Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

D Vautier
11/2000

I don't think there is another animal alive that can sleep as well as a Basset hound.  Bassets can be awake one minute and asleep the next.  They move from one world to the other with consummate ease.  They will sleep anywhere, at any time and for any reason.  They will fall into a deep sleep at the least provocation.  Our basset will sleep on stairs, couches, chairs, multiple chairs, under beds, next to beds, in beds--wherever and whenever she gets a fancy to do so, she will immediately go to sleep.

Bassets also sleep well.  None of this twitching, yawning, groaning, or funny breathing for them.  Sleeping is extremely serious business and it occupies a large percentage of their daily lives.  When a basset's lights go out, it's absolute, complete, and unremitting.  I also believe that they don't dream too much either.  No big fat tender stakes, or tuna fish, or chicken scraps.  No runs in the park, or interesting smells or other dogs' butts to sniff--just sleep; deep, deep sleep--the sleep of the just--just totally out of it.