A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs, a long body, and long ears. It is kept as a pet or used for hunting. = basset. A short-haired hunting dog of a breed originating in France and having a long body, short legs, and long drooping ears. Centuries-old breed of dog developed in France and maintained, chiefly in France and Belgium, as a hunting dog of the aristocracy. Originally used to trail hares, rabbits, and deer, it has also been used for hunting birds, foxes, and other game. It is a slow, deliberate hunter, with a deep voice and a nose exceeded in keenness only by the bloodhound's. Short-legged and heavy-boned, the basset hound has long, dangling ears and a short coat in any combination of black, tan, and white. It stands 12-15 in. (30-38 cm) high and weighs 40-60 lbs (18-27 kg)