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History
Bloodhounds are large dogs famous for their knack to follow scents which are
sometimes hours or days old and for over long distances. This ability of
bloodhounds has been used to trace missing persons, missing animals and
escaped prisoners. They are also referred to as St. Hubert Hounds as it is
believed that monks residing at the St. Hubert Monastery first bred them.
Briton Riviere and Edwin Landseer towards the end of the 19th Century
frequently depicted bloodhounds in their paintings. The dogs in these
paintings showed very close resemblance to the modern bloodhounds however,
they had fewer wrinkles. The exceptional tracking ability of bloodhounds has
been used to breed other scent hounds such as the American foxhound, Swiss
Jura Hound, English foxhound, Bavarian Mountain Hound, and Coonhound
General Description
Bloodhounds are usually tan and black, tan and liver or red in color.
However, the older specimens were mainly black and white. Their coats are
hard and comprise of mainly fur with no hair. They also have unusually large
skeletal structures and their bones hold a good proportion of their weight.
Bloodhounds have long suspending ears which prevent the wind from blowing
skin cells that are close to the dog’s nose when on the ground. The nasal
chambers of bloodhounds are larger than those of other breeds of dogs are
and can detect as little as one skin cell. These dogs also have folds of
flesh called ‘the shawl’ under their necks and lips which catch scent
particles that stray thereby, reinforcing the dogs’ nose and memory.
Temperament
Bloodhounds are gentle, affectionate, even tempered dogs that are tireless
when following scents and also like to take charge. They are usually hard to
train because they tend to follow their own tracking instincts but are also
sensitive to correction. They make excellent pets since they get along well
with both children and other pets. However, they should be carefully watched
when they around small children since they can knock them down with their
huge bulks. Bloodhounds can also be stubborn sometimes and are also known
for their excessive drooling. They are not loud barkers and when tracking
they do not make loud noises like other scent hounds.
Health Care
A bloodhound should be properly groomed at least once a week to remove dead
and unwanted hair. Just like other dogs, grooming should start at an early
age so that they get used to the routine and with time they accept it as a
mode of relaxation. Their ears and eyes should be checked and cleaned
regularly to prevent and eliminate infections. Their teeth should be cleaned
using toothbrushes and toothpaste especially formulated for dogs.
Within the first year of their lives, an owner should ensure that
bloodhounds get all their shots and boosters. They should also be taken to
the veterinarian at least twice in a year but as they grow older their
visits become more frequent.
Important Information
Compared to other dogs that are purebred, bloodhounds tend to suffer from
gastrointestinal ailments especially bloating. Other diseases that are
common among bloodhounds include cancer, eye, ear and skin infections and
heatstroke since their thick coats tend to overheat at a quick rate.
The term ‘bloodhound’ does not refer to how these dogs trail or track but
rather it refers to their status as true blooded hounds or aristocratic.
This is because great care was taken to ensure that bloodhound strain was
kept clean.
One very famous bloodhound born in 1900 was Nick Carter. He is especially
recognized for following a trail that was over 105 hours old. His handler
from Lexington, Kentucky, was Captain G.V. Mullikin
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