Bloodhound
Description
Being a direct
descendant of the St Huber Hound, the Bloodhound was developed in the Middle
Ages and introduced to England by William the Conqueror. Having a
history
extending back to the 7th Century AD in France, "Blood," in the breed
name "bloodhound," probably comes from "blooded" - meaning a hound of
pure breeding. Many strains, including hounds brought back to Europe by
the Crusaders from the Holy Land, have blended to produce today's gentle
giants and it was not until the 16th century that the Bloodhound was
used to track humans which enjoyed a steady increase in modern day law
enforcement and search and rescue. They
have not only been able to find their quarry successfully, but also pursue people who are travelling in vehicles, as well as locating bodies in water.
Temperament
This somewhat strong-willed breed is affectionate
around familiar people but can be reserved and sensitive with strangers.
When outdoors they are outgoing, happy and energetic and can
take somewhat longer than some breeds to formally train.
If compared with other breeds the incredibly sensitive
Bloodhound can be stubborn, willful, very disobedient and you cannot
discipline a bloodhound like you can an average dog, they need firm,
fair, and most importantly, consistent but, also gentle handling. Possessing a
rather strong pack instinct, they can suffer emotionally if left alone
or locked away for hours at a time. They are not for all; due to
generous flews they can fling saliva 20 feet with one shake of their
head. Friendly and usually good with children, care must be taken with
young ones as they could knock a toddler over with one wag of their
mighty tail.
Appearance
Height:
58-69cm
(23-27in)
Weight: 36-50kg (80-110lb)
The powerful looking, muscular and strongly built
breed is a large dog with a noble head and deep sunken medium-sized
eyes with skin which may pull the lower eyelids down giving that
“morning after” look. This dog’s short coat comes in the colours of
black and tan, liver and tan and red, with the darker colors sometimes
interspersed with lighter or badger colored hair and sometimes flecked
with white.
Grooming
Basically a “wash and wear” type of dog,
their coat requiries a wipe over with a glove once a week and
a good wash when it begins to smell. They need to have their face folds
checked and wiped daily, ears and eyes checked and wiped weekly and it
is recommend keeping a hand towel ready to wipe the drool they tend to
share with everyone.
If you don't have the
time to bath or groom your Bloodhound, your local dog grooming
salon provides these services.
Life Expectancy
8-10 Years
Health Concerns
Health problems most common with this breed are Entropian
or Ectropian, of the eyes, eyelid however this is able to be rectified
with surgery. Also hip and elbow Dysplasia which is a potentially
crippling disease and because of their physical shape these dogs are
extremely prone to Gastric Torsion or Bloat as it is more commonly
called.
Suitability
This highly active breed requires a well-fenced
backyard in which to run and some say that these dogs are often too
large even for suburban blocks, however, with an afternoon's playing
with kids or a daily walk they could be happy enough. The Bloodhound is
an ideal pet for active people who love the outdoors and are willing to
take the dog with them and are good with kids older than 10 but not a
dog recommended for the elderly. They need to be given the time to roam,
sniff and exercise to keep them in good shape. They should never be
let off the leash as they can put their head down and start
tracking a scent. Basic obedience training is recommended from an early
age.
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