Basset Hound or Boston Terrier? On paper they differ most on grooming need, and on the scales Basset Hound is the heavier at 40–65 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Basset Hound and Boston Terrier and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on grooming need and trainability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Boston Terrier rates 5/5 against 4/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Between Basset Hound and Boston Terrier, grooming need is what separates them, and Boston Terrier is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Basset Hound if you already have another dog.
Choose Boston Terrier if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and you do not want a standing grooming appointment.
| Feature | basset hound | boston terrier | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 40–65 lbs | 12–25 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 12–15 in | 15–17 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years | 11–13 years | boston terrier |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Grooming need | Moderate (3/5) | Very low (1/5) | boston terrier |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | boston terrier |
| Energy level | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | boston terrier |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | boston terrier |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | boston terrier |
| Trainability | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | boston terrier |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | basset hound |
| Friendly to strangers | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | basset hound |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Short, dense | Short and smooth | Equal |
| Origin | France | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $80–$150 | $80–$150 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,300 | $1,100–$2,300 | Equal |
The Boston Terrier is lighter (12-25 lbs) but actually taller at the shoulder (15-17 in) than the low-slung Basset Hound (40-65 lbs, 12-15 in). The Basset's weight sits almost entirely in a long body and heavy bone structure, not height. Anyone picking a dog based on "small" needs to know the Boston will move around more per pound of dog.
Both rate low (2/5) for exercise needs, so neither demands daily runs. The Boston edges ahead on general energy (3/5 vs 2/5) - it's more likely to pace and want short bursts of play, while the Basset is content lying near you. A 20-30 minute walk covers either dog. Both breeds are also rated low (2/5) for barking, so the livelier Boston's extra energy doesn't translate into extra noise.
This is where the two split hardest. The Basset's coat is moderate work (3/5) with moderate shedding (3/5) and needs regular ear cleaning to prevent infections. The Boston is close to wash-and-go: very low grooming (1/5) and low shedding (2/5). If brushing isn't your thing, the Boston wins outright. The Basset's coat itself is short and dense, so most of that extra time goes into ear care rather than brushing.
Both bark low (2/5), so noise complaints aren't the deciding factor here. Apartment suitability favors the Boston slightly (5/5 vs 4/5). Neither dog tolerates being left alone especially well, but the Boston (3/5) edges out the Basset (2/5) on that score too. For a downstairs neighbor either dog is a safe bet; the real question is which one handles a workday alone in a crate better, and on paper that's the Boston.
The Basset is famously independent - trainability sits at just 2/5, a legacy of being bred to follow its nose rather than a handler. The Boston trains far more easily (4/5) and is rated very high (5/5) for first-time owners versus the Basset's already-solid 4/5. If this is your first dog, that gap is worth weighing carefully before you commit to six months of leash-manners practice.
Both breeds score a perfect 5/5 with kids, so families aren't choosing based on that alone. The Basset actually edges ahead with other dogs (5/5 vs 4/5) and strangers (5/5 vs 4/5) - it's the more universally sociable of the two, even if it's slower to get moving physically. Both breeds' temperament lists open with "friendly," and the household-fit ratings back that up more than they contradict it.
The Boston lives slightly longer on average, 11-13 years against the Basset's 10-12. Their risks diverge by body type: the Basset's long back and ears set it up for back problems, ear infections, and bloat, while the Boston's flat face brings brachycephalic airway syndrome and eye issues like corneal ulcers. The Basset's list runs to ten separate conditions, including thrombopathia and Von Willebrand's disease, both blood-clotting disorders worth asking a breeder about before adopting.
Monthly costs land in the same $80-150 band for both dogs, and first-year costs overlap almost completely ($1,300-2,300 for the Basset, $1,100-2,300 for the Boston). Cost level is rated moderate (3/5) for both, so budget isn't the differentiator here - grooming and training are. Whatever extra money either breed costs you tends to show up in grooming appointments or training classes, not in the baseline numbers above.
Basset Hound weighs 40–65 lbs and lives 10–12 years; Boston Terrier weighs 12–25 lbs and lives 11–13 years. The two diverge most on grooming need and trainability. They are level on barking, cost level and exercise need, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.
By weight, the Basset Hound is much bigger at 40-65 lbs versus the Boston's 12-25 lbs. But the Boston is actually taller, 15-17 inches at the shoulder against the Basset's 12-15 inches - the Basset's bulk is all in its long, heavy body.
The Basset Hound sheds moderately (3/5) year-round from its short, dense coat. The Boston Terrier sheds less (2/5) and needs almost no grooming (1/5) compared to the Basset's moderate (3/5) coat care.
Both are, but the Boston rates higher (5/5 vs 4/5). The Basset's low trainability score (2/5) means a first-timer will need more patience with recall and leash work than a Boston owner typically will.
The Boston, marginally - it scores 5/5 on apartment suitability against the Basset's 4/5, and both are quiet dogs (2/5 barking) that won't upset neighbors.
Both land in the same $80-150 monthly range and are rated a moderate (3/5) cost level, so this pair doesn't split on price.
Not really. The Basset's issues cluster around its shape - ear infections, back problems, bloat, skin fold dermatitis - while the Boston's come from its flat face and prominent eyes, including brachycephalic airway syndrome and corneal ulcers.
The Basset Hound, by a wide margin. Its temperament list includes "stubborn," and its trainability score of 2/5 reflects a dog bred to track scent independently rather than take direction.
The Boston Terrier, thanks to easier training, lower grooming, and higher apartment and first-time-owner scores. The Basset Hound is the better fit only if you specifically want its size and don't mind a stubborn streak.
There isn't one - both breeds run $80-150 a month and carry the same moderate (3/5) cost rating.
No, both rate low (2/5) on exercise need. The Boston has slightly more general energy (3/5 vs 2/5) but neither needs serious daily mileage.
The Boston Terrier, at 11-13 years versus the Basset Hound's 10-12 years - a modest edge, not a dramatic one.
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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