Three Little Indians Remain

 We have had three families making their important decision this past few days. One of the lucky decided on two boys, HoHo and Zinger. One family decided Cupcake was the winner. The third found Little Debbie irresistible.  This means there are only three little beauties remaining. 

She is progressing nicely and looking very good.
Pretty happy around people, she figured it out.

She is so darkly colored she can get lost in the pile in low light conditions.

This one loves her food. She is quite a bit larger than most.

This one does not like being taken away from her siblings.
She is quite infatic about being put back in the pile.

Nothing but love for this dog.

We often mistake her for HoHo.
But she is much larger.

The Snack Cakes Litter has Arrived!

 Friday Night was a long one, but Abba Zabba (Abagail Zabba AKC) made a quick and easy job of birthing seven wonderful Baby Bassets. There's a story that comes with this and I'll get it out of the way first.

We just had a litter a few months back with Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the last of the pups left for her new home just a few weeks ago. Believe it or not, we really talk things over with our dogs. They are often like four year old children in the way they approach life's challenges and achievements so patience and persistence is what passes for training in a breed that refuses to comply with training. One thing we have learned is that Basset girls become much more clever when pregnant and it really shows once the time for whelping comes closer. In this case the lack of an available whelping space, had Abby worried. She expressed this every time she was in the house and looked at the place where we host our puppy's arrival. She was concerned that there were puppies in there for a time. Then she worried that the space hadn't been properly cleaned up as we dragged our feet for a while getting it ready. And then things really got concerning for her when we tore the old pen down entirely last Friday to prepare for the possibility of an accidental second litter from Lucy (who had begun expressing milk mysteriously on Wednesday last). Abby was talking all the time and getting louder every day. But we figured there was still time as we redesigned the whelping bed and got it built last Friday. At about six on Friday evening we brought everyone in for supper and showed Abby around the new whelping beds. She decided they were pretty good and walked into her choice of the two open spaces and birthed a puppy named HoHo right then and there.  (We were expecting the litter on the eighth so this was quite a surprize.) Six hours later we had seven pups sharing their first breakfast together.  For Abby this was all quite easy; no signs of labor, other than the usual extra demands for cuddle time, and the incessant worry that we would not have our act together before the babies came. She came into the whelping bed and went to work. Not a peep out of her.  She is a professional, after all is said and done. She had a job to do and she did it. So endeth the story. So back to business.

We always pick a theme for each litter. Something which helps people, especially us, keep track of each puppy as they grow and give them all a little help in developing their personalities. Each litter is named for some sweet treat, this is the central theming device for all of our pups. For this litter we decided to re-use a theme and named each puppy for a snack cake. The sort of treat that comes individually wrapped for lunch boxes and keeps you from wanting to eat the whole box in one sitting. 

Click on any picture for a larger view. Please click here for information about take one of these puppies into your family. Click here to see the Contract that will be signed when you pick your puppy up.

HoHo has been chosen.	HoHo will live with his brother Zinger.
HoHo came into the world as something of a surprize at exactly 6:00 P.M.and was quite small, weighing 9.5 ounces. He has since had a bit of trouble competing for food with his bigger siblings and we worried about his failure to thrive. So we have begun helping him get the food he needs to bulk up. HoHo is not afraid to tell us when he wants something and is the principle noise maker in the group. Certainly a tri-colored Basset, like his Sire, even if much of his fur is black and white.
Zinger will go to Canby	Zinger and HoHo will stay brothers for life.
Zinger arrived soon after his brother at 6:10 as we were trying to get the necessary stuff together to both assist Abby in birth and do the pictures, weights, and documentation we find useful in keeping everything straightened out and easy later on. He weighed in at a healthy 14.1 ounces.His black coloring already shows a bit of red throughout and so he is likely to be a black and red tri-color.
CupCake has been Chosen.	Cupcake is not available.
Cupcake is an inky black little girl who arrives at 8:40 P.M. She was very wriggly and awfully strong, at 11.4 ounces, when she came into the world. She was also quite hungry and ready to get going on the food. Cupcake seems destined to become a black and tan tri-color Basset, having a stripe of white between right down the center of her belly. The break between the second and third Snack Cake gave us time to get everything set up and working.
At exactly 9:00 P.M. a wonderfully pretty, 10.6 ounce female, named Ding Dong arrived and headed straight for the cafeteria. It became apparent that this was going to be a highly mobile litter of pups, since they all seems to have good noses and a strong desire to get moving right away.
Little Debbie will live in LaPine.	Little Debbie has a furever family.
Little Debbie arrived at 9:25 P.M.. hot on the heels of her prettier sister. Not to be outdone, Little Debbie came prepared in her very fashionable black coat, white elbow length gloves, white Beatle boots, and matching color and tail tip. Debbie is a fashion queen and will eventually be a true tri-colored Basset. As of this writing she is almost completely symmetrical in color. She is BEAUTIFUL!
Moon Pie is a chunk. She came at 10.50 and at a hearty 14.3 ounces of fast moving Basset Hound and was robustly pushing everyone out of the way on her way to breakfast. She is wonderfully colored and reminds us of so many of Rocky's offspring. Healthy, happy, and strong.
There is always one puppy in each litter who simply cannot wait to get going. Chocodile literally walked out at birth, ears all akimbo, and ran in for breakfast in her robe and slippers weighing a stout 14.6 ounces. She has little time for staying still or getting her pictures taken. Not a fashion Hound at all. She has very little white fur, but will definetly be one among seve tri-colored pups.  We're guessing there is the possibility of a good Field Hound in here, but time will tell.

AbbaZabba's babies arriving today.

 I haven't much time to put up a good post. Abby is whelping her litter today, which is just a few days earlier than we expected. So far five beautiful tri colored babies. Some much darker in color than others. We think maybe there will be eight this time, but one cannot count until they stop appearing.  Abby is doing very well. It is us that will be tired out for the next few weeks as we stand vigil over them until their eyes open. 

If you want to see pictures, go to our Facebook Group. If you want to know more about having one of these beautiful baby Bassets then click here.  We begin taking reservations once the last puppy has paws on the ground. But there really is no need to hurry. You might want to come visit and see our hounds for yourself, though we don't allow handling of puppies until four week vaccines are in.

Be careful of scammers. They seem to be everywhere.

More to come.

Winter is Coming

 

The recently cooler weather has us thinking about pull out our Hound's Winter coats and making sure they are ready. So we figured maybe other people might be doing the same.

We make a nice coat that fits the needs of a Basset Hound very well(maybe even some of the lesser breeds). The coat is machine washable, warm enough for most Winter's days (above twenty and below forty degrees), easy on and easy off, and pretty tough in the right places. Our's take a real beating and usually last a few years. There's no velcro to clog and they are without snaps to fiddle with.

We offer both ready to wear and sew-it-yourself kits to fit nearly any dog or under the tree. Click here for more information. Ready to Wear coats are in standard sizes and cost $49.00 plus $6.00 for USPS ground mail. Sew-it Yourself  Kit versions are only $29.00, plus $6.00 for shipping. The kits takes an hour or two to complete on your first time through and everything is included but the sewing machine. (All of the instructions are here.)

You can order directly from our Square.com page. Or get in touch (mail link) if you have questions. CreeksideFarmOregon@gmail.com

Dreamsickle is No Longer Available

All of Lilly's pups have been spoken for and Dreamsickle now has a family to call his own.  We have a litter due un October for delivery to families in December. If you are interested then click here.

Dreamsickle at six weeks.

One of our prospective new puppy parents suffered a slight setback in their plans and had to abandon the idea of taking a Basset baby home for a while. This is rarely a fun thing, but in our many years of business it happens once in a while. His choice of puppy was Otterpup, my personal favorite. We put the word out about Otter's re-availability and one of our other puppy parents, the family with loads of children and who had chosen two puppies, wanted to swap Dreamsickle for OtterPup. This left Dreamsickle still needing a family. Our experience is that these things resolve themselves pretty quickly. Dreamsickle is a lovely little puppy and will find a home quickly, But for today he is still available. 

The pups turned eight weeks last Saturday, meaning that for many it is time to go to their forever homes and forever families. Three left us Saturday, one Sunday. A few will stay on a few weeks longer, giving them time to learn Basseting with our big dogs and gain some experience. One is scheduled to leave on Thursday. And since the pups are all ready for their new homes Dreamsickle is as well.

If you are interested in finding a wonderful little boy, get in touch. There's an email box to the left of this article (if you are seeing this using your phone you'll need to switch to the full web page version of this blog to see it). Or you can call Ann at 503-three-five-1-0212 and make arrangements to come meet our hounds and puppies. 

We have another litter due, Abba Zabba's, and they will be available in December. Use the same email widget to get on the wait list and we'll send updates as they happen. 

Dreamsickle at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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Dreamsickle is another of our smaller form Bassets. He is rambunctious and eager to explore his world; the type needing a back yard and a playmate. He is a bit barky when playing and not overy patient with being held. This is an independent personality which can, at times, keeps to himself happily. Every puppy of this litter are quite good when compared to the AKC standard and Dreamsickle is no different. His foreleg bones are adequately heavy, his paws tell us he will likely be slightly smaller than the standard size in the American Basset style. He will likely grow into a robust fifty pound male, but this depends on exercise and restricting his diet somewhat is a good idea, especially after he is neutered.  Dreamsickle might be bred to a high quality female if rights are secured. 

Dreamsickle is quite the family dog in attitude and he will make a fine addition to any family lucky enough to have him, but the patience or personality to win at show doesn't seem to be his forte.  He will do well with children. 

Bon Bon at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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Bon Bon is a wonderful example of the smaller form of the Basset breed we are trying to bring into the world. She is also one of those puppies it is difficult to take a bad picture of. The camera loves her. Though a bit smaller that others, her personality plays a bit larger. She is more than able to stand her ground at play and the food dish, but is also the first to come for cuddles when she feels overwhelmed. She is very patient and loves lap sitting. 

If her smaller form continues she will likely weigh under forty pounds at three years old and will not reach fifty pounds unless over-fed. Bon Bon is, as are all of her siblings, a very good example of the Basset Hound breed. Her foreleg bones are quite heavy, for her size. Her body shape is quite athletic and runs smoothly from her shoulders to her hips. Her jaw is set perfectly and I would expect pronounces facial fews that will give her snout the right amount of "boxiness". BonBon's ears are wonderfully draped and set well back on her well domed head. Her hips are wide and her stance (how she appears when simply standing up) is aggressive and strong.  The combination of smaller frame and good stance indicates she is not likely to have bone issues later in life, but a lot depends on exercise. Structurally, this girl might win a regional show if trained to it. 

As with all Basset Hounds it would be best keep her active throughout her life to avoid becoming sedentary and overweight. Monthly ear and nail care, and a seasonal bath, would be all that is needed to maintain this lovely "lemon" girl.  Bon Bon might be bred to another high quality Basset if rights are secured.  All of this litter are six points in their evaluations, there simply is nothing wrong with any of them and all of them are quite beautiful, but even at a beauty pageant there are stand-outs, Bon Bon is a standout for appearance and attitude. One of the best of this already very good litter. 

Dreamsickle at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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Dreamsickle is, by chance alone, at the time of this writing, the last of the litter still looking for a permanent home. This involved a cancellation which we will not go into in detail, but whoever is able to pick him up will surely have a great puppy to raise. 

This is a very playful puppy. He runs wherever he goes, when outdoors, and he can often be found exploring his world alone, though not far from his siblings. In true Basset Hound fashion he loves being with his family and is patient with transgressors. He is not especially aggressive at play, but when challenged will stand up for himself. He is not fearless, but more measured in his approach to life in the pack.  Dreamsickle is not especially cuddly, nor is he very patient with much lapsitting. But when a bit tired he will come and ask to be picked up.

Dreamsickle is a bit smaller than the average puppy in this litter but we expect he will grow into a standard sized male of around fifty pounds at three years. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset Hound and he carries the genes for remaining a bit smaller than the average Basset. His foreleg bone size and hip setting are nearly perfect, but there is a slightly flanged rib on his left side which will keep him from winning at the regional level of dog shows.  (The flanged rib is a very minor point of interest and it is likely he will not continue to show this rib as an adult.)  His head shape, jaw set, and ears are as good as it gets with ears wrapping all the way around his snout which is already displaying more than adequate facial fews. His Dame and Sire both have strongly Basset facial features and appearance. This will be a wonderful "lemon" Basset Hound and there certainly is nothing which shows trouble on the near, or far, horizon (providing he is kept active and is not over fed as an adult). 

This will be a wonderful family hound and breeding is certainly not out of the question.  Since all the pups in this litter are perfectly in accordance with the AKC standard, and there are none with any serious flaws in appearance, all will receive six of six points when compared to our evaluation criteria. But there are subtle differences 

Dexter at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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Dexter was given the name "Klondike Bark" at birth,
but her family has chosen to call him Dexter. 

Dexter is a wonderful example of the Basset Hound breed. He is sharp eyed and happily aggressive in his approach to life. He loves his food and enjoys rough play with his siblings. And he can be something of a bully at times as well. This is a puppy that might grow into being a handful of trouble is he is not supervised sufficiently. 

This little boy is very good structurally with a wonderful head shape and well placed ears but, at the time of writing this, he is said to have a slight overbite which will likely resolve itself when his adult teeth arrive in a few months time. This overbite is not considered a  serious flaw, but should be called out when considering breeding him later in life so as not to pass this genetic trait on. (Minor flaws are sufficient reason not to breed a Basset Hound since they are already bred into genetic dwarfism.) Otherwise Dexter is a perfect little puppy at six weeks, as are this entire litter. It is hard to find anything to write about which is not about attitude.

It is easy to see, in the picture above, that Dexter carries his American Basset style to an extreme. His snout appears boxey from already ample facial fews, his ears nearly drag the ground today. Both of these desirable traits will give him the exaggerated appearance prized in this breed. And while some might consider him more European in his heavy Basset Hound puppy appearance, these very ample skin folds are not likely to continue into adulthood. He will likely remain quite athletic in appearance until four or five years old. His coloring will likely remain red and white in equal amounts. Keeping this boy active will never be a problem. Calming him might be. 

Dexter is going to be a beautiful dog, but not a show dog. One might consider breeding him, while we would not. He has the temperament and attitude to become a good field dog. But he may also become a good companion for those interested in having a  slightly independant doggy partner. All of the puppies in this litter received six of six points using our evaluation criteria. There simply is nothing wrong with any of them.

Miley at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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Miley was named Nutty Buddy at birth.

Miley, named by her forever family. Has always been something of a beauty queen. Her coloring is technically tri-colored, but this is because she has a slightly darker nose.  She is a lovely little girl pup and will likely become a beautiful Basset as an adult. Miley is a cuddler, but not so much if there's a fight to be found. She has her own mind. She loves lap sitting, but does not seek it out. She loves finding interesting things to chew on, but doesn't carry sticks or stones around as trophies. She eats with gusto and since birth has always sung a little tune when eating.  She is an interesting puppy in a great many ways. 

Comparing her to the AKC Standard, at six weeks, show that she may well be of show quality (though these often look for heavier European traits and features). Her frame, leg bone size, head shape, and the setting of her ears, all are perfection. She carries herself well, always having her tail high, but her tail lacks the ubiquitous white tip that makes a Basset easy to follow in the field. She has very ample skin folding, a silky smooth coat that is almost entirely colored mahogany red. We expect the dark coloring on her snout will tend to becoming more red over time. The shape of her head is extraordinarily good and her ear setting is optimally set back near her neck. She is a lovely little girl with a lovely outlook on life.  None of the pups in this litter are anything less than perfect when compare to our evaluative criteria, just some are slightly better than others. Miley is one of the slightly better group. 

Miley is, and always has been, one of the beautiful people. We expect this to continue. 

OtterPup at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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Wow!

OtterPup caught my eye at the first moment he drew a breath. He has that certain something which the camera loves and we have yet to take a picture that didn't show him in his best light. But looks alone do not make a better puppy. He is also perfect in every other way and, though there are a few potential standouts in this very good litter, Otter is by far the best of the lot. This is a lovely little boy and a potential champion in his breed.

Otter is not a small form of Basset, though he certainly carries the genes. He will eventually become a sixty pound male with wildly exaggerated Basset features and traits. His personality is as good as his looks. He loves people, puppies, adult dogs, our chickens, our ducks, his food, and nearly everything else he sees. His tail is ever wagging. He loves lap sitting, loves getting down from the lap too. He loves cuddling close, being held, and being put down to play. He love playing with his siblings, and loves playing alone. This one is special.

Structurally he is as good as I have seen. He has a heavily built frame, thick foreleg bones, and a smooth appearance from shoulder to hip. His backside is stocky and chest already seeming deeper than his age would indicate. His stance is easy, but strongly aggressive in appearance. Again . . . a potential champion give the time and training. This is what good looks like. But if all you want is a great dog, there's none better than Otter. 

I rarely say that a dog ought to be bred. In this case, at six weeks, I am certainly saying it. All Bassets should start off this strong. All of this litter received full marks in their evaluations. There are only six points. Otter deserves one more. If I could keep him, I would.

DillyBark at Six Weeks

 As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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When we put Lilly and Rocky together we expected a litter of tri-colored Basset babies. DillyBark turned out to be the only truly tri-colored pup in the group of eight. And, at birth, we thought he would become our true potential champion prospect. This may still be true, he is well above the average of pups for our Rocketdog kennel, but only time and training will tell us if he indeed champion material. 

Dilly is structurally perfect, with the expeception of a minor jaw set issue. This overbite will likely clear itself when his adult teeth arrive in a few months and we have seen this sort of thing before. Basset Hounds are genetic dwarves and some mismatching of parts is common. But all of Dilly's other parts are perfect. His foreleg bone size is quite heavy, for a pup that will eventually reach sixty pounds. His thick neck hold a perfectly domed head up high. His snout is wonderfully boxey, sporting large facial fews and extraordinarily long ears which nearly reach the ground. His body tapers smoothly to hips muscular hips. The hips themselves are chunky in appearance and hold his rear leg stance back in aggressive posture. This is a good start on growing a strongly built Basset Hound boy.

Dilly is very patient, adding to the idea of his becoming show material. But his patience is subjective. He loves to play hard. He runs everywhere and loves to climb where he can. He is not the best climber in the group, but he keeps at it and has occasionally run down stairs effortlessly.  Dilly rarely comes for cuddling and has little patience for lap sitting, but he will hold a pose for pictures. Dilly prefers the company of dogs over humans, but is not overly aggressive at play or the food dish. Dilly has always barked at stranger danger. He barked at me at two weeks old, so he is naturally protective of his space.

Dilly's coloring is in flux. His ears are changing to red, from black, so it is difficult to say how he will appear as an adult. But he is still a prospect for becoming a show quality dog. 

PushPup at Six Weeks

As is our way. When a litter reaches six week of age we feel that we can evaluate the pups knowing most of what we are looking at. For this we use a pseudo objective six point set of criteria which takes into account the American Kennel Club description of the breed (five points of physicality). And we assign one point which is purely subjective and takes into account beauty of coloring, form, and personality. This six point evaluation has served us well since we started using it nearly twenty years ago. At the time we began using the system those people interested in reserving a puppy would receive the information prior to choosing, but now this is much more of a formality since pups are usually chosen prior to six weeks. This is certainly true of this litter.

This litter of eight pups is the first for our Lilly (Dulce DeLeche AKC) and the third for our younger male Rocky (Rocketdog Rockford Rhoades AKC). The first litter for a female is difficult to predict any outcomes but, at six weeks old, there's ample reason to believe this will be a great litter. Rocky is a great male in the American Basset Hound style. We are trying to breed a smaller form of Basset and, though he carries the genes of a smaller dame (under fifty pounds and quite small), he is nearly sixty pounds at three years old and so is not a small Basset. Lilly is a small form female of thirty-five pounds and so some of her offspring should be smaller in size as adults. Only time will tell. Both parents are great examples of the breed and so we expect this litter will carry these great traits as they grow. Both have exceptionally long ears, we formed heads with thick necks and bodies which taper perfectly to their strong hips. Neither appear to be destined to hip troubles. Both have heavy foreleg bones and deep chests. This litter carries the right stuff and none of the pups will receive less than the full five AKC derived points for form. There is simple nothing wrong with any of them.

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PushPup refused to stand for his picture.
Typical for him; stubborn, but funny.

PushPup was first of eight when he showed up six weeks ago. He was quite large and made his mother howl. He hasn't slacked off on the meals since then and is a robust little boy with better than average traits for the American Styled Basset Hound. As I have written above, all of the traits we look for using the AKC Standard are present and strong in all of the Lilly's pups. A massive set of foreleg bones, strong neck supporting a well domed head. A body which tapers smoothly to the hips and a strong and aggressive looking stance (when he stands) give us the impression of a pup that will grow to have few bone issues in later years. Though it is very important to give a Basset a great deal of exercise and a modest diet to keep extra pounds off, this won't be a problem in the early active years. 

This boy is likely to become a dog of around sixty pounds as an adult, an early neutering will only serve to drive him to higher weight and he might go as high as eighty pounds is his food intake is not restricted a bit. His wonderfully formed body is covered in an equal amount of red and white fur which shows no black, or even a potential for black growing in. The red fur will deepen in color as he ages and he may even become redder generally as his coloring changes in the next year. His ears are spectacular, reaching all the way around his nose at six weeks they will soon touch the ground and stay there until he learns to keep them our of the dirt. This boy is all Basset Hound when it comes to personality. He is strong willed, playful, and happy when doing whatever he believes he wishes to be doing. Stubborn is the right word for his characteristic style. He will take a strong hand and perhaps a stronger leash to keep him on track. Bassets are generally very eager to please their people, so keeping a firm hand on his formation of habits is a good idea. 

It is unusual to have eight out of eight pups getting full six point evaluations, but this is the case here with this litter. Push pups is very handsome. Not quite the coloring to win at dog shows, but he might do very well when judged against others and might become a regional champion with the right training. PushPup might be bred to another high quality female Basset as his genetic makeup is diverse with few close relations in the Pacific Northwest. Breeding rights would need to be obtained and neutering is a requirement of the Rocketdog Contract if rights are not secured. 

Six of six points, but this entire litter will end up with these higher marks. 

All of Our Rocketdog Pups are Spoken For

We are pleased to have found enough good families to take one, or two, of our pups into their families. We are sure they will be quite happy with their choices. 

All of Lilly's pups have homes, but there is another litter on the horizon. Our Abba Zabba and Rockford Rhodes are expecting a litter, due October 8th, for delivery to families in December. We love Christmas puppies and these two have given us some very pretty puppies in the past. (I know that it is still far too early to talk about Christmas, but the dates will be in December so it is as it is.)

Write us using the email widget to the left of this if you want to be kept in the loop on this next litter of Rocketdog pups.

The Ice Cream Treat Litter at Four Weeks

This litter is widely mixed for size and a bit mixed for coloring. They are quite united for quality and this really shows up at four weeks old.

They began the usual Basset Hound rough play two days ago. Up until then they were eating and sleeping most of the time, making judging personalities difficult. What they are isn't as important as who, so size and weight only give a small idea of how they will develop over time. Getting pictures of them all at four weeks is a chore. Sort of like how getting pictures of one year old humans is a hit and miss thing. By six weeks we should be able to pose them. 

PushPup was the largest of the group, but at four pounds, six ounces, he is just behind the leader for weight, if not for size. He is calm and patient at this point and can often be found outside of the tangle and snuggling with his mom. A lovely puppy, but with heavier European traits. A solid family type American Basset is our best guess at this point.

Dreamsickle is everything we hope for in a playful puppy. He is impatient, wriggly, and very kissy faced. At three pounds, nine ounces,  he is robust and formidable, but silky and loves to cuddle if we don't take too lang doing it. We're guessing he'll become an independant little boy who will need a yard with a fence. Time will tell.

Bon Bon Is a lovely little girl of three pounds, four ounces. She is talkative and loves to snuggle, but has limited patience for getting her nails done. She has lovely "stance".  

RocketPup is one of our smaller pups and a family has already chosen him. At three pounds, two ounces, he is quite a bit smaller than the others,  hopefully this trait will continue. He is a silky smooth charmer who is unafraid of using direct eye contact to get what he wants. A lovely little boy.

Dexter already has a forever home, but they are really quite lucky to have him. He is by far the smallest of the litter at two pounds, four ounces. His small size is exactly what we are aiming to find and with any luck he will keep the smaller frame his mother and maternal grandmother have. Dexter is a patient puppy and may develop into something special.

Still a favorite, OtterPup is a moose at four pounds, seven ounces. He has many European traits: heavy bones, loads of wrinkles . . . But he is by far the happiest of the group too. He is a lovely puppy and I would keep him if I could.

Miley has a forever family and they may have chose a puppy of unique beauty. This is an easy puppy so far.  Silky, but tough skinned. Not too small, but doesn't throw her weight around. If she keeps the coloring she has people will enjoy just looking at her.

DillyBark is a show stopper, maybe a show winner if given the time and training by the family who has chosen him as their own. He is absolutely lovely to look at. At three pounds, eleven ounces he is a robust and tough little guy, but patient and easy to get along with.  This is a wonderful little guy who barks at people who show up unexpectedly. At four weeks we see the rare watchdog Basset in him.

The Creamies at 13 days

The babies are opening eyes today, this means so many changes. They are moving on four feet, finding Mom using senses other than scent, and exploring their limited world. We clipped nails this morning so the floor won't be so grabby and the kiddie pool comes out of the whelping pen today. Best of all. . . We can begin keeping a regular sleep schedule.

Dreamsickle is Two pounds, two ounces of hunting puppy. We explores, barks, and not really happy being held. Independent little guy with an assertive attitude.  The spot on his head is widely known as God's Thumbprint.

Two pound, ten ounces. Push Pup was bigger than the others on Day One and still is. His coat is developing and colors deepening. He will likely be quite a lot redder. He is calm, quiet, and loves being held.

One pound, one ounce of very cuddly girl. Bon Bon is demanding and will be an adorable little Lemon. It took twelve pictures to find one worth posting of Princess Bon Bon. She sings when she eats.

One pound, one ounce of happy little baby Rocket dog. He'll likely become more red than white. He has limited patience being held, but likes it. He is unafraid and loves exploring and eating in equal parts. 

Klondike is now Dexter, his intended family found a name early on. He's a beautiful boy and has show qualities very early on. He is a well marked tri-color male with patience and happy written all over his face. One pound, four ounces of goodness.

OtterPup has a forever home now, but every litter of little Rocket dog pups has a favorite. This two pound, nine ounce bit of beefcake is ours. He is stout, well built, and happy. He is quiet and robust. Maybe the perfect family dog. Nearly entirely red, but not so boring, or exciting. People will love seeing him and he will love them back.

This is the beauty queen. She's a show stopper for coloring and attitude who loves cuddling. A regional champion (perhaps) and cameras love her.  At two pound, seven ounces, she's growing the frame worthy of the pictures. Patient and adorable. NuttyBuddy already has a family waiting.

Dilly Bark is a one pound, nine ounce, lady's man. He's pretty, confident, and silky smooth. Dilly is a talker, not quiet at all or ever. But when we see him we see everything we wish for. Near perfection, and already picked by a family who came, saw, and couldn't help themselves.

Ice Creamy Specialties at Three Days

This is Lilly's, Dulce DeLeche (AKC), first litter, now three days old. Already there are little personalities showing through. Generally this is not a sedate bunch, they are unafraid of speaking opinions and a few can be quite loud about it. There are more males (six) than female (two), but this makes little difference in Bassets since females often become alphas. Most are quite active. All are very healthy. The parents are both high quality American styled Basset Hounds which can be evaluated as very good against the AKC Standard, so we expect all of the pups will be as well. There's a distinct possibility that three of this litter will be of Show Quality. Read up on how we evaluate our puppies here. 

There is an email widget to the left of this. Get in touch if you are interested or have questions.

Dilly Bark has a family that loves him.

Dilly Bark has a family waiting for him to grow a bit.

Nutty Buddy has a new family waiting.

This beauty has a family waiting.

Klondike Bark has a Family to love.

Klondike has found his furever home.

Rocket pup is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Rocket pup is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Bon Bon is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Bon Bon is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Dreamsickle is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Dreamsickle is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Push Pup is what they call a Lemon Basset.

Push Pup is what they call a Lemon Basset.