'Lazy' Basset Hounds Exploring Beach in Slow Motion Are Too Funny

Though different dog breeds have different energy levels (and thus exercise requirements) it’s important to remember that it’s not the history and purpose of the breed that really matters, it’s the commitment of any particular dog to be literally as lazy as possible, should it feel like it. And if you had any question about the willingness of the basset hound (whose very name indicates its origin as a powerful hunter) to such a couch-potato lifestyle, you have only to look at this pack of them on the beach, barely moving across the sand.

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“It’s a herd of house cows,” quips one person in the comments at this large group of over half a dozen Basset Hounds meandering slowly across the damp sand on the Oregon coast. (Maybe it’s the dreary weather that has them down?) And of course, the idea that they are uniformly lazy and low energy is quickly put to the lie by one, who actually appears to be chasing after a ball.

Related: Basset Hound Doesn't Have a Care In the World While Eating Cheerios In Bed

Come on, guys! It’s a beach day. Don’t mind the fact that it’s cold, damp, and you can hardly even see the water.

The Charm of the Basset Hound

Basset Hounds are one of the most recognizable breeds of dog there are, familiar the world over for their short stature, floppy ears, and hangdog appearance. They were originally bred to be scent hounds for hare hunting, where their low profile made It easy for them to follow their quarry into holes in the ground and other tight spaces.

Basset Hounds, like their close relatives the Bloodhounds, have excellent senses of smell. Their short stature, a hallmark of the breed, is a type of dwarfism, in this case a condition known osteochondrodysplasia, which causes a extremely short legs and can actually make it difficult and even dangerous for the animal to jump (even up and down from the bed). So don’t call them lazy, they are just being protective of their fragile skeletons.

Basset Hounds also have a signature “droopy” look which is another hallmark of the breed and many other scent hounds, which cause their skin to appear to sag around their face and —as seen in this video—their midsection.

Also, like all hounds, they bay.

But there are many people who find these characteristics charming, and you certainly can’t argue with what an amusing sight they make, galumphing across this stormy beach.

Taking Your Dog to the Beach

Before going on a beach outing with your dog, it pays to check on the rules of the beach —some are pet-friendly. Others, less so. Make sure to abide by leash laws and other guidelines, and to take particular care when introducing your animal onto a beach that may already be home to wildlife such as nesting birds, baby seals, seat turtles or other vulnerable critters.

Dogs should be carefully supervised so they don’t swim out beyond their means to return or get caught in dangerous riptides or currents. Please remember to use a life jacket on your dog to prevent tragedy and make sure that your dog has plenty of fresh drinking water.

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