The Bassett Hound Sex Position: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Bassett Hound is what happens when you take doggy style, strip away any sense of performing, and collapse your entire body into the mattress. It’s lazier, it’s sweatier, and for a lot of women, it’s the first position that turns deep penetration into a reliable orgasm.

Instead of balancing on hands and knees, you lie flat on your stomach with your hips tilted just enough for him to slide in from behind. The angle changes everything: his cock presses right where it feels deepest, you stop having to do anything, and the whole thing becomes about receiving, not putting on a show.

If you’ve ever wanted doggy’s full, stretched sensation without the arm fatigue or the pressure to arch perfectly, this one’s for you. And if you’ve never come from penetration alone, the Bassett Hound has a built-in cheat code, because you can grind your clit into the bed while he thrusts, and he doesn’t even have to know you’re doing it.

At a glance: difficulty is beginner-friendly, flexibility is minimal (you need open hips more than a bendy back), and it’s brilliant for that deep G-spot pressure with full-body contact. Skip it if your lower back is already unhappy, your hips feel pinchy, or the thought of someone lying flat on top of you makes your chest tight before anything even starts.

What Exactly Is the Bassett Hound?

The Bassett Hound is a prone rear-entry position, so you’re stomach-down on the bed with your man behind or on top of you. The name comes from the way a basset hound splays out, low to the ground, and honestly, it’s one of the most accurate sex-position names out there.

Unlike standard doggy, where you’re up on your hands and knees, here your chest and face sink into the mattress and your hips stay slightly lifted. Usually a firm pillow wedged under your hip bones keeps the tilt right. That tilt changes the internal angle of your vagina so his penis drags along your anterior wall, your G-spot sweet spot, without you having to arch your back into some pretzel shape.

Because you’re pressed flat, it also flips the power dynamic in a way that feels submissive and cozy at the same time. You can fully relax while he sets the pace, depth, and rhythm. It’s the difference between being an active participant and being completely taken, which for some women is exactly the headspace that lets orgasm happen.

Getting Into the Bassett Hound

The setup is simple, but a couple of small adjustments make the difference between “okay” and “oh god, don’t stop.”

Get onto all fours first, knees hip-width apart, hands under your shoulders, classic doggy. Then walk your hands forward and let your chest melt down until your cheek or forehead rests on the bed. Keep your hips from crashing flat; you want them hovering a few inches above the mattress.

Slide a firm pillow under your hip bones. This tilts your pelvis so his cock will naturally hit your G-spot as he slides in, and it stops your hips from sinking so low that entry feels awkward or shallow.

Spread your legs as wide as your hips allow, comfortably rather than acrobatically. Reach back and guide his penis toward your vagina yourself. Grab his shaft and aim it up, not down, so the head drags along the roof of your canal from the very first inch.

From here he can drape over you, stay upright on his knees, or lie completely on top depending on what feels best weight-wise. More on that in a second.

What Your Body Should Be Doing

You’re not just a passive pillow princess here. Three small moves turn this position from a cozy cuddle into a direct line to multiple vaginal orgasms.

Press your clit into the bed. Once he’s inside, tilt your pelvis downward just enough to sandwich the back of your clitoris against the mattress or a folded towel. Each of his thrusts creates a grinding pressure you can dial up or down with tiny hip shifts. You don’t need his fingers or a toy, because your own body weight does the work.

Micro-arch your back. Instead of pancaking completely, lift your butt a fraction by tucking your arms under your chest. The small change tips the angle so his cock sweeps right where you need it most. Experiment with how high you lift until you feel that “oh, there” pressure.

Circle your hips in figure eights. You can’t thrust backward much in this prone position, but you can grind. Slow, small hip circles, figure eights rather than frantic wiggles, create friction against your clit and let you dictate the rhythm that builds your arousal. His thrusts give you depth; your circles give you control.

How He Makes It Feel Incredible (Instead of Just Getting Squished)

He’s got all the control here, which means his technique decides whether you’re heading toward orgasm or just counting ceiling tiles.

Long, slow strokes. Fast, shallow jackhammering rarely works when you’re pinned flat, because it overstimulates, irritates, or just feels mechanical. He needs to pull out until just the tip is still inside, then slide back in with one long, unhurried stroke. That drag against your front wall builds arousal differently than rapid thrusts; it gives your clitoris time to catch up and actually tip over.

Reach around to play with your clit. His body is already draped over or behind you, so one hand can snake underneath and stroke your clitoris in circles. Combined with deep penetration, this is straight-up the fastest way to make you come in this position. He doesn’t need to be a technique wizard, just consistent.

Grab your hips, not your waist. A firm grip on your hip bones lets him pull you back into each thrust without yanking your spine out of alignment. It also gives you that anchored, “he’s got me” feeling that makes the whole thing hotter emotionally, not just physically.

Shift his weight off your ribcage. If he leans his full torso weight onto your back, you won’t enjoy any of this because you’ll be too busy trying to breathe. He needs to prop himself on his forearms or hands, staying close enough to kiss your neck or whisper in your ear, but not smothering. When he gets it right, you feel wrapped up and dominated, not flattened. If he struggles to hold himself up, a pillow under his chest takes the pressure off your ribs without ruining the intimacy.

When the Bassett Hound Feels Off (and How to Fix It)

A few common snags can turn this from deep and lazy into a position you dread. Here’s what to tweak.

You feel crushed. Usually it’s a weight-distribution thing. Have him prop himself on his elbows or place his hands beside your shoulders. If he’s still heavy, try a variation where you both lie flat with a pillow under your hips, since it spreads his weight differently. And if you even suspect feeling pinned might trigger anxiety rather than turn-on, start with a version where he keeps more of his weight on his knees, and have a safe word for “get off me right now.” The position isn’t universal, and that’s perfectly fine.

Your neck aches from turning your head. If you have to crank your neck to breathe or see, switch to facing straight down with a folded towel under your forehead. Swap which direction your head faces every few minutes so you don’t stiffen up.

Hip pinch or discomfort. This usually means your legs are spread too wide or your hips are sinking. Bring your knees a little closer together and shove that pillow higher under your hip bones. If you’ve got limited hip mobility, common if you sit a lot, try a pillow under each knee as well to reduce strain. For larger bodies, the same pillow trick works beautifully; you just might need a firmer wedge to maintain the angle.

Leg cramps mid-thrust. Hydrate beforehand, and occasionally point and flex your toes to keep blood moving. If a cramp hits, straighten the leg and push your heel back toward him while he pauses. It passes faster that way.

Can’t get enough clit stimulation to tip over. Grind into the mattress as described, or have him reach around. Another trick: slide a small bullet vibrator under your pubic bone before he enters. Your body weight holds it in place, giving you hands-free, stealth stimulation the entire time. It’s a game-changer if you’re someone who almost always needs a vibrator to finish.

Variations to Try When You Want Something Slightly Different

Once the basic Bassett Hound clicks, tiny tweaks create huge shifts in sensation.

Legs together. Squeeze your thighs tight while lying flat. This narrows your vaginal opening, making his cock feel bigger and creating way more friction for both of you. It also slightly restricts depth, which is helpful if he’s very long and you need a buffer.

Legs spread wide. Open your knees as far as your hips allow while keeping your ankles outside his legs. This sinks your pelvis lower and changes the internal angle so he hits your posterior fornix, that deep spot near your cervix that can trigger a completely different kind of orgasm. If you’ve never experienced it, this variation is worth a dedicated attempt.

Knees bent, hips elevated. Place a large wedge pillow or two stacked cushions under both your hips and his knees. The elevated angle gives him even deeper access and aims the head of his cock right at your A-spot, while the lifted position makes it way easier for his fingers to reach your clit. This one’s a good bridge if you want doggy’s penetration depth but the Bassett Hound’s face-down coziness. That bridge has a name. The Bulldog comes with the comfort hacks that keep chest-down, ass-up sustainable. The frog leap spreads your knees wider still, dropping your hips so his hand can reach your clit.

Like the Bassett Hound? Try These Positions Next

If you love the combination of rear-entry depth and full-body collapse, you’ll probably enjoy:

• Lazy Dog: A half-prone doggy where you stay on your stomach but bend one knee up toward your chest. It opens deeper access while freeing up room for you to rock your hips.
• Prone Bone: You lie completely flat with legs together, and he lies directly on top, entering from behind. Zero effort, maximum skin-to-skin contact.
• Flatiron: Similar to prone bone but with a pillow under your pelvis and your legs straight. This is the gentlest on your lower back of all the prone positions.
• Leap Frog: Start in doggy, then slide your knees wider and sink your chest to the bed while keeping your butt lifted. It sits halfway between classic doggy and the Bassett Hound.
• Spooning: On your sides with him curled behind you. Same full-contact, submissive vibe but with easier clit access for his hands and a slower, more intimate rhythm.
• Traditional Doggy: If you still want the freedom to push back and control depth more actively, on-all-fours doggy is the obvious fallback.

Bassett Hound FAQ

1. 01

   Can I actually come this way?

   Yes, and many women who’ve never orgasmed from penetration alone first do it in the Bassett Hound. The combination of deep G-spot pressure and the ability to grind your clit into the bed while he thrusts is incredibly effective. If you normally need direct clitoral stimulation, use the figure-eight grinding technique or have him reach around and stroke you while he moves.

2. 02

   What if deep penetration hurts?

   Sharp or stabbing pain isn’t something to push through. He might be bumping your cervix at an uncomfortable angle. Switch to the legs-together variation, which shortens his reach, or add a thicker pillow under your hips to change the angle. If pain persists every time you try deep positions, see a doctor to rule out conditions like endometriosis or a tilted uterus that needs different positioning.

3. 03

   My lower back aches afterward, so what am I doing wrong?

   Usually your hips are sinking too low during thrusting, which forces your lower spine into a strained arch. Use a firm pillow right under your hip bones to support your natural curve. If you already have chronic back pain, the Flatiron position (with a pillow under your pelvis and legs straight) is gentler.

4. 04

   I feel like I can’t breathe under him. Is that normal?

   You should never feel suffocated. He needs to shift his weight onto his forearms or knees so only his groin presses into you, not his ribcage. If he struggles to hold the position, prop a pillow under his chest. Also, have a way to signal “pause” without killing the moment, whether a tap on his thigh or a code word, so you can both adjust mid-sex.

5. 05

   How do I tell him he’s squishing me without sounding critical?

   Guide him like it’s dirty talk. “Shift up a little, just your hips on me. Yeah, that’s it. Oh fuck, that’s so much better.” You’re not complaining; you’re telling him exactly what feels amazing. Most men want that feedback immediately, not after the fact.

6. 06

   Can we do this on a couch or floor?

   Absolutely. A firm surface sometimes makes the angle even better. Try draping yourself over the arm of a sofa with your knees on the cushions, or lying on a yoga mat on the floor with a couple of pillows for padding. The floor’s unyielding surface can make grinding feel more intense.

7. 07

   Is there a pregnancy-safe version?

   By the second trimester, lying flat on your stomach is usually uncomfortable or not recommended. Switch to the Leap Frog or a modified side-lying spooning position that gives you a similar rear-entry angle without belly pressure. Always check with your midwife or OB if you’re unsure.

Bedroom Decoded publishes sexual health information for adults. It is not medical advice. If something hurts or has changed, read this and then see a clinician.