Hi Nebit! I'll take a shot at some of your questions.

1. Can bassets breed normally? Or do they often require extensive intervention?

I was told that she needed to help due to their build! Her husband was appalled till he found out what the puppies went for.

2. Can bassets birth normally? Or do they often require medical help?

I believe she told me her's needed help, but so do many purebreds from what I have heard.

3. What problems are inherent due to their dwarfism, besides spinal issues, does it cause joint or skeletal problems on a regular basis?

No idea on the stats on this, but I think all long/low dogs are more prone to back problems. My first Basset also had Glaucoma, and the Vet said Bassets are more prone (for some reason) than others.

. How much weight is a basset designed to carry? Are they designed to hold the normal body of a hound? She seems to believe that bassets frequently reach 75lbs normally. My basset weighs 40ish, and I wouldn't expect much over 60 unless the dog was huge! How much do most bassets weigh?

I think it varies wildly with their size. My forst basset was fit at 49 Lbs and my present one is fit at 42. Some are much taller than my though.

Hope this helps some.