After the Presents Were Opened, a Basset Hound Claimed the Wrapping Paper

Face down in a heap of red-and-green wrapping paper, a tricolor Basset Hound sleeps with her long ears draped over the crinkly pile. Her droopy eyelids are closed, her white paws are tucked under her chin, and the paper has been shaped into a rustling bed. In the background are a woven basket of blankets, a bright window, and the sleeves of a person who might have been unwrapping presents.

Basset Hounds are low, heavy scent hounds with long ears and a famously relaxed attitude. They love food and naps in equal measure, and they can be stubborn when they are following a smell. Their long backs and short legs mean they should not jump from heights or climb many stairs, and their long ears should be cleaned regularly to avoid infections. Wrapping paper is fun to lie on, but she should not chew it, because ribbon and tape can cause problems if swallowed. Ask your vet about a healthy weight for a short-legged hound.

This is what happens when the present opening is over and the nap is just beginning. She looks perfectly happy on her colorful bed, and her slow breathing is the soundtrack of a very peaceful afternoon. Nobody wants to tidy the paper now, and it is hard to blame them. A faint snore rumbles out from beneath those ears now and then, and the paper crackles gently each time she shifts.