Bloodhound Breed Description

An Owner's Bloodhound Description
I believe Duke was created with a gift and it would be a crime for him not to use it. Because of his extremely lovable nature it can be a real temptation to make him strictly a house pet. But Duke is a tracker; that's his destiny. His gift of smell and his persistence to follow a scent to the end is so keen that he is the only animal whose evidence is allowed in a court of law. He was bred to track the wounded and to follow the scent of blood.

Since kids adore him and Duke allows them to climb all over him, I have to keep a close watch when they come to play with him. His gentle nature will allow tots to do anything - even something hurtful - and he will not respond in a negative way. He simply loves kids so much that he will tolerate any unpleasantness.

Duke can be shy, even timid, at times. He's never aggressive. But when it's time to work, he puts his nose to the ground and he's off. Working along with other dogs, Duke will often ignore my commands and with single-mindedness of a true Bloodhound and pursue his goal until he's come to the end of the scent, finding the intended subject. Of course, it's not always an animal that Duke hunts. He's been the lead for many missing people searches, with great success.

Duke can be very sensitive so I have to handle his discipline with mildness while being firm and consistent. He can get to howling and that sound can be kind of haunting. You can also hear him snore when he is really relaxed and that's loud enough to keep you up at night! His drool will bring on some screams from the kids when he shakes his head and they are close by.

Duke took his time to outgrow his puppy-dog ways, but once he did mature he became extremely responsible and dependable in carrying out his tasks. Still, there are times that he can be a bit stubborn, so patience in getting him motivated is essential. Of course, anytime there is a fresh trail to follow, he's self-motivated, generally without restraint. I can never just take him out for walk in the park, so to speak, without putting him on a leash. There are just too many smells to follow

 

 

Introduction

These famous scent hounds have their origins in England as far back as the 11th century. The white variety, which existed in medieval Europe, was named the Talbot Hound. These dogs thrive on the hunt, rather than the kill. The coat colors are black and tan, liver and tan or red. These dogs need little grooming except for the ears and eyes. They are good with children and get along with other dogs. They are not easy to obedience train. These dogs weigh 80 to 110 lbs. and stand 23-27" at the shoulders.

History

Bloodhounds are large dogs famous for their knack for following scents (which are sometimes hours or days old) 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 frequently depicted bloodhounds in their paintings towards the end of the 19th century. 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 including the American foxhound, Swiss Jura Hound, English foxhound, Bavarian Mountain Hound and Coonhound.

Description

Today's 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. The dogs 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 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 are around small children since they can knock them down with their huge mass. Bloodhounds can also be stubborn sometimes and are known for their excessive drooling. They are not loud barkers; in fact, when tracking they do not make loud noises like other scent hounds.

Health and Care

A Bloodhound should be properly groomed at least once a week to remove dead and unwanted fur. Just like other dogs, grooming should start at an early age so that they get used to the routine; 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 should 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 was Captain G.V. Mullikin from Lexington, Kentucky.

Colors

black and tan, liver and tan, or red. The darker colors are sometimes interspersed with lighter or badger-colored hair and some times flecked or roaned with white. White may also be found on the chest, feet and tip of stern.

Living Area

While they can handle living in an apartment (they love being couch potatoes), it is best that they have a large yard to play in. They require a great deal of exercise, and play time. Leash walking is really your only option unless you are prepared to chase the dog once he has caught the scent of something that interests him. Don't over walk or run a young Hound or it will cause joint problems later. This dog will not do well being chained up all day.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

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