ALL ABOUT DOG BREEDS: BLOODHOUND

BLOODHOUND

Also Know as:

Sleuth Hound, St. Hubert Hound, Chien St. Hubert

Origin: United Kingdom

Type: Pure Breed

Height: 23 to 27 inches

Weight: 80 to 110 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

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BLOODHOUND TEMPERAMENT

Somewhat docile and relaxed, they are also cheerful dogs. This in addition to their physical features makes them look non-threatening. But do not be deceived by their easy-going nature, they are scenthounds which means immediately you get them set on a scent, they would tirelessly follow the trail of the scent to the very end. In this situation, they are stubborn and independent. The positive side of this scenthound is that even when they track down their target be it fleeing prisoners, dangerous individuals, or missing persons, their non-threatening nature keeps the target relaxed till their human partners locate them. This is why you will find them being heavily used by the police.

They are very good around children, not easily excited and jumpy as most dogs, but are playful enough to keep a kid’s attention. Due to their docile and relaxed nature, you may find it hard to do obedience training with them. On the flip side, you find them behaving well around strangers because of this same nature.

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BLOODHOUND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

The Bloodhound is a large dog weighing between 80 to 110 pounds and standing between 23 to 27 inches tall. Even with their large physical appearance, they appear non-threatening with their loose skin and wrinkles around their head and throat, giving them some sort of sad dog feature. There are also their long ears which fall by their side to the chin giving them that Basset hound look. The modern-day bloodhound comes in colors of black and tan, liver and tan, or red. During the Middle ages, the bloodhound could occur in many other colors including white, but this has gone extinct today.

BLOODHOUND CHARACTERISTICS

BLOODHOUND CARE

FEEDING

HEALTH

Feeding a Bloodhound is a complicated task and requires careful guidance from a professional vet doctor. This is because their feeding is heavily dependent on their activity levels, weight and age. In general, they are feed twice a day between 2 to 4 cups of dry food per meal with lots of water. Be on the watch out about them getting overweight as this makes them prone to diabetes and heart diseases.

Even though the Bloodhound has short and dense coats, they are known to shed moderately, therefore if you don't want hair all over your furniture, regularly brushing the bloodhound's hair is imperative. You can brush their hair weekly using a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt, or a hound glove. This will help remove the dead hair and also stimulate new hair growth and promote the distribution of needed natural oils over the coat leaving it lustrous and healthy. The Bloodhound also needs to be giving a bath regularly to prevent them from developing a doggy odor. Also grooming their ears regularly is important as well as keeping their nails trim and maintaining a good dental routine.

Bloodhounds are notoriously difficult to train. They require consistent repetition to get a command right, the main thing working in the trainer's favor is the bloodhound's eagerness to please its master. Training a Bloodhound requires a lot of patience and emotional caring. The tone of voice being used in their training session is important as they are very sensitive creatures and can withdraw inwardly if a harsh tone is used. The best tone for them would be an approving tone that is still firm in delivery. It is also worth noting that the Bloodhound is a hard dog to housebreak, even as puppies.

Even though they are naturally docile dogs, the Bloodhound still requires a good amount of exercise. Taking them on long daily walks is highly recommended. As with all scenthounds, keeping them on a leash while walking is very important as their urge to follow an interesting scent may override their need to follow your lead. It's always good to start exercising them young as puppies so that they can get used to following your lead before they get older and heavier to control.

As with all big dogs the bloodhound to prone to some health conditions. As a dog parent, understanding the signs and symptoms of these health issues will put you in a better position to manage them properly. Some of the major health issues with the Bloodhound are:- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: In simple terms stomach bloating. This is very common in large dogs and can be life-threatening. This occurs when they eat or drink water fast, their stomach will twist and distend obstruction blood flow, symptoms include excessive drolling and inability to vomit. Be sure to contact a vet doctor immediately if you suspect this condition for your dog. Ear infections: As with all dogs with long, droopy ears. They can easily catch and hold dirt and bacteria in them because the ear is always moist and there is no free passage of air in this space, regular grooming of the ear can prevent these infections Fold dermatitis: Just as with their ears, the bloodhound's face can trap food, dirt, and bacteria in them mainly due to the folds of their face skin. Signs of this problem include sores, redness of the face, irritation, and bad odors. This can be handled by cleaning their face daily and proper grooming practices.

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Although there are not many records on the origin of the bloodhound, they can be traced back to ancient Mediterranean times. The third-century scholar “Aelien” in his write-up “Historia Animalium” is said to have described them as a hound with unrivaled scenting powers, so dedicated to their work that they could not be pulled off the scent till their target was found. With this evidence, the bloodhound can be said to be the oldest hound breed to exist and other hound breeds to be a descendant of the bloodhound. Even the great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius made mention of these hounds and their tracking abilities in his memoirs of the Roman Empire History.

Later in the middle ages, the Bloodhound was perfected in the lowlands of Europe at St. Hubert Monastery and also in Britain. The monastery was key to the development of the Bloodhound for high-ranking members of the church in that era. They were bred for prominent kings, princes, and even Bishops. More and more monasteries got funding from the Royals in England and France to develop this breed hence the name Blooded hound, meaning to come out from aristocratic blood. This is far from the impression which most people have of a blood-thirsty dog.

From then to modern times, the Bloodhound has earned the reputation of being an excellent scent hunter. In fact, it can be said that of all dog breeds, the Bloodhound is the best at this, leading to police departments taking advantage of this hound to track down evasive quarries like criminals, missing children, or elderly people, missing items, and more. They can track these items and are stubborn to give up on them till they are found or their trail ends.

The Bloodhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885.

charles nwan

Hi, I am Charles Nwankwo Editor-in-Chief, Mydoggything.com. Gleaning from Professional Dog Trainers, behaviorist, Registered Veterinarians, and Breeders. We are passionate about making dog care easy for you. My job is to make sure that you get the best-updated dog care information to understand and take care of your dog or dogs.