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Origin: The Mediterranean
Height: Average is about 26 inches at the top of
the shoulder
Weight: 90-100 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 10-11 years
Good With Kids: No
Trainability: Difficult
Somewhat comical to gaze upon, and yet famous
for his sense of smell and tracking abilities,
the Bloodhound is a very old and noble breed of
dog. In fact, while the true origins of this dog
remain a mystery, many believe that his creation
far predates Christianity. Early reference to
the Bloodhound was made as far back as 3 A.D.,
when Claudius Aelianus made note of this
incredible dog in his Historia Animalium. There,
he described the breed as a dog whose ability to
hunt by scent was unrivaled. He also made
mention of how determined the dog was, staying
on the trail until it had located its quarry
against all odds.
While the Bloodhound owes most of his origins to
the Mediterranean countries, it must be said
that he was refined further, following his
introduction to Europe. Originally appearing
there, prior to the Crusades, there were two
known varieties of Bloodhound at the time - the
black and the white. The black variety of this
breed later became known as the famous St.
Huberts’ hounds, while the white were eventually
to become known as the Southern Hounds. By the
12th century, these magnificent hounds had
become a favorite of the English elite and the
breed was fostered by the English church, where
even the bishops were known to ride to the
hounds. The name “Bloodhound,” is in fact a
testament to the great lengths that were taken
to preserve this breed and keep the strain pure;
rather than referring to what this dog tracks,
the name tags them as the “blooded hound,”
meaning that they are aristocratic and of good
breeding, not unlike a blooded horse.
This hound is a large and powerfully-built
dog, standing an average of 26 inches and often
weighing 90-100 pounds, when full grown. With
well-sprung ribs and a flat topline, the
Bloodhound is beautifully put together for what
he is designed to do; with ample heart and lung
space, he is capable of tracking tirelessly and
is large-boned, proving that they are by no
means a fragile plantation flower. Of course,
this magnificent dog’s sense of smell is
unrivaled; they remain the modern representation
of what is considered to be the oldest race of
scent-hounds. The Bloodhound comes in black and
tan, red, and liver and tan, with limited white
markings allowed.
While many know of the Bloodhound’s uncanny
tracking abilities, few seem to be able to see
far beyond the nose and this large hound’s
wrinkled countenance. While he may look like one
of the clowns of the canine world, the
Bloodhound is, in fact, a wonderful companion.
Extremely affectionate, the Bloodhound is a
gentle-natured giant and is rarely aggressive
with his human companions or with other dogs. If
anything, he is a very quiet, solemn, and almost
shy dog, that is quite content to lounge about
on a shady porch when not out tracking a scent.
While their size and their reputation may
intimidate, in truth, the Bloodhound is a good
example of man’s best friend.
While often depicted as large, lazy,
lay-about hounds that prefer to spend their days
lolling about on a front porch, a young
Bloodhound can actually prove to be a very
athletic and energetic individual.
Requiring a couple of good, lengthy walks a day,
as the bare-bones minimum, he is active enough
(not to mention large enough) to make
apartment-style living a definite no.
Bloodhounds should be taken for several good
brisk walks every day and, ideally, should have
a large fenced in back yard, where they can run
and gambol playfully under the supervision of an
attentive owner.
Grooming the Bloodhound is fairly simple and can
be accomplished in just a few short minutes,
once a week. Bear in mind that, while it
may seem that you can get away with brushing
your dog even less, hands-on time with your
canine companion will not only to help the two
of you bond, but it will also give you insight
as to whether or not your pet might have other
health-related issues. Additionally,
taking the time out to put your hands on your
dog and to pet him has also been found to be
very beneficial to our own health, as owners.
Use a bristled brush to remove any dead hair and
dander from your Bloodhound's coat, paying close
attention to the various wrinkles covering your
dog. If need be, take a cloth and gently
remove any dirt or debris from these wrinkles
and, always, be sure to check your hounds ears,
ensuring there is no redness, tenderness or
odor.
The Bloodhound is a very strong willed and
determined individual and, because of this and
his tendency to be distracted by interesting
scents, he can be very difficult to train.
Nevertheless, the Bloodhound still has a very
strong desire to praise and, if the training is
done right, and includes a lot of positive
reinforcement, this stubborn individual can
manage to graduate his obedience training with
flying colors. The key is using the 3-P's
method: Persistence, Patience and Praise.
Like any breed of dog, the Bloodhound is subject
to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet
is, when deciding to choose a new Bloodhound
puppy, check around with several breeders and
ask about the various health issues that can
affect these beautiful big dogs. A reputable
breeder should be well-versed in the health
concerns and should be able to give you more
details, as well as showing you the sire and dam
of your potential puppy. Some of the health
problems that can affect Bloodhounds include:
- Bloat
- Elbow dysplasia
- Hip dysplasia
- Fold dermatitis
- Hypothyroidism
- Eye problems
- Ear problems
Bloodhounds can make great
family pets, but there is a lot to consider
before getting one. The size of these dogs is
the number one concern: they will quickly
outgrow your average house and need a fenced
yard to be able to have plenty of exercise. For
that same reason – size – Bloodhounds need to be
watched around small children; they can easily
knock a child down, without meaning to, just by
moving around. Bloodhounds are slobbery and
messy; they love rolling in stuff – whatever
kind of “stuff” they can find outside. They are
not only chewers but also eaters of things that
are not supposed to be eaten, which can require
costly surgery. It you don’t mind all that, you
can give this breed a try. Remember though that
an adult Bloodhound will have great difficulties
to adjust to a new home, so if you do get one,
it’d better be for life.
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Bloodhound dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Bloodhound information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Bloodhound dog breed, while avoiding
the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to
capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know
of a Bloodhound information site that offers unique, quality
information and photos of the Bloodhound breed, please contact us
with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can
consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Bloodhounds are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Bloodhound pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what
these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you
decide if you really want to become a Bloodhound owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of Bloodhound dogs, Bloodhound
puppy photos, funny Bloodhound photos and more. Enjoy!
 Now
that you have decided that the Bloodhound is the right breed for
you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible
Bloodhound breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized
puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad
breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Bloodhound puppy you
find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a
responsible Bloodhound breeder, you may need to pay more and wait
longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it.
Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard
breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional
expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love
with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely
need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication -
or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible,
caring Bloodhound breeder who home-raises their puppies with love,
screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health
guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Bloodhound breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than
profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy,
happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will
provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and
companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Bloodhound
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
Bloodhound clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even
more about the Bloodhound dog breed, help you locate a responsible
Bloodhound breeder, or help you find a Bloodhound dog or puppy in
need of a second chance for a loving, forever home. We've compiled
the following list of Bloodhound clubs and Bloodhound rescues web
sites for your convenience:
- Athfar - (All
things happen for a reason) Private shelter specializing
in Bloodhounds. Experience of man trailer training and
matching hound for right home. Located in Woodland Park,
CO.
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Bloodhound Adoption Center - Bloodhound rescue
directors and groups in the USA.
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BloodhoundLovers - Small family rescue in Oklahoma.
Pictures of available dogs as well as pictures of dogs
across the country.
- Dog
Rescue Pages - Phone numbers to check availability /
advice on rehoming a bloodhound in UK.
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Midwest Bloodhound Rescue - Non-profit, volunteer
organization with general information about the breed,
and details of hounds recently requiring help in
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri,
Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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Southeast Bloodhound Rescue - A non-profit
organization working to rescue and relocate bloodhounds
in the Southeastern United States.
Choosing a name for your Bloodhound puppy can be a daunting task!
There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot of
thought and research to find just the right name for your
Bloodhound. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few
days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide
on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A
serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange
love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Bloodhound puppy over the
first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what type
of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet names
web sites on the internet. Some are excellent information resources,
while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites hoping to cash
in on visitor hits for this popular subject area.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Bloodhound puppy. These sites offer inventive, unique,
original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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