Description

Blood hound dogs are large dogs that can grow to over 100 pounds. They are a large breed dog that is very popular for many reasons. Breeders that have bloodhound puppies claim they go very fast because of their great ability to track and hunt. In fact, they are bred for their amazing ability to track human beings. They possess the keenest sense of smell of any dog of any breed. What's even more amazing is that they can track scents that are a couple days old and for long distances. This is the main reason why police use Bloodhounds to help with missing children, escaped prisoners and hurricane victims.

Another amazing fact about the bloodhound is that they're not real easy to train for obedience. Their tracking ability, which makes them always want to be on the go, may be one reason. The bloodhound has long floppy ears and a very sad look on their face. What's a real surprise is that bloodhound puppies have a very happy and playful look on their face. In fact, many owners of this dog claim that if you see a bloodhound puppy, you'll never believe what they look like when the reach adulthood. They are known also for making a lot of different sounds including baying, howling and whining and all loudly.

Coat Description

The coat of the Bloodhound is short and dense. Their coat is also weatherproof, which makes them adaptable to most kinds of weather. The longest part of their hair is on the bottom part of the tail.

History

The Bloodhound is one of the first hound groups to come about with their origin starting in the 7th century. It is believed that the bloodhounds come from their ancestors, St. Hubert hounds. The St. Hubert hounds were bred by a French monk named Hubert. Hubert became a patron saint of hunters later in his live. The dogs were also bred by other noblemen that wanted scent hounds for hunting. Today's bloodhound has come from a combination of strains of hound, including dogs taken to Europe by crusaders from the Holy Land. As excellent as the breed was, they weren't used to track humans until the 16th century. Today the bloodhound is successfully used in search and rescue and other law enforcement searches. They are so reliable with their scent, that many of their trails are permissible in court cases. In certain parts of Europe, bloodhounds are still considered St. Hubert Hounds.

Temperament

Bloodhounds are very friendly dogs that make excellent pets. They are lovable which makes them excellent with children. They also happen to love children. Even when they are doing searches for people, chances are good that when the person is found, the bloodhound will jump at them to slobber them with kisses. Many escaped criminals have given up their fight because they believed they were going to be attacked rather than the actual kissing, which the bloodhound is so famous for.

As aggressive as bloodhounds are when they are searching for something or someone, they are not aggressive people or other dogs. They may a wonderful and affectionate family pet. They are so passive a tolerant. Whatever young children heap on them, they will just lie there and take. They are calm and much laid back, making them perfect for a family dog.

Health Problems

Bloodhound Dogs are a relatively hardy breed of dog but do have a more than average susceptibility to these congenital and genetic conditions:

[-]Bloat[/-]

[-]Cherry Eye[/-]

[-]Ectropion[/-]

[-]Hip Dysplasia[/-]

[-]Persistent Pupillary[/-]

If you’re considering buying Bloodhound puppies or adult Bloodhounds, it would be wise to speak openly with the breeders of the dogs. Check if they were given the following tests:

[-]Cardiac Evaluation (OFA)[/-]

[-]CERF Screening (Canine Eye Research Foundation)[/-]

[-]Elbow Dysplasia (OFA, by X-Ray)[/-]

[-]Hip Dysplasia (OFA or Penn HIP)[/-]

The long floppy ears of the bloodhound are very susceptible to infection because they hang in the food and water picking up dirt and debris.

Grooming

The Bloodhound doesn't need a lot of grooming. Their coat is short and smooth making it easy to brush and keep clean and fresh. Most bloodhounds enjoy being brushed because of the interaction with their owner. Do not bathe this dog anymore than necessary because too much bathing will take away the natural oils in their skin and leave their skin and coat dry. The Bloodhound doesn't shed very much so regular brushing should be sufficient. Brushing will also help eliminate the odor that bloodhounds tend to develop.

The ears should be cleaned on a regular basis with a moist cotton ball. While you're washing their ears, it's a good time to check for wax or ticks. Make sure the ears are thoroughly dry. Because their ears are so long, they often hang in their food dish and pick up debris that can cause infections. This is the main reason their cleanliness is of such importance. Their nails should be trimmed regularly too as the bloodhounds nails seem to grow very quickly. If they're left untrimmed, they can rip and tear the vein.

Exercise

The Bloodhound needs a lot of exercise and will enjoy getting it with you by his side. Don't assume that because you may have a large back yard that the dog is getting all the attention they need. This dog will be just as happy being lazy as moving around unless you're there to prod him. They do have a high amount of stamina, however, which makes them such good scent dogs. When they get on a trail of something, they don't want to stop until they find what they're looking for. This is something that you need to consider when you're walking with your bloodhound. If they manage to pick up a scent that interests them, they won't be content walking at leisurely pace anymore.

The best kind of exercise for your bloodhound is to take him or her on a long walk each day. As an adult dog, they will last longer than you will. However, when they are puppies don't tire them out too much. Let them be the judge of how much exercise they need. Bloodhounds need mental stimulation as much as physical exercise. Getting them involved in obedience games and ball sports often interests them. Although they are not the easiest dog to train by far, they don enjoy the interaction.

Training

The Bloodhound is not an easy dog to train. Although they are intelligent, they are stubborn and tend to become lazy at times. You need to use patience; firmness and consistency with this dog or you won't get too far. Don't let their puppy dog eyes get to you. They are great manipulators with their sad eyes. Because the bloodhound matures slower than other dogs, don't expect too much out of them at too early of an age.

Their get bored very quickly so keep the training stimulating and exciting and only as long as they are still focusing. They respond better to positive reinforcement than anything. The use of treats as a reward for good training sessions seems to please them as well. Their training should begin at as young of an age as possible.