Basset Hound

In 1866, Lord Galway imported a pair of Le Couteulx Bassets to England, but it was not until 1874 that Basset Hounds were widely introduced there by Sir Everett Millais. The Kennel Club accepted the breed in 1882 and the English Basset Hound Club was formed in 1884. The American Kennel Club first recognized Basset Hounds as a breed in 1885. In 1935, the Basset Hound Club of America was organized in the United States. The current American breed standard was adopted in 1964.
Civic events
In North America, Basset Hound picnics and waddles are traditions in many regions and draw impressive crowds and participations from hundreds or even thousands of Bassets and their owners. Most events are held to raise funds for local and regional Basset rescue groups. For example, The Allentown Basset Picnic thrived for seven years before becoming Tri-State's Basset Freedom Fest in 2003. Other major annual basset hound events, including the Buffalo Basset Bash, the New Orleans Basset Boogie, the Washington (state) Basset Rescue's Basset Blast in Spokane, the Woodinville, Washington Annual Basset Bash and parade and the Michigan Basset Waddle, share many similarities with North American community or food festivals and even "crown" king and queen bassets in a manner reminiscent of other civic festival crownings of event "royalty". Other traditions and competitions, such as deciding which basset has the best waddle, longest ears, best bay, or can keep a towel on its head the longest, are generally unique to basset hound picnics and waddles. These events also feature a wide variety of custom-made items depicting basset hounds and play an important role in raising money for basset hound rescue organizations. Often featured at shows and festivals is a world-famous pack of performing basset hounds known as "The Happy Basset Hounds." The trio consist of Eleanor, Annabel and Buster, and they make their home in Texarkana, Ark. The act was formerly headlined by the celebrated Ernest T. Basset, now deceased.