John Tait

Tait's Bassets
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Tait's Bassets

Only AKC Registered Basset Hound Puppies Since 1960  

In 1959, my father, Elton Tait, was given a Basset Hound female puppy by his good friend and Basset breeder Pete Fowler. The next year, my Aunt Midge called from Long Island and told us that a neighbor had a Basset male with good breeding that they needed to find a home for.  After Calvin arrived, he and Penny made a litter of ten puppies.  That was in 1960 and we have been raising only Basset puppies ever since.

Marian Tait with our first litter in 1960

John Tait with his first basset Bess, in 1961

The kennel is a very nice building with more than a quarter of an acre of grass yards around it for the puppies and the adults to enjoy.  My parents, Marian and Elton Tait, ran the kennel with my help through the sixties and, without my help, through the seventies. 

In 1980, having built a house on our farm, I began to farm for a living, then took over as what my dad calls the “kennelmaster.”  My parents are now in their eighties, still energetic and help me from time to time, especially when unexpected customers arrive. 

In 1980, to improve the quality of our puppies, we started over again with our breeding program.  After finding homes for the two dogs that my parents had, we acquired three very nice, well-bred puppies to build from.  We have brought dogs into our kennel from show champion kennels over the years to complement and improve our breeding and to prevent inbreeding. We have also selected from our best matings.

As we continue to strive for excellence in our breeding stock, we will also continue the loving care of our puppies and adults.

We appreciate the help the following people have given us over the years. They have provided us with guidance and breeding stock.

• Janet Mohr, Windamohr's Bassets
• Jerry and Linda Rodgers, Jerilyn Bassets
• Jerry and Mary Manning, Romeing's Bassets
• Leonard and Marguerite Thompson, Thompson's Bassets
• Joe and Mary Speiser, Speis O Lif Bassets
• Stephanie Zebroski, Black Birch Bassets