Why do basset hounds have short legs?

Basset Hound. The Basset Hound is a medium to large sized dog that stands on short, curved legs. Its legs are disproportionately short relative to its body size. It is one of more than a ... Little did they realize that this disease is usually caused by a vitamin D deficiency and had nothing to do with the evolution of dog legs. read more

Basset Hounds were bred to have short stature. Like Dachshunds and Bulldogs, a genetic variation causing achondroplasia, often called dwarfism, was bred as favorable. Some histories tell of the Basset Hound precursors as being the dwarf version of the St. Hubert's Hounds, Bloodhounds being non-dwarf variation. read more

The Basset Hound is a medium to large sized dog that stands on short, curved legs. Its legs are disproportionately short relative to its body size. It is one of more than a dozen modern breeds including the dachshund and corgi that are deliberately bred to have a genetic condition known as chondrodysplasia. read more

Basset legs/feet have a series of 'plates' that take a long time to knit together and if walked more than a few minutes/short distance before they are ten to twelve months of age, these plates can get damaged and maybe this leads to malformation and ending up like Queen Anne legs. read more