Bloodhound

Quick facts

	AKC Group:	Hound
	Height:	Male: 25-27 inches, Female: 23-25 inches
	Weight:	Male: 90-110 pounds, Female: 80-100 pounds
	Colors:	Black and tan, liver and tan, red
AKC recognized in:		1885

The Bloodhound is fondly referred to as the Sleuth Hound or Saint Hubert Hound. For lack of evidence, it has yet to be proven whether William the Conqueror brought over its early ancestors from Normandy, France. Although its origin lies mainly in France, legend says it was first bred in the Saint Hubert Monastery of Belgium from 1000 to 1200 A.D.

By the time of the French Revolutionary Wars in the 1700’s, Bloodhounds had practically become rare and forgotten but for the efforts of Baron Le Couteulx de Canteleu of France. From France and Britain, the first Bloodhounds were exported to the United States. The original Saint Hubert strain must have died out by the 19th century, but the strong and hardy Bloodhounds persist to this day.

Bloodhounds have been scent trackers and sleuth hounds for ages. This fact is supported by stories and writings from Medieval Scotland in the 1300’s. In the 16th century, it gained recognition for following the scent of blood in men and game. It became renowned for its ability to track thieves, poachers, and raiders travelling across borders and territories.

Originally bred to hunt game like deer and wild boar, Bloodhounds are now used to track human scent. They have helped law enforcement agencies track down many missing persons and escaped criminals all across the country. Amazingly, these hounds can follow a scent through long distances for hours or even days.

Now that both deer-hunting and wild-boar hunting are on a steady decline, the use of the Bloodhound has greatly diminished. Only the aristocratic few and avid hound enthusiasts have continued to keep Bloodhounds as cherished pets.

Temperament

Bloodhound Summary
Affection
Cold Tolerance
Ease of Training
Energy level
Exercise Requirements
Friendliness : Children
Friendliness: Other Animals
Friendliness: Other Pets
Grooming Requirements
Heat Tolerance
Playfulness
Protection Ability
Watchdog Ability

As to voice, the Bloodhound bay is one of the most unique and impressive among all hound noises. For such a large-framed, heavy-boned breed, it remains one of the gentlest hounds.

Gentle and even-tempered, the Bloodhound makes a pleasant and loyal companion. They are naturally friendly and affectionate towards people. It always pays to be cautious, though, especially when they’re around small children.

Unless it has been obedience-trained early and successfully, this hound can be somewhat difficult and willful. That’s because it is driven by a powerful scent-tracking instinct.

Health and Exercise

As one of the shortest-lived breed of dogs, a Bloodhound only enjoys a moderate lifespan of 6 to 7 years on the average.

True to its inquisitive and persistent nature, a Bloodhound will stop to investigate at anything and everything. Because this active breed tends to overheat rapidly, you should keep your dog well-hydrated and exercised to shed off those extra pounds.

A remarkably high incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses seems to ail these purebred dogs. Among their gastrointestinal problems, bloating would be the most common of all. Unfortunately, a bloat appears to be the leading cause of death among bloodhounds.

Next in line would be cancers of the eye, ear, and skin which come with grooming and age. Thus, these sense organs should be frequently inspected to check for any signs of infection or disease.

Visitor Comments

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