The short answer
You can adopt a Basset Hound in Melbourne, though purebreds are uncommon in rescue and Basset crosses turn up more often, so set alerts across the main Victorian rescues and be patient. Adoption runs about $350 to $700 for an adult and $500 to $900 for a puppy, all-inclusive, against well into the thousands from a breeder, and the breed is not restricted in Victoria. The honest part is the character and the care: a Basset is gentle and affectionate but stubborn, nose-led and prone to ear, eye, back and weight problems, so plan for lead walks, secure fencing and vet care. Get that right and a rescue Basset is a wonderful, funny companion.
Why Basset Hounds reach Melbourne rescue
A purebred Basset is uncommon in rescue, but a steady few reach Victorian rescue along with Basset crosses, usually because the dog was not quite what the owner expected.
Not the easy dog people pictured. The Basset looks like a lazy lounge dog, but it is a determined scent hound that bays, drools, follows its nose and ignores recall once a smell takes hold. Owners who did not plan for that can find it hard going.
Health and weight costs. Ears, eyes and the long back all need attention, and a Basset that gains weight quickly runs into joint and spinal trouble, so the vet bills and the daily management can overwhelm an unprepared owner.
Backyard breeding. The distinctive look makes Bassets a target for backyard and commercial breeding, often without health screening, and rescues take in surrendered or ex-breeding dogs that, in the right home, become devoted pets.
Where to adopt a Basset Hound in Melbourne
Because a purebred Basset is uncommon in general rescue, a wide alert net is the key. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider, and stay open to a Basset cross. For a fuller directory, see our list of Melbourne rescues and shelters.
1. RSPCA Victoria
The state body runs adoption centres at Burwood East and RSPCA Peninsula at Pearcedale. A broad intake means a Basset or Basset cross comes through from time to time, and every adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping, a vet workup and a health check that matters for an ear-and-back-prone breed. Apply at rspcavic.org.
2. The Lost Dogs' Home
Melbourne's long-established metro shelter, based in North Melbourne with a second facility at Cranbourne. It handles a large intake of stray and surrendered dogs, so a Basset or hound cross turns up periodically. Adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check. Listings at dogshome.com.
3. Lort Smith
Lort Smith runs an Adoption Centre at Campbellfield with a full vet workup behind every dog, which is reassuring for a breed with known ear, eye and back risks. A broad mix of breeds means a Basset or Basset cross features occasionally. More at lortsmith.com.
4. Save-A-Dog Scheme
A Melbourne-based no-kill rescue running since 1985, with a mix of shelter and foster placements. Because many dogs live in foster homes, the notes on a Basset's temperament, toilet habits and behaviour with people and other animals tend to be detailed and honest. More at saveadog.org.au.
5. Second Chance Animal Rescue
A Victorian foster-based rescue that takes a broad mix of dogs and crosses, including hounds that need a patient home. Because dogs live in foster, you get a clear picture of the real temperament before you commit, and the application usually includes a home check. Listings at secondchanceanimalrescue.com.au.
Beyond these, Animal Aid at Coldstream and the Australian Animal Protection Society at Keysborough both rehome dogs including the occasional hound, and the fastest way to scan many Victorian rescues at once is PetRescue, a national aggregator that lists animals from hundreds of member rescues in one searchable place. Be wary of any group calling itself a Basset rescue that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and charitable status. Browse the current Basset Hounds and Basset crosses on the Melbourne Basset Hound listings.
What a Basset Hound costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Basset Hound through a Melbourne rescue commonly runs about $350 to $700 for an adult, with puppies usually $500 to $900, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check.
A purebred Basset puppy from a breeder in Victoria, by contrast, typically runs well into the thousands, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper up front, and the dog arrives already vetted and, if you adopt an adult, with a known temperament.
The ongoing cost worth planning for is health care: regular ear cleaning, eye checks, weight management and the vet bills that come with a long-backed, heavy breed. Council registration under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 is a modest yearly cost, reduced for a desexed and microchipped dog, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young is worth having.
Living with a Basset Hound, and the health picture
The Basset is gentle, affectionate, sociable and genuinely funny, and its low-key energy suits people who want a calm companion. But it is a scent hound through and through: stubborn, food-motivated, prone to baying, and completely led by its nose, so it needs patient reward-based training, secure fencing and lead walks because recall is unreliable once a scent takes over. It is tolerant and usually good with children and other dogs when socialised, which makes it a lovely family dog in the right home.
On health the breed is prone to ear infections from the long, low ears, to eye conditions, and to back and joint problems because of the long spine and heavy build, all made worse by excess weight, and bloat is a risk in any deep-chested dog. A rescue Basset arrives vet-checked, so ask the rescue what the in-care assessment found, keep the dog lean, clean its ears regularly, and insure it while it is young.
Basset Hounds and Victorian breed law
The Basset Hound is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds, which under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 are the pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, fila brasileiro, japanese tosa and perro de presa canario. A Basset is legal to own and rehome normally, and simply needs to be microchipped and registered with your local council from three months of age, re-registered each year. A rescue Basset arrives already desexed and microchipped, so in practice you transfer the microchip into your name and register with your council. Check Agriculture Victoria and your council for registration details.
Browse adoptable Basset Hounds in Melbourne
Purebreds are uncommon in rescue, so set an alert and stay open to a Basset cross. Browse live Victorian listings now.
See Available Basset Hounds →If you have been searching “Basset Hound puppies for sale”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for a Basset puppy to buy, drawn by that unmistakable look, and adoption has a real advantage: an adult rescue Basset lets you see the temperament and health you are taking on, which matters in a breed prone to back and ear trouble, where a puppy is more of a gamble. The for-sale listings are easy to find, but this breed attracts backyard breeding that skips health screening, along with the occasional scam, so a cheap Basset puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. In Victoria, any advertisement to sell or give away a dog must display the animal's microchip number and a Pet Exchange Register source number, so check that number on the Pet Exchange Register before you pay, and cross-check anything that feels off against Scamwatch.
Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home. If your heart is set on the breed, register your interest with rescues, stay open to a Basset cross, set alerts, and be patient; the right dog does come up.
Adult or puppy, and is a Basset Hound right for you?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, because an adult shows you the real temperament, size and how it is with people and other animals, where a puppy is more of an unknown. An adult also often has some training and toilet habits in place and a lower adoption fee. A vet-checked, foster-assessed adult Basset, matched carefully to your household, is the easiest and kindest way into the breed.
Be honest about whether this breed fits your life. A Basset Hound is a gentle, affectionate, funny companion for an owner who will accept the stubbornness, the drool and the baying, walk it on lead, keep it lean and stay on top of ear and back care. It is not the dog for someone who wants reliable off-lead recall or a low-maintenance body. If you can offer patience and good care, a rescue Basset is a devoted friend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a Basset Hound near me in Melbourne?
Start with the live listings on this page, which pull Basset Hounds and Basset crosses from shelters and foster-based rescues across Victoria, then widen out. RSPCA Victoria, the Lost Dogs' Home, Lort Smith, Save-A-Dog Scheme and Second Chance Animal Rescue all rehome dogs including the occasional scent hound, and PetRescue aggregates many smaller Victorian rescues in one place. A purebred Basset is uncommon in rescue and Basset crosses turn up more often, so set listing alerts, have your application ready, and be patient.
Why do Basset Hounds end up in rescue?
Almost always because of something about the owner's circumstances or expectations, not the dog. The Basset is a stubborn, nose-led scent hound, and people who expected an easy, lazy lounge dog can be surprised by the baying, the drool, the determined following of a scent and the near-total deafness to recall once a smell takes over. Weight problems, the cost of back or ear care, and a house move can all lead to a surrender. Basset crosses appear too. In the right patient home the breed is a gentle, affectionate and very funny companion.
How much does it cost to adopt a Basset Hound in Melbourne versus buying one?
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Basset Hound through a Melbourne rescue commonly runs about $350 to $700 for an adult, with puppies usually $500 to $900, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A purebred Basset puppy from a breeder, by contrast, typically runs well into the thousands, with none of that vet work done yet. The ongoing cost worth planning for is health care: ears, eyes, backs and weight all need attention in this breed.
Are Basset Hounds a restricted breed in Victoria?
No. The Basset Hound is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds, which are the pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, fila brasileiro, japanese tosa and perro de presa canario. A Basset is legal to own and rehome normally and simply needs to be microchipped and registered with your local council from three months of age. A rescue Basset arrives already desexed and microchipped, so you mostly just transfer the microchip into your name and register with your council.
Are Basset Hounds a good family dog?
Yes, for the right household. A well-socialised Basset is typically gentle, patient and tolerant, which makes it a lovely family dog, and its low-key energy suits people who want a calm companion rather than a running partner. The trade-offs are the stubbornness, the drool, the baying that neighbours may hear, and a nose that will lead the dog astray off lead, so secure fencing and lead walks matter. A foster carer who has lived with the individual dog can tell you exactly how it is with children and other pets.
Should I adopt an adult Basset Hound or a puppy?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, because an adult shows you its real temperament, size and how it is with people and other animals, where a puppy is more of an unknown. An adult also often has some training and toilet habits in place and a lower adoption fee. A vet-checked, foster-assessed adult Basset, matched carefully to your household, is the easiest and kindest way into the breed, and plenty of wonderful adults are waiting.
Are there free Basset Hounds in Melbourne, or ones under $500?
Be careful with free or very cheap Basset Hounds. A legitimate rescue charges an adoption fee, commonly $350 to $700 for an adult and $500 to $900 for a puppy, so the lower end lands under the $500 people search for, because that fee part-covers the desexing, vaccination, microchipping and vet check the dog has already had. A Basset advertised free to a good home, or well under a rescue fee, is one of the classic scam and backyard-breeding setups, so treat a bargain as a warning sign and check any seller against the Victorian rules below before paying anything.
I keep seeing Basset Hound puppies for sale. Is adopting really an option?
It is, and an adult rescue Basset lets you see the temperament and health you are taking on, where a puppy is more of a gamble, which matters in a breed prone to back and ear trouble. The for-sale listings are easy to find, but this breed attracts backyard breeding that skips health screening, along with the occasional scam, so a cheap Basset puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. In Victoria, any advertisement to sell or give away a dog must display the microchip number and a Pet Exchange Register source number, so check that number on the Pet Exchange Register before paying anything. Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home.
Do Basset Hounds have a lot of health problems?
They have some predictable ones worth planning for. The long ears are prone to infection and need regular cleaning, the breed is prone to eye conditions, and the long back and heavy body mean spinal problems and joint strain, made far worse by excess weight. Bloat is a risk in any deep-chested dog. None of this should put you off, but it means keeping a Basset lean, cleaning its ears, and budgeting for vet care are part of the deal. A rescue Basset arrives vet-checked, so ask the rescue what the in-care assessment found.
Keep reading
Adoptable Basset Hounds in Melbourne
Live listings with foster carer notes on temperament and health.
Best Dog Rescues in Melbourne
The verified shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with across Victoria.
Registering a Dog in Melbourne
Council registration, microchipping and the Victorian rules for a new dog.
Melbourne Adoption Resources
Guides on adopting, costs, council rules and settling a rescue dog in Melbourne.