Browse ›
An elderly couple brush a lemon and white Basset Hound standing on wooden back steps lit by a warm porch lamp at dusk. 14 / 21

Brushing Night on the Back Steps. Waffles Has Strong Feelings About It.

AI imagebasset houndgroomingback porch

A porch lantern glows warm against the evening as Harold and Bea settle onto the back steps for Waffles's grooming session. Bea, in a moss-green cardigan with her hair pinned up, runs a wooden brush along his back with long, gentle strokes, smiling the whole time. Harold, in a navy shirt and dark-rimmed glasses, steadies the dog with one hand and grins at the camera over Waffles's shoulder. Waffles stands patiently on the steps, legs braced, ears hanging low, gazing upward with a soulful, slightly long-suffering expression. Slippers, a basket of laundry, and potted plants cluster on the porch, and the open doorway glows behind them.

Basset Hounds have short, dense coats that shed more than many people expect, so regular brushing is a helpful habit. A rubber curry brush or bristle brush once or twice a week removes loose hair and distributes natural oils. Grooming time is also a good opportunity to check their famously long ears, which can trap moisture and are prone to infections, and to wipe the folds around their face and jowls. Nail trims and a quick look at the paws round out the routine. If you notice redness, odor, or frequent head shaking, talk to your vet.

Waffles may act like he is enduring a great hardship, but he leans into every stroke all the same. By the time the brushing is done, the steps will be dusted with fur and the hound will be shiny, spoiled, and ready for bed.

More from this collection

All 21 →
An elderly couple in winter coats shovel a snowy driveway while a lemon and white Basset Hound plays in the snow.Harold and Bea Were Shoveling Out the Driveway. Waffles Found the Biggest Drift.An elderly couple with rakes laugh as a lemon and white Basset Hound bounds into a pile of autumn leaves, ears flying.Harold and Bea Raked Every Leaf in the Yard Into One Perfect Pile. Then Came Waffles.
An elderly couple in jackets walk a lemon and white Basset Hound on a leash through a garden full of orange pumpkins.Harold and Bea Went Pumpkin Hunting. Waffles Was Hunting Something Else Entirely.A smiling elderly couple hold a lemon and white Basset Hound up to a frosty window as snow falls on the trees outside.The First Snow Started Falling, and Harold and Bea Didn't Want Waffles to Miss ItAn elderly couple wrap a lemon and white Basset Hound in a chunky knit blanket in a mudroom while rain falls outside.Waffles Came Home From a Rainy Walk, and Harold and Bea Had a Plan ReadyAn elderly couple crouch by a park pond holding grain for mallard ducks while a lemon and white Basset Hound sniffs the bank.Harold and Bea Brought Grain for the Ducks. Waffles Found Something Better.