Crossbreeds are a thing now. They have been this for a few decades and these dogs are truly special. They have impressive characteristics and they can look spectacular. A mini walrus dog is one of the best examples. It is a crossbreed of Shar-Pei and Basset Hound. In order to understand the mini walrus breed, you need to understand both breeds they come from.
Look of the Basset Hound
One of the mini walrus dog parents will be a Basset Hound. As you may know, these are interesting dogs. They have very short legs. The name literally means low in the French language so you can get a better idea about the dog. The height is 15 inches in adult dogs but the weight is between 40 and 65 pounds. The short legs are the result of minor dwarfism present in the breed.
Basset hound has a droopy and sad face. Don’t worry. They are not really sad all the time. This look is present due to long ears and also the face that has a lot of wrinkles. The coat is short and it has 3 colors (tan, white and black).
Look of Shar-Pei
These dogs have a cylindrical body and interesting triangular ears. They look really amazing. A wrinkly face and a head that can remind you of a hippo are other characteristics. The coat is very loose and it is rough to touch. There is a reason for this. The breed is ideal for hunting and fighting and the coat makes it impossible for other dogs to grab Shar-Pei.
This breed also has a tongue that is blue-black in colors. The size of the dogs is around 22 inches and the weight is around 35-65 pounds. Keep in mind that there are miniature dogs of this breed. They will be between 15 and 18 inches in height.
The Appearance of Mini Walrus Dogs
Due to the fact this is a crossbreed, a dog will have traits from both parents, hence both breeds. Usually, this means that the coat will be wrinkly and look like the one of Shar-Pei while the statue will be similar to Basset hound. This breed has a different name, Bashar so remember that. The head is large and covered with wrinkles. Piercing eyes are common as well and this is one of the things many dog owners like.
The height will be around 10-13 inches. This happens due to the dwarfism of Basset Hound. The weight is between 30 and 50 pounds so this is a medium-sized dog.
Mini Walrus Dog Personality and Temperament
This section is probably the most important for some of you. If you want to adopt a dog of this breed, you need to know all about his temperament and personality. The personality and temperament of mini walrus dogs are not easy to predict. They are crossbreed, meaning that they have genes from both main breeds. This means that a dog can have stronger genes from one breed which affects his personality.
We do know that this breed is very intelligent and loyal. They like people and they like to play. But they have a very strong sense of scent so when you walk him and he can smell something interesting, you will need to allow him to indulge.
They can chase smaller animals and dogs and can become hostile towards strangers but this is not common and with proper training, you can eliminate this issue. Early socialization is mandatory if you don’t want this from happening. This is true for most dogs, especially this breed.
The dog will need some level of physical activity. You don’t have to provide him hours and hours of time outside but they still need a way to use that energy. These dogs love spending time indoors and they will like spending time with you even more. Don’t expect a dog that will learn tons of tricks. These are calm dogs that want to enjoy and not entertain you. Also, if you leave him alone at home for too long, he may destroy a thing or two. They will howl as well.
Mini Walrus Pets: Health issues
All dogs have health issues. Some have more than others but all have a few that can appear at any given moment. In this case scenario, we can see that the breed does have issues the parents usually have. Basset hounds have very high conformation-related problems. Both primary breeds have issues with eyes so breeders must check the eyes before they start the process. An ophthalmology test is mandatory and there are no exceptions.
That’s why it is important to adopt a dog of this breed from a reputable dog breeder and make sure that your puppy has strong and healthy genes. If you find this option you will have a healthy dog. There is one issue here. Most of these dogs suffer from skin conditions. Many, including mucinosis and pyoderma, are common. This happens because the moisture will remain in the wrinkles and cause skin issues over time. Ears and eyes are usually the problems here.
Some specimens have Entropion. This is a condition in which eyelids will rub against the eye. It can cause pain and massive discomfort. There are a few treatments for this issue and one of them is surgery. It can correct the deformity and your pet will be fine after that.
Swollen Hocks Syndrome is not that common but a possible problem. The hick will swell and it can lead to kidney failure. This happens only if you don’t start the treatment.
These dogs will live between 8 and 10 years so they are considered a healthy dog breed. It is important to take him to the vet on a regular basis.
The Final Word
A Mini Walrus dog is a pet like no other. It is spectacular for the lack of a better word and it is one of those dogs you will notice every single time in a park. There are a lot of things you need to know before you adopt one and we have here all of that data. Now you know everything about this crossbreed.