The South Of England Basset Hound Club
Members may win a trophy for the year. Most classes have one
All winners receive a rosette and place card. The dogs receive a treat of some sort
Junior Handler Classes are held at our Summer Shows
Members may win a trophy for the year. Most classes have one
The South of England Basset Hound Club would like to wish all their members every success for 2026
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Up and Coming Events
Health Matters
Last November saw the launch of the Innate Health Assessment (IHA), a free, 10-point welfare framework developed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). The aim was for APGAW to engage the public in understanding the issues around extreme conformation, whilst enabling emerging trends to be identified. IHA was also to help breeders, vets, welfare inspectors and local councils to visually assess dogs for conformation traits linked to poor welfare, such as breathing restriction, excessive skin folds, impaired gait, and disproportionate body shape. However, since then, lack of guidance on the way forward is still leaving many UK dog breeders and owners struggling to get to grips with what this is all about and the dangers it poses to their healthy livestock. For us, all the basset breeds—Basset, Petit Basset, Grand Basset, Fauve de Bretagne and Bleu de Gascogne are targeted for concerns over limb/spine proportion with the addition of curved legs in the Basset. The main worry is the IHA question about Ground Clearance, with the rider “Is the gap between the dog’s chest and the ground at least one-third of their height at the shoulder?” This is augmented by “Dogs need enough space under their body (ground clearance) for healthy movement and to avoid joint strain”. Currently there seems to be no real path to follow in protecting a basset breed from the wild claims surrounding what some MPs and vets consider to be extreme conformation. Basset breed owners and breeders have been singled out as having dogs with a disproportionate body shape. To go down a path of altering breed shape could flippantly be likened to expecting every human being to be within the same height range. Despite the APDAWG’s aim of improving the health and welfare of UK's dogs, it seems to be wide off the mark where the basset breeds are concerned. They cannot change history. Since prehistoric days man has used a dog to help him track animals for food. With Greek and Roman tribes moving northwards with their prized hunting dogs and settling in Gaul (modern day France), the sport of venery, or hunting with hounds, became firmly associated with that country. History records that Royalty and noblemen were enthusiastic huntsmen and that, through the Middle Ages, hunting remained the Sport of Kings. Riding to hounds reached a peak in the 17th and 18th centuries and, during that time, huntsmen bred hounds for a specific purpose, with large, powerful ones being used for large game and, conversely, shorter-legged hounds for smaller game. Bred for hunting by nose, their pendulous ears could sweep up the scent from the ground, and they could go through thick undergrowth where the longer-legged hounds found difficulty. Certainly poorer huntsmen, who followed the hunt on foot, realised that a slower hound was more suitable for smaller game and the best way to restrict speed was to shorten length of leg. Indeed, even the gentry included at least several basset breeds in their kennel for those occasions when they preferred setting out on foot rather than on horseback after hare, rabbit and other small game. To enable any basset breed to hunt, it had to be constructed properly and that meant being well balanced, which aided endurance and efficiency when working - and a balanced hound is a stylish one both standing and moving. This type of hunting hound was and is invaluable. If the APGAW have their way, the Basset Hound will cease to exist as we know it. The Basset Hound health Group are working hard to ensure this does not happen but we need the support of all Basset Hound owners! Below is a template letter to send to your MP expressing your concerns. Please feel free to pass this on to any parties that are interested.
Important Information for Judges. AMENDMENTS TO JUDGES EDUCATION PROGRAMME CRITERIA
The Kennel Club Board has approved amendments to the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) Level 1 and Level 2 criteria.
PLEASE BE AWARE:
These amendments will come into effect for shows held on or after 1 January 2024
and apply to judges signing contracts from the date of this announcement (21 August 2023). Existing CC judges are exempt from this requirement.
Judges Education Programme (JEP) Level 1 criteria is as follows:
Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs
Attend a Conformation and Movement seminar hosted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer
Complete a minimum of two full-day stewarding appointments
Attend a Requirements of a Dog Show Judge seminar and pass associated exam (either in person or online via Kennel Club Academy)
Pass the Points of a Dog assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer
Previously it was a requirement that passing the Points of a Dog assessment and Requirements of a Dog Show Judge exam was part of JEP Level 2 criteria.
Consequently, JEP Level 2 criteria is now amended as follows:
Attend a Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination for the respective breed
View ring stewarding seminar and take online quiz via Kennel Club Academy
Complete critique writing seminar and take online quiz via Kennel Club Academy
Whilst completing the critique writing and stewarding seminars remain a JEP Level 2 requirement, the Board has agreed that they can be undertaken at any time, and that the judge does not need to wait until they meet Level 1 criteria, and are recommended to view prior to stewarding or judging.
Judges sitting multiple-choice exams held at Breed Appreciation Days from 1 January 2024 will be required to meet the amended Level 1 criteria.
Helen Kerfoot, Chief Operations Officer at The Kennel Club, commented: “This change to JEP Level 1 criteria will further enhance education of upcoming judges and equip them with the necessary means to judge as they undertake their first appointments.
“We have listened to feedback and it is hoped that these changes create a more logical order of education for judges and will also ensure that exhibitors have confidence that judges have attained a preliminary level of training at any level of show.”
Further information is available by emailing judges.education@thekennelclub.org.uk
For more up to date information about the Kennel club's Judge's Competency framework please follow the link below.
Judging dog shows | Events and Activities | Kennel Club (thekennelclub.org.uk)
If you are interested in judging Basset Hounds or need information about the new judges' list, more information can be found here.
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A GUIDE FOR REQUIREMENTS FOR JUDGING BASSET HOUNDS FROM 1ST JANUARY 2021.
It is now possible to exhibit puppies that are 4 months old but under 6 months old at Kennel Club run shows.
They will have their own
'Baby Puppy' class but can not go on to compete in the final line up against older puppies. To find out more click the link above 'Important changes in 2024'
Why not join us & come to a show?
£5 Single Membership
£7 Joint
£1 Juniors
click here for link to a membership form
Open Shows for 2026: In Partnership with Southern Counties Canine Association. Date: 29th May at Newbury Show Ground.
Also, 12th July at Chieveley Village Hall. Basset Hound Open Show plus a Fun Day to be held in conjunction with the Basset Griffon Vendéen Club. Please get in touch if you want more information.
Important
Information
The Law regarding Microchipping your dog has changed. Section 21 of the Dog Act 1976 requires dogs to be microchipped when they are 3 months of age, and being registered for the first time or when a change of ownership occurs. As of 1 November 2015, all dogs that have reached 3 months of age must be microchipped regardless of registration status.
Go to https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped for more information
click on the title to take you to the official site for more
health information relating
to the Basset Hound
The Basset Hound Health Group are currently fund raising to support research into Laforas Disease and other important health related research. The amount of money needed is approximately £5000. Please see the Basset Hound Health Group website or the health group Facebook Page. Every little helps!
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GIVE A DOG A GENOME (GDG)
Exciting news !
The Animal Health Trust have completed sequencing the Basset Hound DNA.
click on the link below to find out more!
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The South of England Basset Hound Club
GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION (GDPR)
TO COMPLY WITH GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION (GDPR), we must tell you what personal data we hold about you, why we hold it and how it will be used. Our processing of personal data is based on you having given consent but you have the right as a data subject to withdraw that consent at any time and we undertake to delete the data if requested by you.
Any data we hold will be used only for purposes directly related to the activities and effective administrative running of The South of England Basset Hound Club (SofEBHC) and will not be provided to any other person, organisation or business for any other purposes, except where required by law.
The South of England Basset Hound Club Protection Principles
The South of England Basset Hound Club will comply with data protection law. Any personal information we hold about you will be:
* Used lawfully, fairly and in a transparent way;
* Collected only for valid purposes (as explained below) and not used in any way that is
incompatible with those purposes;
* Relevant to the purposes we have told you about and limited only to those purposes;
* Accurate and kept up to date;
* Kept securely;
* Kept only for as long as necessary, for the purposes we have told you about, and in accordance
with our data retention policy (see below).
Personal Data Held by The South of England Basset Hound Club
For the efficient running of the South of England Basset Hound Club we need to keep a record of:
• Your name;
• Your address;
• Your home and/or mobile telephone number(s);
• Your email address;
• Your SofEBH Club membership category (UK Single/Joint; Junior; Overseas
electronic/postal, Honorary) and date/year of joining;
• If you have a repeat standing order for membership payments (we do not keep details of your bank
account);
Note: You are not obliged to provide the personal data in question. However, if you do not give this information, we will be unable to perform our administrative function in providing you with The SofEBHC Club services.
The South of England Basset Hound Club Use of Personal Data
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The SofEBH Club will maintain and process your personal data in providing membership services and organising events. We may also use personal information for additional relevant and related purposes where you might reasonably expect us to do so and where this is not outweighed by your own interests, fundamental rights or freedoms. This may include:
• Maintaining our records and related information, including updating your details and preferences;
• Contacting you with relevant information (eg newsletters, event and breed related details, show schedules)
by mail, email, telephone;
• Publication in The SofEBH Club show catalogues of your personal data, save address if opting out, and dog
information
• Publication of show/event results on The SofEBH Club website or in other SofEBH Club publications;
• Communications related to membership and invitations to participate in canine health studies;
• Administration and communications relating to judging lists and The SofEBH Club judging appointments;
• Assistance with upholding our SofEBH Club objectives and acting in cases where there may be a breach of
The SofEBH Club Rules or Codes of Ethics;
• Assistance in ensuring compliance with Kennel Club Rules and Regulations;
• Assistance with queries, complaints and dispute resolution.
You may request to see all the personal data we hold on you (we are allowed 40 days to provide it).
We only keep your data for the reasons outlined above.
We undertake to delete your personal data, or withhold it from publication, if you request us to do so in writing.
The South of England Basset Hound Club Disclosure of Personal Data to Other Third Parties
The SofEBH Club may use service providers to help us provide you with our services. Personal data may be transferred to such service providers, who act for or on our behalf, for further processing in accordance with the purpose(s) for which the data was originally collected or may otherwise be lawfully processed. This may include:
• Production of The SofEBH Club newsletter;
• Production of The SofEBH Club show/event catalogues;
• Other SofEBH Club publications.
Such third parties have contracted with us as data processors under the requirements in the GDPR. They are contractually bound to only use personal data for the agreed purpose(s). Relevant persons working for these third parties will have access to your personal data under the terms of the data processor contract, but only to the extent necessary to perform their services for us.
The South of England Basset Hound Club Data Retention Policy
The SofEBH Club will only retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Personal data may be further processed and stored for archiving in the interests of statistical and historical purposes. When doing so, we will consider any link to the initial purpose, the context the data was collected in, the reasonable expectations of members, the nature of the data, the consequences of further processing and the existence of appropriate safeguards.
Old membership lists and other electronically held data may have some historical value and/or statistical value. The SofEBH Club will consider how long it is practically useful.
Information and Contact Details
We may update this information from time to time. Please contact The SofEBH Club Secretary if you have any questions or concerns about personal data and privacy matters.
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The South of England Basset Hound Club is registered with the Kennel Club
and operates under their umbrella rules and regulations.
The South of England Basset Hound Club is a Kennel Club registered society, abiding with their guidelines. All shows are held in accordance with Kennel Club rules and regulations and endorse good canine practices as promoted by the Kennel Club We firmly believe in our hounds being fit for function, fit for life. The aim of the South of England Basset Hound Club is to provide knowledge and education to ensure Basset Hounds live happy, healthy lives with responsible owners