If you’ve been following Ree for a while, you know she loves her basset hounds. She often shares photos and videos of Rusty and Fred howling at the wind, taking naps in silly positions and snuggling up with her and the rest of the Drummonds. And she’s even published a collection of children’s books starring her beloved basset Charlie.
But Ree’s love of bassets isn’t anything new. “I’ve loved bassets all my life!” she says. In fact, her first ever pet dog that she got when she was only three years old was a basset. That childhood love of bassets lasted long into adulthood. The breed earned a special place in Ree’s heart when it became the first dog that she and Ladd got together when they got married.
There’s so much about bassets that keeps her coming back: “Their excess skin, floppy ears, droopy eyes and hilarious personalities keep me entertained and make my heart leap,” Ree says.
There’s more to the breed than you might think! Those floppy ears that often drag on the ground help them pick up scents, which makes them great at their role as trackers and hunters. And all those loose skin folds mean that their skin is pliable and doesn’t get caught as easily when they’re running through brush and overgrown areas.
Plus, their short legs help them stay low to the ground, which helps them gather scents and makes them speedy. And all those physical qualities that make them great as tracking dogs just so happen to make them incredibly adorable, too. What more could you want?
Kelsey Hurwitz is the associate features editor for The Pioneer Woman Magazine. When she's not writing about ranch life, home decor and food, she can be found knitting and catching up on her favorite reality TV shows.
