11 Incredible Basset Hound Colors & Patterns (With Pictures)
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Basset Hounds come with distinct markings and colors, which can appear undesirable due to their employment as hunting dogs. Some are common such as brown, black, or white with similar colored patterns, while others, like the Blue Basset Hound, are rare since it’s the result of a recessive gene.
In this article, let’s examine different Basset Hound colors and markings.
The 11 Basset Hound Colors
Basset Hounds feature solid, bi-colored, or tri-colored coats with markings on the head, shoulders, and back appearing different from those in the underbelly or chest. It’s hard to breed a solid-colored Basset, but they still need to be bred, so official standards consist mainly of color combinations and sets of markings.
Each set of color combinations or markings has an American Kennel Club (AKC registration code that makes it easier to classify your dog.
Here are 11 Basset Hound colors and markings recognized by the AKC:
1. Black and White (S019)
It’s rare to find a pure black and white Basset Hound since there will always be some brown or tan around both eyes. Also, as a dog of this color combination ages, the black on its coat often turns into black mask markings.
Black and white Basset Hounds feature black on their ears and similar colored patches on the back but will have white on their chests and bellies. Sometimes, you’ll find a black dog with a white underbelly or a piebald pattern of un-pigmented white spots.
2. Black, Brown, and White (S022)
Black, brown, and white Basset Hounds are the most recognized colors, and this combination is often termed the classic Basset color. They’re tri-colored dogs with black or brown backs, brown ears, and white bellies or chests, colors that are normally associated with Hounds, including Beagles.
Tri-colored Basset Hounds usually have white or brown faces, but they’re likely to change these colors within a week or two of a puppy’s birth. It’s not easy to predict the amount of black that will replace brown, and it can take as long as two years for the colors to set permanently.
3. White and Red (S146)
Red and white Basset Hounds appear like your typical tri-colored dogs, but their coats have light red ticking instead of solid colors. Also called rare reds, pups are born with chocolate or jet-black markings that eventually fade to a darker tan within three months after birth.
The entire back of a red and white Basset Hound is red, while the tip of the tail may appear white, and there’s often a white patch on the chest, belly, and paws. Such Bassets also feature a white band around the neck, but the red is richer and not to be confused with mahogany.
4. Lemon and White (S115)
Lemon is a term used to describe blond-colored fur, often accompanied by white hairs all over the dog’s body. Basset Hounds classified as lemon and white don’t feature any black, but the white is infused with pale yellow or light blonde that darkens with age.
While the chest, belly, and paws are white, lemon coloring is distinctive on the face, back, and ear patches. Basset Hounds in lemon and white result from a recessive gene that makes the tan color lack pigmentation, and patching sometimes appears on small portions of their bodies.
5. Tan and White (A197)
There’s a slight difference in the depth of the fawn color between lemon and tan Basset Hounds, often listed as bi-colored dogs. It’s a shade neither black nor white and closer to brown than yellow, often apparent on the hound’s face and ears.
6. Brown and White (S063)
Among Basset Hounds, chocolate-colored dogs with white ticking are the cutest since their black counterparts aren’t as popular. A dog lacking any white is a sign that its cells don’t produce pheomelanin, and many breeders consider white-tipped tails vital for this breed.
The brown in these Basset Hounds includes shades of liver, chocolate, honey, and hazel, often on the ears and back. They feature white bands around the neck and patches on their chest and underbelly, with both colors appearing on their faces.
7. Mahogany and White (S130)
Mahogany is a deep brown shade with red undertones, and Basset Hounds of this color differ from their red and white counterparts by the presence of black hairs. The red blend and dark brown give this dog the characteristic shading.
8. Blue and White (A045)
Basset Hounds classified as blue have a dark gray metallic coat, also known as slate, mixed with white patches. Blue is one of the rarest colors for this breed, and the AKC doesn’t officially recognize it when it’s solid.
While other kennel clubs recognize solid blue as the Blue Gascony Basset, the blue and white Basset Hound is distinct for suffering from genetic defects. Due to a recessive gene, these dogs are susceptible to alopecia, food allergies, and periscoping intestines.
- Related Read: Blue Gascony Basset
9. Black and White Markings (A002, 014)
While black markings are common in the Basset Hound breed, white ones are only found in base colors, including black, tan, brown, and red. Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor, or MITF, is the gene that causes white marks on this dog’s back and belly.
Black markings are seen on blonde, tan, and other light-colored Basset Hound color variations and are usually on the back, belly, and face.
10. Ticked (A013)
Black, white, and albino Basset Hounds often feature ticking, characterized by all-over-body spots vaguely similar to Dalmatians. A ticked hound marking is only accepted if the base is white and the series of ticks will feature darker spotting.
11. Black Mask (A004)
The black mask marking creates an illusion of a mask around the Basset Hound’s eyes and extends to its ears without touching the nose and middle of its forehead. Dogs of red, mahogany, brown, and lemon colors, along with other variants, often spot these masks.
Conclusion
The no-fuss characteristics of Basset Hounds make them a suitable breed for almost any owner since they have a disposition as wonderful pets. All colors and markings are acceptable for the AKC, except that solid-hued coats are considered genetic faults.
To get unique colors and markings on Basset Hounds, breeders often crossbreed these dogs according to the different guidelines of various kennel clubs. The rarer variations often come with genetic predispositions that you must be aware of since your pup’s health should be a top priority.
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Featured Image Credit: Marry Kolesnik, Shutterstock
