Hush Basset

While the Hush Basset is a newer designer breed with a limited history, both parent breeds are deep-rooted in their respective countries of origin and beyond. The Basset Hound, "bas" in French meaning "low thing," is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages, the result of breeding together other Bassets of the time, the d'Artois and Normand. Their refinement is generally attributed to the monks of the Monastery of St. Hubert in Belgium, where breeding was aimed toward a low-slung, nose-heavy dog that was slow enough to follow closely on hunts. Over the years, these hounds increased in popularity and were even supplied to aristocracy in the seventh and eighth centuries. As they traveled and spread, they endured further changes, which were largely cemented in England in the late 1800s by breeder Everett Millais, widely considered the father of the modern version we know today. Since arriving in America, their mopey faces have quickly found favor in pop culture as early as the 1950s and 1960s in characters like the aptly-named Droopy. The Spaniel's history stems back as far as 1620, when first documented to be aboard the Mayflower, but they were not registered until the late 1800s. The Cocker Spaniel first arrived with hunting enthusiasts in the 19th century thanks to their skillful ability to hunt birds such as the gamecock, the origin of this Spaniel's namesake. American breeders, however, preferred them to be smaller in stature, making them easier to manage as hunters, show dogs, and companions. After the transformation, their popularity skyrocketed to the point where they spawned troublesome puppy mills and poor breeding habits just to keep up with demand, but many have since been deterred by law. Today, Cocker Spaniels remain in the top 30 of popularity (as ranked by the American Kennel Club) for their sweet disposition, intelligence, and overall aesthetics.