The forebears of the Bloodhound were developed in
mediaeval France to track deer and boar. This is now a very active and
intelligent canine breed with a remarkable sense of scent that has earned them
a specific niche in law enforcement and search and rescue. Their followers like
them because of their nice demeanour and distinct features.Despite the fact
that this is a purebred dog, you could discover one in a shelter or with a
rescue group. If you think this is the breed for you, consider adopting one.
If you don't mind a little drool here and there,
you'll have a hard time finding a more attentive and caring companion for
experienced dog owners. However, newcomers should be aware of the breed's
reputation for intransigence and sensitivity. Bloodhounds require rigorous,
constant training as well as a lot of activity. You'll be rewarded with a
content and joyful best companion for life if you meet the breed's
requirements.
This large, spacious crate is recommended by DogTime
for giving your large Bloodhound a place to rest and unwind. For any outdoor
trips you have with your dog, you should also pick up this dog water bottle!
Bloodhound Dogs Highlights
Breed Size
Large
Nature
Playful, Friendly
Energy Level
Cool
Intelligence
Medium
Barking Level
Infrequent
Coat Length
Short
Breed Group
Hound
Droll Amount
High
Good with
Familes, Children, Dog
Feed Level
Medium, High
Colour Type
Black,fawn,red,brown / chocolate / liver
Other Facts
Tendency to chew,strong loyalty tendencies,good hiking companion.
Dog History
For millennia, dogs that hunt by scent have been
known. Dogs that "find and trace out the animal's traces" have been
reported from the first century AD. However, it was in mediaeval Europe that
the dogs began to evolve into the Bloodhound scenthound we know today.
The name "William of Palerne" was first
used in a poem by Sir Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, named William of
Palerne (1350). It portrays a Bloodhound dog as a meticulous hunter on the
trail of two lovers dressed as bears.
We may assume from that poetry that the term
Bloodhound was a well-known word in the English language. The term stems from
the dogs' reputation as an aristocratic breed preserved by noblemen and abbots;
it was a "blooded" hound, in other words.
These early scenthounds were known as St. Hubert
hounds, and they were the progenitors of today's Bloodhounds. They were raised
by the monks of St. Hubert's Abbey. Francois Hubert (656-727) was a devoted
hunter who dedicated his life to breeding hounds capable of following ancient,
or cold, traces, a profession he continued even after his wife died and he
retired to a monastery.He was canonised after his death and became the patron
saint of hunters. Bloodhounds are still referred to as St. Hubert hounds in
France.
Hubert's hounds lived for generations after his
death. When William the Conqueror entered England in 1066, he brought them with
him. Monarchs and nobility regarded them as treasured presents. Elizabeth I was
a famed huntress, and Shakespeare depicted a dog that could only be a St.
Hubert hound in his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
The French Revolution, however, drove the St. Hubert
hounds to their knees a thousand years after they were founded. The grand hunts
were no longer possible since the aristocracy had left and the chateaus were in
ruins.
Fortunately for the breed, it was still valued in
England, not just for its hunting abilities, but also for its ability to seek
down wrongdoers. Although legends of Bloodhounds being used to hunt criminals
and poachers date back to the 16th century, the earliest recorded mention of
their doing so was in 1805.
They also profited from three Victorian-era trends:
the rise of dog exhibitions, the increased position of dogs as companions, and
a culture that was fascinated by the strange and odd. They also had the support
of Queen Victoria, a dog lover who entered one of her Bloodhounds in a dog
exhibition in 1869.
The contemporary Bloodhound was developed in
England, although the breed had already made its way to America during colonial
times. Benjamin Franklin showed an interest in obtaining Bloodhounds to track
down raiding Indians in a letter.
The Bloodhound's image was tarnished during the Civil
War for no fault of his own, due to the breed's portrayal as violent animals in
Harriet Beecher Stowe's antislavery classic Uncle Tom's Cabin. The popularity
of the breed dwindled until three English Bloodhounds appeared in the
Westminster Kennel Club show in 1888. They were reintroduced to the United
States by wealthy Americans, who began breeding them again, producing some
excellent dogs.
Today, law enforcement organisations use the
Bloodhound mostly as a mantrailer or for search and rescue activities. They are
a rare breed, ranked 45th out of 155 recognised breeds and variations by the
American Kennel Club.
22-27 inch 43-55 kg 7-10 yearHeight
Weight
Life Span
Health and Care
Bloodhounds are typically healthy, however they are
susceptible to some health issues, as with all breeds. Although not all
Bloodhounds will contract one or more of these diseases, it's crucial to be
aware of them if you're thinking about getting one.
Find a reliable breeder who will show you health
clearances for both your dog's parents if you're buying a puppy. Health
clearances demonstrate that a dog has been checked for and cleared of a certain
disease.
Health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for
Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia (with a score of fair or better), elbow
dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand's disease; thrombopathia from
Auburn University; and normal eyes from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation
(CERF) should all be expected in Bloodhounds. The OFA website can be used to
verify health clearances (offa.org).
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
Care
Bloodhounds should be indoor/outdoor canines who
interact with their owners frequently. They work well in houses with big
fenced-in yards. Many of them are escape artists, thus fences of at least six
feet in height are required. A Bloodhound will not be contained by underground
electrical barriers. His eagerness to track out a smell outweighs his dread of
a brief jolt.
Bloodhounds are known for having one arm that is
always longer than the other. Because of his nose pushing him ahead as he
follows a trail, this breed is a strong puller. Your Bloodhound can learn to
walk well on a leash, and he must be leashed when outside the yard to prevent
him from fleeing in search of the cause of an attack.
Bloodhounds require extensive daily walks and can
run for kilometres. This is the breed for you if you live in the country or
like trekking. They'd be excellent jogging companions. You can also want to
prepare your Bloodhound for tracking tests or search and rescue operations.
A Bloodhound puppy's activity should be limited, as
it should be for all breeds, until he achieves physical maturity. The rule of
thumb is 5 minutes each month of age, so a 3-month-old puppy should only be
exercised for 15 minutes per day, a 4-month-old for 20, and so on. Recognize
your dog's signals of exhaustion.
Bloodhound pups are curious, nosy, and interested in
everything. The use of a crate is strongly advised. It will not only keep them
out of mischief and protect your stuff, but it will also help with
housetraining. This breed is rather easy to housetrain, however a crate will
assist him in learning to regulate his pee and intestines.
Keep food firmly out of reach for your adult
Bloodhound, since he is just the correct height to go counter-surfing. He can
clear a coffee table with a stroke of his long, tapered tail. Breakables may be
better placed elsewhere.
Chewers by nature, bloodhounds of all ages will chew
on anything that smells nice or looks intriguing. Make sure your Bloodhound
understands what's okay to chew and what's not. He may still devour your lawn
furniture, but he'll be less inclined to do so if you've given him lots of chew
toys and activity.
Dog Breed Care Tips and Important
Instructions
The coat of a bloodhound is short, but it sheds once
or twice a year. Weekly brushing will keep hair off your furnishings, and
regular bathing will assist to reduce the doggy stench of your bloodhound.
To avoid crusty buildup, wash their eyes with a
tissue or cotton pad daily, and clean their ears with unscented baby wipes or a
liquid ear drying treatment. Check the wrinkles in his skin around his face as
well, since water (and kibble fragments) might get caught there.
Wendt thinks the most important thing to remember
about bloodhound care is that they drool. Quite a bit. She suggests keeping a
cloth handy to clean up any drool that may gather.
"If you're picky, bloodhounds are not the breed
for you," Wendt explains. "They simply aren't. They drool, and the
drool shoots everywhere as they move their heads."
Bloodhounds are independent thinkers who may not
always be the best in doggie obedience classes. They are, nonetheless, clever
creatures that can be taught with patience and good reward.
"You're pretty darn lucky if you can get your
bloodhound to sit on command," Wendt adds, adding that "you're pretty
darn lucky if you can get your bloodhound to [lay] down on order."
"When they're fatigued, they'll usually 'down' the best." They do,
however, quickly take up tracking. Bloodhounds are still often utilised as
search-and-rescue dogs nowadays.
Feeding
4 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food per day, split
into two meals, is the recommended daily quantity.The amount of food your adult
dog consumes is determined by his size, age, build, metabolism, and degree of
activity. Dogs, like people, are unique individuals that require different
amounts of food. It practically goes without saying that a dog that is very
active will require more than a dog who is sedentary. The type of dog food you
buy makes a difference as well; the better the dog food, the more it will
nourish your dog and the less you'll have to shake into his bowl.
Rather than putting food out all the time, measure
his food and feed him twice a day to keep your Bloodhound in good form. Give
him the eye and hands-on tests if you're not sure if he's overweight.
Look down at him first. There should be a waist
visible. Then, with your thumbs down his spine and fingers stretched downward,
place your hands on his back. Without pressing too much, you should be able to
feel but not see his ribs. If you can't, he'll need to eat less and exercise
more.
Because bloodhounds are messy eaters, you should
tuck their ears into a snood before feeding them. To avoid the ears from
dragging in water bowls, choose dishes with a narrow diameter.
Gastric torsion, often known as bloat, is a common
problem in bloodhounds. Bloating can be caused by having a large meal and then
drinking a lot of water, doing a lot of activity right before or after a meal,
serving food in high feeding bowls, and stress. When feeding your Bloodhound,
keep these things in mind.
Fun Facts
- Mickey Mouse's dog Pluto, Duke from "The
Beverly Hillbillies," and Trusty from Lady and the Tramp are just a few of
the well-known fictional bloodhounds.
- Nick Carter, a real-life super detective, is one of
the most famous bloodhounds. Nick, who was born in 1900, discovered almost 650
individuals, including one who had been on the trail for 12 days!
- A average bloodhound's nose contains 230 million
smell receptors, which is around 40 times more than a human's.
Home Training Tips and General Information
- Love is all a dog requires.
- One of the most prevalent dog claims I hear as a
canine behavioural consultant is that all a dog requires is love. Is that
correct or incorrect? You might be surprised by my response!
- There are four things you must do correctly.
- It doesn't have to be difficult to train your
Bloodhound puppy. You can influence your puppy's behaviour and make training
easier right now by doing four simple things.
- What Should You Teach? (and When)
- Dog training begins the minute your puppy arrives at
your home. If you utilise the incorrect training approach, your puppy will
begin to make decisions about how he wants you to fit into his life, which will
lead to conflict and behavioural issues. You must respond appropriately to
anything your puppy does, or he will learn the incorrect things. Here is my
suggested training schedule (what to teach and when to teach it) for your
Bloodhound puppy.
- Teach your bloodhound to be respectful of you.
- I utilise and suggest "Respect Training"
as a dog training strategy for Bloodhounds. When you say "No," a dog
who respects you will stop what he's doing and do what you say. You may teach
your dog to respect you by following these steps.
- Teach The Correct Words In The Correct Context
- My training approach for Bloodhounds includes
teaching certain phrases in precise ways so that your dog not only learns the
words but also develops the respectful attitude that motivates him to obey you.
Teach your dog to comprehend what you're saying by teaching him words. Teach
those terms in the proper context, and he will follow your instructions.
Your Bloodhound's Housebreaking
- There are two essentials to breaking into a house.
There are only two, but you must get them both correct. And I don't mean 50
percent correct; I mean 100 percent correct. Otherwise, you'll wind up with a
dog that is only 50% toilet trained, which no one wants. So there you have it:
your two keys to breaking into a house.
- Getting to Know Your Bloodhound
- Socialization is teaching your Bloodhound how to
interact with strangers and other animals in a friendly manner.
FAQS
What should I know before I buy a Bloodhound? |
These huge scent hounds are dedicated to their owners and are friendly,
patient, and kind. Bloodhounds get along well with children and other
animals. On the downside, these hounds have a proclivity for snoring,
drooling, and howling. They are self-reliant and tenacious, especially while
concentrating on a smell. |
Is it possible to let Bloodhounds off the leash? |
Off-leash bloodhounds should not be trusted. The chance of them putting
their nose to the ground and taking off in a planned and determined manner,
oblivious to your frantic screams, is too big. |
Is it true that Bloodhounds make good house dogs? |
The Bloodhound is a terrific family dog for the most part. They have a
calm and affectionate attitude, which makes them a good choice for pet
owners. They know how to be lazy when lying about with the family, despite
the fact that they require a lot of physical exercise to keep them happy. |
What two fascinating facts about the Bloodhound do you know? |
Bloodhounds have an unrivalled sense of smell and tracking ability. Its
nose contains 300 million scent sensors, and it is frequently utilised by law
enforcement to track fugitive inmates, missing individuals, and pets. |
What is the best way to train a bloodhound? |
Use your reward, but instead of offering it to him directly as he sits,
bring it down to the ground and give it to him while he's lying down.
Continue to practise until it becomes second nature to him and he can easily
lie down. Begin by introducing the command. Say "down" before
giving him a reward as he follows the goodie down. |
Is it true that Bloodhounds are stupid? |
The Bloodhound is the 133rd brightest dog breed out of 138 breeds in
terms of obedience and working IQ. However, this does not imply that they are
stupid dogs. Bloodhounds, on the other hand, are clever because of their
instinctual intelligence, or their ability to track efficiently with their
noses. |
Bloodhound Dogs Unique Name
Male Name | Female Name |
---|---|
Bruno | Bailey |
Bubba | Casey |
Carter | Gidget |
Cooper | Josie |
Frankie | Khloe |
Fritz | Lily |
Kobe | Miley |
Loki | Moxie |
Lucky | Muffin |
Maximus | Piper |
Otis | Princess |
Quincy | Riley |
Reggie | Rose |
Rider | Sandy |
Rufus | Shelby |
Theo | Star |
Wrigley | Bridgette |
Bear | Bugsey |
T-bird | Chessie |
Yang | Maple |