Behavior
Which breed fits most households?
Pick the Papillon for a small, trainable, long-lived companion who barks a lot; pick the Basset for a calm, quiet, much larger housemate.
Basset Hound vs Papillon: Which Suits Your Home?
Quick answer
Which breed fits most households?
Pick the Papillon for a small, trainable, long-lived companion who barks a lot; pick the Basset for a calm, quiet, much larger housemate.
Basset Hound or Papillon? On paper they differ most on trainability, 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 Papillon and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on trainability and energy level, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Papillon rates 5/5 against 4/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Quick verdict
Between Basset Hound and Papillon, trainability is what separates them, and Papillon is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose basset hound if...
Choose Basset Hound if your walking routine is modest, there are young children at home and you already have another dog.
Choose papillon if...
Choose Papillon if you are in a flat or a smaller home, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and shedding is a problem in your house.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | basset hound | papillon | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 40–65 lbs | 5–10 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 12–15 in | 8–11 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years | 14–16 years | papillon |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | basset hound |
| Grooming need | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | papillon |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | papillon |
| Energy level | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | basset hound |
| Apartment suitability | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | papillon |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | papillon |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | basset hound |
| 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) | Low (2/5) | papillon |
| Coat | Short, dense | Long, silky single coat | 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 |
Deep dive
Size and build
The size gap here is enormous: a Papillon weighs just 5 to 10 pounds, while a Basset Hound runs 40 to 65, up to thirteen times heavier. Height tells a similar story, 8 to 11 inches versus 12 to 15. A Papillon is a genuine toy breed you could carry in one arm; a Basset is a substantial, heavy-boned dog that just happens to have short legs.
Energy and exercise
The Basset needs less exercise on paper, low (2/5) versus the Papillon's moderate (3/5), though the Papillon's energy level actually rates high (4/5), noticeably livelier day to day despite its tiny frame. Don't mistake a Papillon's size for low activity; it's an alert, quick-moving little dog that wants engagement.
Grooming and shedding
The Papillon is the lower-maintenance coat here, low (2/5) grooming and low (2/5) shedding, against the Basset's moderate (3/5) in both. That long, silky coat looks like it should be high-effort, but it doesn't mat easily and sheds relatively little. The Basset's short coat is simple in a different way, no brushing marathons, just regular attention to its skin folds.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Papillon edges out the Basset for apartment suitability, 5 out of 5 to 4 out of 5, but it's the far noisier of the two, barking rates high (4/5) against the Basset's low (2/5). A small dog with a big bark can be a bigger problem for thin-walled apartments than a large, quiet one. Both breeds tolerate being alone equally poorly, tied at low (2/5).
Training and owner experience
The Papillon trains dramatically more easily, a very high 5 out of 5 against the Basset's low 2 out of 5, one of the widest trainability gaps in this whole comparison. Despite that, both are rated equally suited to first-time owners (4/5 each); the Basset's stubbornness doesn't disqualify it, it just means training sessions take longer.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Basset is the more consistently sociable breed here, 5 out of 5 with kids, other dogs, and strangers, against the Papillon's 3, 4, and 4 respectively. A toy breed like the Papillon can be less tolerant of rough handling from small children, which the moderate (3/5) kids rating reflects.
Health and lifespan
The Papillon lives considerably longer, 14 to 16 years against the Basset's 10 to 12, a difference of up to six years. Their health profiles don't overlap much in this data: the Basset's risks trace to its body shape, while the Papillon's lean toward small-breed issues like patellar luxation, dental disease, and collapsing trachea.
Cost to keep
The Papillon is the cheaper of the two, low (2/5) cost against the Basset's moderate (3/5), though monthly costs actually tie at $80-$150 for both. The real difference shows up in the first year, $1,100-$2,300 for the Papillon versus $1,300-$2,300 for the Basset, and in the smaller food and medication doses a toy breed needs long-term.
Basset Hound vs Papillon at a glance
Basset Hound weighs 40–65 lbs and lives 10–12 years; Papillon weighs 5–10 lbs and lives 14–16 years. The two diverge most on trainability, energy level and barking and 1 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone and good for first-time owners, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is a Papillon than a Basset Hound?
Dramatically, a Papillon weighs just 5 to 10 pounds, versus 40 to 65 for the Basset. That's up to a thirteen-fold difference.
Which sheds less?
The Papillon, rated low (2/5) against the Basset's moderate (3/5), despite its long, silky-looking coat.
Is either a good first dog?
Both are rated equally well for first-time owners, tied at 4 out of 5, the Papillon's much easier trainability (5/5 vs the Basset's 2/5) offsets its livelier, barkier personality.
Which fits an apartment better?
The Papillon, slightly, 5 out of 5 against the Basset's 4 out of 5, though its high barking rating (4/5 vs 2/5) could be the bigger factor in a thin-walled building.
Which costs more?
Monthly costs actually tie at $80-$150 for both. The Papillon rates cheaper overall (low 2/5 vs the Basset's moderate 3/5), mostly reflecting smaller long-term food and medication costs.
Do they share any health risks?
Not really, based on this data, the Basset's risks trace to its body shape, while the Papillon's are more typical toy-breed issues like patellar luxation and dental disease.
Which lives longer?
The Papillon, considerably, 14 to 16 years against the Basset's 10 to 12.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What does each cost per month?
Monthly costs tie at $80-$150 for both, the real cost gap shows up in overall cost rating, not the dollar range.
Living
How much exercise does each need?
Basset 2/5 exercise need, Papillon 3/5, both are manageable, but the Papillon's energy level (4/5) makes it feel livelier.
Health
How long do they typically live?
10-12 years for the Basset, 14-16 for the Papillon, a gap of up to six years.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Basset Hound breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Basset Hound before deciding.
- Papillon breed guide – The same for Papillon, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Basset Hound vs Bulldog (English) – Bulldog (English) is the closest breed to Basset Hound on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Papillon vs Maltese – Maltese sits closest to Papillon, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- What Basset Hound costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Papillon health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
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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