Bloodhounds

The Bloodhound is a scent hound unequalled, some say, by any other breed. The name actually does not mean that it scents or tracks “blood” as is commonly believed. The Bloodhound was a dog that was held in favor by the English “bluebloods” or nobility and that is the origin of the name.

The Bloodhound is an ancient breed and has remained relatively stable since long before the coming of Christ. This is a dog that has always been used for trailing humans. A well trained Bloodhound, when on the trail, travels with great purpose and determination and often will be tireless for hours.

It is said that a good Bloodhound can trail the scent particles which have wafted out the window of a vehicle as it travels. In fact this has been speculated about in the records of some of the man hunts which have been recorded in various locales in the United States. The dog in any case has such a strong drive to follow a trail and such a talent for scent discrimination that there have been instances where “contaminated” trails older than five days have been successfully followed.

The Bloodhound is susceptible to the condition of inverted eyelids. This can be surgically corrected. If not done, the dog can be in severe pain, so this is a condition which an owner needs to be aware of. Bloodhounds are also one of the breeds which seem to be predisposed to bloat, which is common in many of the larger breeds. And of course, as is also the case with most of the larger breeds, hip dysplasia is a continuing problem and animals that are to be used for breeding need to be x-rayed for this condition.

The bloodhound’s distinctive look, wrinkled and pendulous, actually contributes to it’s scenting capability. The long ears sweep the ground and help to bring up the smells into the dog’s nasal passages. The long muzzle which is also very “deep” is another factor which enhances the dog’s natural scenting ability. He is a large dog, males weighing over 100 pounds and standing 27 inches tall.

The body is big boned, feet seem to be overly large for the size of the breed, the legs are heavy boned and sturdy. The colors of the coat can be deep red, black and tan, or liver and tan. The coat is dense and short and somewhat oily. The loose folds of skin on the flews and below the muzzle on the chest and chin need to be kept clean if the dog drools, (many of them are “droolers”) Other than that a good wipe down with a towel will suffice most of the time.

It is essential that this dog have early contact with people, this is part of its nature. It should not be used as an attack animal. This is a dog with a sweet and gentle personality, however it can be stubborn and difficult to train and has a great deal of strength and power in its shoulders. If not properly trained to a leash early, it is often too much for a person without “dog sense” to handle.

This is a dog that has so much concentration on what he is smelling that he puts himself in danger when off leash, he will pay no attention to cars, but remain attentive to whatever smell he is tracking. He is a dog of a generous nature and loves to be with his family. As puppies, they are large and awkward and clumsy. A household with a puppy bloodhound definitely needs to be puppy proofed as it will investigate everything thoroughly.

Image taken on 2008-02-28 10:08:58 by Contadini.

We begin this article with the basic facts about the breed, then follow up with an in-depth look at their personality.

Breed group: Hounds

Weight: male: 90-110, female: 80-100 lbs

Height: male: 25-27, female: 23-25 inches

Overview

Bloodhounds are an ancient dog breed, and its origin is not entirely known. It is however known that they have been perfected by monks in Belgium. The Normans first brought these dogs into England and the United States. Bloodhound is hunting dogs, but they love tracking more. Seeing that these dogs are scent hounds, they will loose interest quickly and rather follow the scent. These dogs are often used as companion and tracking dogs, especially to track down game, lost children and criminals.

Temperament

The Bloodhound is a gentle, tolerant, dignified, easy-going and adorable dog. They love to show affection, and are very good with children. They are good natured companion dogs that will allow children to climb all over them. The Bloodhound is very fond of attention, especially from children. Children should be taught however to not hurt these dogs as these dogs will not object at all. This breed full of energy, and are very lively especially when still young. These dogs have a tendency to be disobedient, but are very gentle in general. Bloodhounds will get along with everyone, and will welcome wanted and unwanted guests without warmly. Some will however bark to let you know when strangers are in the vicinity. They will get along fairly well with other dogs and pets in the family – they do however have a tendency to drool and snore quite a bit. The Bloodhound is able to go after any scent, even a human scent. This is a very uncommon ability in any dog. It is known that these dogs can follow trails that are over 100 years old. They will also stay on a trail for over 100 miles because they are so determined. These dogs should however be fenced in, otherwise they will wander off. Most Bloodhounds can not be walked off the leash.

Care

The Bloodhound does not require a lot of maintenance, but it is important to clean under the folds of their skin to avoid dry and itchy skin. They should also be brushed often to remove any excessive and dead hair, as they can shed a lot on a seasonal basis. This breed has long and droopy ears, and it should be cleaned frequently to avoid ears that are infected and painful.

Training

The Bloodhound should be trained in a firm, but also gentle manner. They can be stubborn, but owners of these dogs should be patient.

It is very important to be consistent when training these dogs, as they will know how to get around training by their pitiable looks. Although these dogs are not very obedient, they are very calm animals. They will often make their own decision rather than following the orders of their trainers.

Health problems

Although this is a fairly tough breed, they do have a few health conditions potential owners should be aware of such as hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, and elbow dysplasia, inversion of the eyelids and also excessive skin folds and wrinkles.