A Basset Puppy Rested His Chin on the Bed and Gave a Soulful Look

With his chin resting on a rumpled white bedspread, a lemon and white Basset Hound puppy gazes upward with the saddest, sweetest eyes imaginable. His ears droop straight down in long soft folds, his wrinkled forehead gives him a worried expression, and his front paw reaches onto the blanket. Behind him, cushions, curtains and a pile of clothes sit in warm morning light.

That droopy-faced look is a Basset trademark, and it works on nearly everyone. The loose skin around the eyes and face and the long ears were bred for tracking, not for begging, but the effect is the same. Bassets are friendly dogs who love company, and they often want to be close to their people, including at bedtime. If you allow a puppy on the bed, a ramp or step helps protect his back and legs from jumping, since Bassets are low to the ground with heavy bodies. A cozy bed near yours can also work well. Keep up with ear and face-fold cleaning as your vet recommends, because moisture can build up in the folds. Gentle routines and steady affection are what a Basset puppy wants most.

This particular pup is not demanding anything. He is simply asking, politely and quietly, with his eyes. Whoever is on the other side of the bed will have a very hard time saying no to a face like that one.