Hi, everyone. I hope that you will enjoy browsing through your latest LOWDOWN and that you will find in it something of interest.

Since our last issue in December, the country has been battered by blizzards - meteorological, financial and political - yet our hounds seem oblivious these onslaughts. This seems no bad thing - why worry about the things beyond our control?

With a freshly brewed coffee next to the laptop, I am putting this issue together after one of my regular, long walks across the Downs with Pablo and Nico. The warm, spring sun had quickly seen off the morning mist and the birds were noisy and busy. The hounds were in high spirits - somehow sensing the change in the seasons. It was easy to anticipate the nearness of warm summer days and long, light evenings which, hopefully, lie ahead.

Roll on some lovely summer walks together with the branch pack. For many of us, these meets are one of the highlights of each month.

The numbers of members attending the walks seem to constantly increase - we saw this even over the winter months. Also, it is super to see new people and hounds at almost every meet. They are most welcome and I am sure they are surprised at how quickly their hounds integrate with the others.

On behalf of the committee, may I extend the invitation to anyone who has not yet attended a walk to come along and try the experience. Your hounds will love it - and there is no such thing as a stranger with a Basset Hound!

Although our Walk’s Co-ordinator, Jean, and the committee plan the venues with some care, we are all very aware that even a fairly central location such as Ashdown Forrest is not convenient for everyone. I know that some of you drive long miles to be with us and deserve some appreciation for making such a commitment. I know of one new member from exotic Essex who drives over one and a half hours to seek us out in foreign territory.

Those members living in deepest Kent might also have to make a substantial journey to reach some of our venues especially, say, Sullington Warren or Friston Forest; though for others, these places are on our doorstep.

A year or so back we did organise a walk near Canterbury. Although many of the walk stalwarts drove for several hours to attend, it was not supported by many local members.

However, membership demographics change, and if there is a cluster of members in Kent who think they can attract support for a new venue, then please get in touch with LOWDOWN or anyone on the committee. If properly organised and justified by enough attendance it might even be possible for the branch to hold twin walks.

It is because of the popularity of these meets that I devote so much space in this magazine to the Walk Reports.

From talking with you, I know that even members who cannot attend the meets enjoy reading of our exploits and seeing the photographs of our wonderful hounds. For some it is a chance to go on virtual walks with the pack.

I am very conscious that LOWDOWN is your newsletter. It is important that it contains items that you want to see and read. For this reason, please let me have your views on what you like, or don’t like, about our little publication; or indeed, any matters that affect the branch and the breed.

As you are probably aware, the Basset Hound along with several other breeds was criticised in the BBC programme, Pedigree Dogs: Exposed which was broadcast last year. The fallout from it has been considerable. In addition to massive media attention, the BBC withdrew from its annual Crufts coverage, which in turn lost several major sponsors.

I resisted mentioning this very contentious show in the last issue of LOWDOWN as there has already been much media comment on the matters raised by the programme.

However, the criticisms made in the programme have affected the views of the general public. I have heard the same points repeated by people I have encountered whilst walking our hounds and talking generally. I think that as owners we should be informed enough to be able to defend the breed we love against these unjustified attacks.

The show described the Basset as ‘congenital dwarf’. Well, those of us with some knowledge of the Basset Hound’s origins and history will not treat this as the negative slur it was intended to be. We know that as with just about every domesticated animal and cultivated plant, desirable traits have been selected and bred from in order to achieve a specific goal.

The Basset’s short legs - which result from an inherited dwarf gene - were considered a useful asset for a hound used to stalk small game by hunters on foot. When the hound’s head was down, the long ears helped ‘curtain’ and isolate the scent of its quarry. Its loose skin prevented entrapment and damage when in dense undergrowth.

All these traits and more were actively encouraged by a selective breeding programme. These dwarf hounds were interbred to eventually become the Basset we know today.

None of this is a recent phenomenon. Short legged hounds are shown on Egyptian tomb paintings. They were carefully bred by Benedictine French monks in the fourteenth century and were referred to by Shakespeare in Midsummer Nights Dream.

Though very attractive, it is not for its unique looks that the Basset was developed. The Basset Hound is not some modern designer dog it is not a canine accessory!

At one point in the programme, the modern Basset Hound was described as having been bred to be overly large and with legs too short. An old photograph of a Basset from the 1940’s was shown. The implication was that this earlier hound was somehow healthier and more desirable than today’s hounds. However, this hound totally lacked substance - with insufficient ribcage for a good sized heart and lungs - an essential requirement for the exertion of the hunting field. He seems not fit for function the new mantra issued by the Kennel Club as a requirement in all its revised breed standards. Like people, modern dogs have benefited from the nutritional research not available in the past. Of course they are bigger than before we all are! The average person is larger and taller than in the past.

Unlike some of the other breeds featured, the Basset Hound is not plagued by very many health problems. Admittedly, one does see some exaggerated examples; together with a few overfed, under exercised ones. Naturally, these characteristics can lead to health problems. But generally, the modern hound is healthy and has been well served by its modern breeders.

Any changes to its standard, merely to placate some anti-pedigree dog lobby, should be very carefully considered. The Basset Hound is too special to be lost.

We are not just owners - we are also custodians of the breed.