Bloodhound

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.

Pets4You offers listings of Bloodhound breeders with puppies for sale.