About us
Eighteen years, one kitchen, a great many ears
Steve Helen Bassets began in 2008 with a single hound called Maple who slept under the kitchen table and refused to be an outdoor dog. Her first litter went to four families we still hear from at Christmas. We never planned to become a Basset Hound breeder; Maple rather decided it for us.
Eighteen years on, the programme is still run by the two of us out of the same house. We are not a kennel. There are no runs, no rows of pens and no waiting rooms, just a whelping box in the sitting room, a fenced acre outside, and a rotation of grandchildren who consider socialisation to be their personal responsibility.
18
Years breeding Basset Hounds from our own home
240+
Families placed since our first litter in 2008
2
Litters a year, deliberately, never more
100%
Puppies vet-checked, vaccinated and microchipped
What we hold to
Ethical breeding, written plainly
01
Two litters a year
Every mother has at least a full year between litters and retires by five. We would rather have a waiting list than a production line.
02
Tested before mated
Hips, elbows, eyes and breed-specific screening on both parents. If a result comes back borderline, the pairing does not happen.
03
Eight weeks, minimum
No puppy leaves before eight weeks, whatever the buyer offers. Those last two weeks with the litter teach bite inhibition nothing else can.
04
Honest matching
We turn families away. If your hours, your home or your plans do not suit a scent hound, we will tell you and suggest what might.
05
Nothing hidden
You see the mother, the whelping area and the full paperwork before any money changes hands. Ask us anything and you get a real answer.
06
Ours for life
Every puppy we breed can come back to us at any age for any reason. Nine have over eighteen years, and all nine were rehomed by us.
Family-raised
Raised underfoot, not in a shed
Puppies stay with their mother until at least eight weeks. From week three they meet the washing machine, the doorbell, the hoover, visitors in wellingtons and a shortlist of very patient grandchildren. By the time a family-raised Basset puppy comes to you, a car journey is boring rather than terrifying.
We send weekly photographs and a short video to every reserving family from week two, and we stay reachable for the life of the dog. Several of our families are now on their third Steve Helen hound.
There is a Basset here with your name on it
Tell us a little about your household and we will tell you honestly which of our puppies, if any, is the right fit.