oh dear we just adopted a basset hound!!

Awwww, Bassett's are cute! I'll have to look for those pics! I don't have any advice about the kitties, just time. I just brought home a puppy and he is a handful too-- the kitties are not particularly thrilled either!

We have a basset hound and I don't think she has a hyper bone in her body! She is food and bedtime motivated. Meaning she only moves if it's for food or I tell her I'm going to bed.

They cats may never like her but they will learn to tolerate the dog. Just make sure the cats have one room where they can go and the dog can't. Use a baby gate across a doorway. That way the cats know it's a dog free zone.

Good luck and I can't wait for pictures.

I also used baby gates for a while with our dogs when they were puppies. They had the run of the kitchen, back porch and bathroom (all tiled floors). I put a cat tree in the kitchen so that if the cats were in there, they had a place to look down at the puppies. Cats feel superior when they can look down on something.

Eventually the animosity will work itself out, but in the mean time, set boundaries for the dog and make sure the cats have plenty of places that are still their own.

And in general, I've found that hound dogs leave cats alone. Herding dogs on the other hand can annoy a cat for years.

I haven't had a dog before

But when my friend got her first dog (a staffie) her cats weren't at all happy. A few months later (not saying that yours is gonna take that long ) they are all a happy fur family

By the way, what's this new little fuzzies name?!

Congratulations! Basset hounds are awesome! I wouldn't leave her alone with the cats until you know she's good with them. She probably won't hurt them, just chase them in her houndy way. I hope you're gonna post pictures. We had a basset hound/beagle mix named Buddy growing up he was the best dog ever. I love bassets.

Most Bassett Hounds are called Fred. How about yours?

If you haven't had a dog in your adult life, then I highly suggest that you take him to an obedience trainer. Find one who's philosophy is to train the owner more so than the dog, and preferably one that teaches about nothing in life is free. A dog is motivated to please those that they respect as their superiors. By teaching yourself on how to control the dog, you gain the dogs respect, therefore controlling him around the cats. A lot of trainers simply teach the basic sit/stay/down/heal commands. You want something more than this.

After a bit of work, my dogs now ask my permission to join me on the sofa, and in particular, when there is a cat on the sofa with me. I don't want my dogs to ever push a cat around, and I also want them to understand that the cats come before them. A dog can be an absolute joy to live with, once you've gained their respect.

My vet came out to vaccinate all of my cats right before Christmas. She stayed for dinner so witnessed feeding time at the house. I put 10 cat food bowls around, many of them on the floor right in front of the dogs. The dogs lie quietly while the cats eat their fill, then continue to lie there until I release them thru my special command ("puppy time"). The vet watched the dogs in complete fascination, and was even more amazed when I asked her to give the release command. She did, and they jumped up, ran to the bowls and licked them clean. The dogs are then fed. As a long term vet, she said she had never seen such well behaved dogs in her life.

All this is very easy to do if you teach yourself the tricks.

If your husband has the knowledge to train a dog like you are describing, then Flash will get there in no time. That's exactly how we started with our dogs (put them in the other room and wouldn't let them cross the line).

The nothing in life is free approach to dogs is to not allow them to do things unless they work for it first. It's simple things like making them sit before you take them for a walk. It's sitting on the other side of the door before you let them lick the crumbs from a cat food bowl. Keep that in your mind at all times and you'll be OK.

You might just turn into a dog person! I love my dogs as much as I love my cats. I know, sacrilege!

bless him

And lucky him! Getting a king-sized bed! Wow!

Post some piccies!

That is the absolute perfect philosophy to take with him! Nothing in life is free.

Dogs worm their way into your hearts in a different way than cats. I can't wait to see the first pics of you with both a dog and a cat in you lap at the same time. It will happen you know.....

Congratulations on adopting Flash!

He sounds gorgeous - I'd love to see pics.

I thought they were all named Cleo.

Or am I showing my age there?

Congratulations! Dogs are so different than cats, but they grab a piece of your heart just the same.

I knew there was a famous Basset named Flash, and I was right! Roscoe P. Coltrane's Basset Hound in The Dukes of Hazzard was named Flash.

We used gates to give the cats spaces of their own when we've introduced new dogs or cats to the house.

My best friend had a basset and he was just the sweetest dog! I remember her cracking up once because Toby had a sudden spurt of energy and ran around the house about twice then laid down again. He was great with kids too.

If your husband is already experienced at training a dog that is the best thing you can do and BE CONSISTANT!! My work schedule is pretty set, but DH's is screwed up. Most of the time I get home before him, and I have a set routine for the dogs. I come home, let them out, let them back in for a treat (small milk bone or piece of cheese), then let them back out to run off some energy after being in their crates for the day (4 dogs, 3 big, 1 pug....and 7 cats). After they have been outside to play, I bring them in for dinner and make them sit before they can eat. That is normal for them. If DH gets home before me, he lets them out, brings them back in and feeds them in no specific order and DOESN'T make them sit. So the next day I have to start the training all over again.

Don't worry, cats and dogs can live together. I took me a while to rearrange my brain when DH first brought home Snickers (to a home with 6 cats). I was like you, I grew up with a dog but don't have a lot of experience with the actual training thing. I'm learning though.

You know cats have different personalities....dogs are the same way. It all depends on how they react to each other as individuals. Gizmo loves my pug, Buttercup (as you can see in my siggy), but can't stand my other dogs. On the other hand, Corky loves everyone and annoys the dogs to the point they just get up and move. It will take some time for everyone determine their "comfort zones" but it will happen.

You must establish yourself as alpha immediately, not just your husband, or Flash won't respect you which will eventually cause problems. Dogs are VERY good at knowing where they stand in the pack and you NEVER want your dog to think he comes before you. At this point, I would not allow him on your bed or any other furniture unless he is invited. He must know that YOU own the furniture, not him. Again, you are showing him that the humans are alpha. And everyone is right, NILIF (nothing in life is free) is a good way to teach this to a dog. Another important command to teach is Leave It, I use it for everything I want my dogs to leave alone. If one of my dogs is in a very playful mood and decides to run after a cat, the second I say the command he instantly stops. It's also good if the dog is outside and sees something that could be dangerous on the ground. I would definitely bring him to a trainer that does positive reinforcement and NILIF.

Don't worry about the cats, they will eventually come around. I foster cats and so far ALL of them accepted my dogs, even the ones that were terrified at first because they had never seen one. Before long most of them would rub against my dogs, even give them headbutts.

But like others have said, make certain you have safe areas throughout the house for the cats to take refuge in. High places that they can escape to when needing alone time. My foster room is a no dog zone. I keep a babygate up at all times so my cats can go over, but not the dogs. It's also another good way to do introductions. The cats can see and smell the dog up close, but feel safe knowing the dog can't get to them. You may also want to switch bedding so each can smell the others scent. Or just rub a clean towel over the dog and bring to the cats and vice versa.

I can't wait to see the pictures. Bassetts are so cute!

You may also want to look around your area and see if there is a doggy daycare to let him run off some of that puppy energy while you are at work during the day!

I adore basset hounds! They are so goofy! My boyfriend had one but unfortunately he was a victim of the pet food recalls.

Make sure to keep his ears clean! Bassets are prone to ear problems! And I have noticed a lot can get overweight easily!

Good luck with him! Cant wait for pics!

I would strongly suggest taking an obedience class. They will show you how to properly handle him, plus it builds a bond between you and the dog. If possible, both you and your husband should go. I would also contact a reputable Basset Hound rescue and see if they know anyone in your area, but also ask for their advice. Bassets can be a very stubborn breed and they will know the best way to handle him so he doesn't take over the house.

Basically you take away his rights. I would keep him leashed to me at all times while in the house and outside. This is one way to housebreak, if not already, so you can keep a constant eye on him. He has to work for everything - play time, toys, food, water, going outside/inside, etc. By keeping him leashed to you he will eventually learn that if he wants anything, it comes from you.

Do you have a crate? Crates are a great tool if used properly. He should be crated whenever you can't keep him leashed to you, when you're not home and when you sleep at night. Do NOT use the crate as punishment. You want him to enjoy being in his crate to the point he will use it on his own to sleep. Do not allow him in bed with you or on the couch with you, that comes later when he understands his place in the pack. Think of him as a baby where he needs to learn the most basic of rules. Don't have high expectations of where you think he should be or you will become frustrated very quickly. Have no expectations at this point. Some dogs learn quickly because they want to please, others can take a lot of work and time because you will have to earn their respect.

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.buckbasset.com/Goodpet.htm - check out the last paragraph

Here are some contacts in NE for BH rescue - http://bhrescue.com/us.html#NE

I would definately recommend NILIF and take Flash to obdience classes ASAP.

The rule in my house: the dogs have to sit politely on their way in and out any door. When you go to take him outside, put on his leash, walk to the door and make him sit and completely calm down before you open the door. If he tries to pull you out the door, make him sit again. You are reinforcing your position with him when you do this consistently.

For now, remember: consistency, consistency, consistency, and NILIF.

Right now he doesn't see you as alpha, this is why he won't listen to you, only to your husband. Also, dogs are VERY good at sensing if you are tense, afraid, or 'weak' and will respond in kind. Even though we aren't aware we are giving off body signals, they will pick up on our energy. You must forget what has happened to you in the past or you won't be able to move forward. I know, a lot easier said than done, but he will pick up on it and see it as weakness.

My dogs have to sit for anything they want. I walk out the door before they do. Momofmany gave great advice, consistency, consistency, consistency...in other words...repetition, repetition, repetition. This means it may take you 10 minutes to walk out a door instead of 10 seconds. Until you get the behavior you want, he can't get what he wants.

Keep us informed on how it goes. And we are all still waiting for pictures!!