Welcome to Hilltop Farm!!!
The farm is located on 24 acres in Tennessee. We raise registered Basset Hounds and we also have a few Rocky Mountain horses for trail riding and breeding. We just recently finished our new kennel facilities and play area for our dogs which I am really excited about. 
We have owned basset hounds for 7 years now. We love the breed and believe that once you go basset you can never go back!
I am an animal lover through and through, and all my animals are practically part of the family. 

HILLTOP'S PURPOSE
Every breeder has a reason for breeding, be it for showing, pure enjoyment, or money alone.  While some reasons are pure others are selfish and greedy.  Our reason is pretty basic; I love the breed, I love puppies, and there is a desperate need for good bassets puppies in the world. 

People that breed show dogs have the absolute best of the best and they have every right to be proud and protective of those bloodlines, but it is rare for one of those puppies to be available to the average pet owner since they usually only produce a litter in hopes of producing their next generation of show pups.  While their puppies, when available, do not come cheap any money these folks might make is spent in upkeep and show expenses. 
Puppy Mills are exactly the opposite, they are breeding the worst of the worst in mass production and with little regard to their dogs or the people purchasing the puppies, but if you want a puppy by golly they'll sell you one almost immediately.  These people sell puppies for money and could care less about what a basset hound should be, sickness and health disorders are abundant in most of their stock, and the money goes in their pocket with little put back into the dogs themselves.
I fall somewhere in the middle and probably am not well liked by either group.  I am researching the breed standard and do my very best to be producing conformationally correct, champion bloodline, healthy, happy basset hound puppies for the enjoyment of everyone who has or will ever love the breed. My goal is to produce top quality bassets that I can make available and attainable for the everyday pet owner.  I do put a great deal of money into my dogs, our new kennel for example was 100% paid for by my dogs, and now they have a wonderful home that is clean and sanitary along with a huge play pen for execising or basking in the sun.
Common sense says that if "Everyday Joe" wants a pet basset hound he will most likely buy one from a breeder that is easy to get one from, and I would much rather him get a top quality dog that looks as a basset should rather than him turning to a puppy mill or pet shop and getting low quality and possibly unhealthy pup--- that makes basset hounds look bad as a breed. 
I have a great deal of respect for show dog breeders and am constantly admiring the beauty and quality of the dogs they produce.  I hope to eventually gain all the knowledge needed to start producing that type dog for myself and those who buy from me. 

WHY BUY A HILLTOP HOUND?
1)I strive to provide the best care for all my dogs and puppies. My adult dogs are on heartworm regimen, wormed and vaccinated regularly, and their weight monitored closely. Care of the pregnant female is very personal. I “deliver” all the puppies born on the farm. I clip the umbilical cord, aid in cleaning the puppies, make sure they each get a quick start nursing, and provide moral support (so to speak) for the female. Puppies purchased from the farm go home between 6 and 8 weeks old with 3 rounds of wormer and their first shots. I believe that if I save one puppy it is worth all the work.  I also ONLY keep 4 females for breeding, they are each only bred once a year if even that.  What you won't see here is puppies in mass production, and I do NOT live off my dogs--they are a loved hobby to which I am dedicated--but I do have a full time career and family.
2)I also strive to produce a puppy that will essentially fit the picture of what a basset should be when it grows up. With most breeds of dogs what you see is what you get. Beagles for example generally all "look" basically the same. Bassets on the other hand have several attributes that can vary from the standard and people that are new to the breed are often unaware that you can get a bad basset. A poorly bred basset could have long or skinny legs, small feet, short ears, a face that isn’t sad looking, a poorly shaped head, or any combination of the above.
3)I’m constantly trying to improve on the quality of my dogs.  I started out with a pet that was a nice looking dog and she produces nice looking puppies. Now when I buy a puppy for our kennel I look for pedigree, appearance, and conformation. Most people that buy from me are looking for their dream pet not a show dog. I am producing the look of a show dog at an affordable price.