Five Basset Puppies Found the Softest Spot in the House
Five tricolor Basset Hound puppies have melted into one big heap on a nest of rumpled towels, and not one of them is awake to notice. Faces rest on backs, paws rest on noses, and those long velvety ears fold over every which way. The towels in white, gray, and cream have been pushed into a cozy ring around them, and the carpet beyond is quiet and dim, the kind of room where naps are taken very seriously.
Basset Hounds are famous for sleeping, and puppies are no exception. Young pups of any breed need a lot of rest, often most of the day, because they are growing quickly and every new experience tires them out. Sleeping in a pile is natural too. Littermates share warmth and feel safe pressed together, which is why you so often find a litter wrapped around one another like a pretzel. If you are setting up a spot for a new puppy, choose washable bedding in a draft-free corner, and let sleeping pups lie, since interrupted naps can make them cranky.
Basset ears are worth a mention. They are long and heavy, so they benefit from a gentle check and wipe now and then, and your vet can show you how to do it safely.
For now, the only job in this room is breathing slowly. Five little bellies rise and fall in nearly the same rhythm, and the towels are doing their best to keep up with the cuddle.
