Don't forget the last word in their breed-Hound. They can have a mouth on them like no other...when they get to baying, it's VERY loud and can be obnoxious to people not used to it. Some barely make a peep while others can go on and on for hours.

Good nutrition is a must like others have said-they can have joint problems-also eye and ear problems. The ears must be wiped down daily and clean weekly.

I find them a little hard to train, and a lot of bassetts are given up for that reason. I have known at least 3 aggressive bassetts, one from a neurological problem. Not saying all of them are aggressive, there are a ton of them that are really lovable and sweet, but it's not the breed for everyone. Early training, puppy classes, etc. make a huge difference.