Bowzer

Basset Hounds were first bred in France as hunting dogs in the late 1500s. The breed was developed by the Friars of the Abbey of St. Hubert in northern France with the aim of breeding hounds that could follow hunters on foot. According to the American Kennel Club, the word “Basset” when referring to a breed of dog derives from the French adjective “bas” which means “low thing” or “dwarf”. Bloodhounds are a likely part of their ancestry and they have a very keen sense of smell. Hunters used them to track rabbits, fox, pheasants, deer and badgers although they were also used to hunt bigger animals such as wild boar and wolf. They were prized for being low enough to follow the scent of prey under brush in thick forests but were bred more for stamina that speed. In 1884, the first of the breed was presented at the Westminster Kennel Club show while in 1935, the Basset Hound Club of America was formed. One of the most famous Basset Hounds is Fred, the cartoon dog, who has been appearing in the Daily Mail for more than 50 years and under different names in some 200 newspapers around the world. The breed is sometimes referred to as a Hush Puppy. Miniature Schnauzers were originally bred on farms in the mid-to-late 19th century in Germany to hunt rats as well as to guard the property. They were originally known as Wirehaired Pinschers and developed by crossbreeding the Standard Schnauzer with breeds like the Miniature Pinscher, Affenpinscher and the Poodle. The earliest record of a Miniature Schnauzer was a black female named Findel which was recorded in a German stud book. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1926 and they are classed with terriers while the Standard Schnauzer is classified as a member of the Working Group. The Bowzer, which was first bred around 20 years ago, is recognized by the Dog Registry of America, Inc and the American Canine Hybrid Club.