum is nice and low, his body tapering well from shoulder to tail. Popcorn has a thick neck which supports a very well domed head, long ears, and slightly tapered snout.  He carries heavy feet on forelegs which are fairly heavy in bone, not indicating a larger dog in future, but giving the impression of perhaps a good field Hound. His stance, the way a Basset appears when simply standing, is very strong and this is a good indicator of future hip health.  His jaw set, though a bit narrow, is well made and his facial few are likely to become a bit lighter as he grows. 

Popcorn has no white tail tip and this is somewhat uncommon in Basset Hounds, but he holds his tail high and is quite a happy fellow. He is covered in mostly black fur with a small flare between his eyes and not much white or brown showing, but I expect he will come to have a bit more brown to his coloring as an adult.  His fur coloring is wonderfully symmetrical. He's a pretty little boy.

This puppy likes to stick with the crowd and close to home. When we take the pack out to play Popcorn prefers to stay nearer the front door of the house than most. He is never timid or shy, but he does keep to himself and out of trouble. Not a loner, but certainly not a leader.  A lover, not a fighter. He loves to cuddle and stay close to people. He will be a fine addition to the Nitin Kulshrestha family in Seattle. 

Of the six points available in our rating system Popcorn deserves four of the five AKC derived points and one half a point for beauty. In the Basset world the Normande style is not highly prized or rewarded at show, but they make fine pets and ought to get better treatment. Popcorn is a lovely pet quality baby Basset who will grow to be a wonderful addition to his new family. But just in case, lock the gate, hide the treats, and get him lots of exercise and human contact. Normande Bassets love their freedom and love their people, but can act out when dissatisfied.

  

The Jelly Belly Litter: Six Week Evaluations: Tangerine

Tangerine at Six Weeks

 Abigail (Abba) Zabba and Rocketdog Rockford (Rocky) Rhoades got together for the very first time and gave us nine wonderful Basset Hound Puppies. As we have done in all previous litters we evaluate the puppies at six weeks. There are a few good reasons for this, the first being that the pups develop some personality traits by six weeks of age, the second being that the pups display some key physical characteristics which they are likely to carry through life. Each puppy in this litter will be evaluated as an individual using a quasi-objective standard. It is a good idea to read about it by clicking here. It's a good idea to understand how we look the pups over as individuals. There are some things worthy of stating about this litter in a more general sense.

The Jelly Belly litter has been an easy one for us. All of the puppies came into the world in an effortless fashion. We had no still-born pups and none needed any sort of help at birth. Each and every puppy was naturally inclined towards feeding and none needed to be shown the way. They all were healthy at birth and only one had anything at all to report in their veterinarian checkup last week. All of the Jellies were up and walking with their eyes open and ears attentive -right on schedule. And since we have been able to take them outside, once the weather turned nice, we now know something about their outdoor personalities. The whole group are winners.

Tangerine on Day 1

At the time of this article we still have two male puppies available for new families. Just send us a note using the Email widget to the left of this and we'll get you all the information you need.

At six weeks Tangerine is a fine little girl. She came to us second in this litter weighing 12.9 ounces. Since then she has gained quite a bit of weight and now tips the scales at seven pounds, nine ounces. Structurally she is very good with a long body which tapers smoothly from shoulders to tail. Her strong neck sits over what is likely to become a deep sternum and her hips are set nice and low as she walks. Her stance is very strong and this is a good indicator of long termed hip bone health. But like all Bassets, lots of exercise is important to keeping the weight off and the joints healthy. Tangerine's head shape is very good with a nicely domed head. But the dome height is less than what one expects in a higher quality Basset Hound. Her jaw is well set and she may develop a more boxy snout shape as she grows but at present she appears somewhere between her Sire and Dame for appearance. If she goes toward her father she will have large pendulous dew flaps (fews) hanging well over her lower jawline,  Her ears set nicely at the back of her skull, but again not appearing on the neck as a European Basset might. Her ear length and drape are very good. She is a lovely little girl. 

Her coloring is very nice, but merely adequate with little distinctive pattern to it. Her facial fur is somewhat symmetrical with what is termed "God's Thumbprint" toward the back of her head. She is a pretty little Moo Cow covered in white with large black spots and some ermine speckling which will likely increase with time. I do not see her gaining much new brown fur as she ages, but at present it is hard to tell with any certainty. Her ear color is black and appears to have little brown to them. She may be able to keep those black ears as she grows and this would make her quite lovely as an adult. Not a show winner, but certainly a lovely little girl. 

Tangerine is a little girl who chooses to stay back from the fight, but can handle herself well when challenged. She follows humans well and seldom wanders off unless it is to stay closer to the house. She is not given to running but chooses to sit back a bit and assess the situation. She seems patient and only slightly playful in the tangle with others. She is sweet and cuddly always. She will make a great family pet and ought to do very well with her new family.  Clint Hake chose Tangerine for his new family member and we are glad to send her to them. 

Of the five AKC derived points in our six point system Tangerine gets four; losing one half point for a less than optimal domed head and one half for an ear setting which is also less than optimal. She does get half a point for beauty which makes her a four and one-half point puppy. Tangerine is a pet quality Basset puppy and she might be bred with a superior male if the pairing was available. But we are recommending she not be bred since she is not the best example of the breed and her bloodlines are not top notch. She will make a fine addition to the Hake family.

Four Week Old Jelly Bellies

 Our nine little Jelly Belly Bassets are developing quickly now.  They are playing hard and eating solid food. We even give them a handful of dry kibble every once in a while as a treat and their little tails wag something fierce.  

This morning we took everyone to the Vet. for a checkup and all are in great shape. One little boy has something of a Parrot Jaw condition, but we've seen this before. This is something like and underbite in humans, which is rarely a problem. In Bassets the condition self corrects when the adult teeth come in. There is rarely anything to worry about. 

Of the nine, seven have families who have made a claim. There are still two boys left to find homes for. But we're not worried in the least. The boys are great and there is still four weeks to go. In most other litters we didn't even start allowing choices until the babies were six weeks old. While I am still a bit unsure about this new way of doing thing, it seems to be working pretty well. 

We are trading a female puppy with another breeder and they are having a litter even as I write this article. We're really looking forward to going out to their place to meet the pups. It is always fun to get a new puppy. 

If you are interested in taking one of our remain boys, just scribble something in the box to the left of this and hit send. We'll get the information to you. People are welcome to come visit. Just let us know when
and we'll make it happen.

The Jelly Bellies at Three Weeks

At three weeks things seem to be moving along very well. Five of the nine have been chosen by new families. (This is a bit quicker than we are used to.) I will mark the picture below with those who are still available. Right now we have four available, three males and one female. All of the Jellies have tripled in weight since birth and are up on their feet moving around. Their ears opened a few days ago and this relaxation of their ear canals lets those ears hang down in true Basset style. Everyone is healthy and beginning to play with their siblings. We have a few with waggy tails but all of them will soon have every waggy tails. 

Get in touch if you are interested in one of our available pups. There's an email widget to the left of this.

Cherry has been chosen.

Mocha, a male, is still available. 

Licorice has been chosen.

Popcorn is our last available female.

Coconut has a family waiting.

Bubblegum is a boy needing a family to love.

Cappuccino already has a family to love. 

Kiwi is a boy needing a home. 

Day Seventeen Puppy Update

 Seventeen days has seemed very quick with the Jelly Belly litter. They are developing very well. I've posted just a few clips to our Facebook Rocketdog Group, not much to write home about is a very old saying.  We'll begin taking pictures soon. They are starting to stand up and things get pretty cute after they stand up.

About three days ago they woke up and became toddlers. They had been able to chase their Mom around prior to that, but this toddling means they are up on their feet. But this is a short termed change. Once the got up on their feet, even in the must unsteady way, they will get good at it real fast.

This morning I woke to find them walking around with a bit of confidences.  But another big change too. This morning their ears opened. In Bassets this mean the ear canal relaxes and as it relaxes the ears shift backward on their heads, lengthening those little triangles of fur into what seem more Basset like. 

They grow so fast.

Five of the pups have been claimed. There are three males and one female left who are still looking for forever families. There's an email widget to the left of this if you are interested in learning more. And there's a few informational articles there too. Just get in touch.