Bloodhounds are purebred scent hounds that hunt together, called Sagaces. This comes from the Latin term “sagacious,” which marks their remarkable quality as scenthounds. Initially, they were bred by medieval Europeans to chase deer and boars. They are very active and never lazy to accompany you for long walks, hikes, and jogging. In addition, he can perform excellently in search and rescue operations.
Bloodhounds are lovable family dogs but would need meticulous care. If you are a novice owner, he will take over you owing to his stubborn streaks. However, they are kids-friendly and can coexist with other pets. Generally, they are warm with strangers. Bloodhounds are one among the unique dog breeds that are ranked 45th by the AKC. They are much sought after for their sweet demeanor and lovely appearance. Read on to know more about this pawmate!
Table of Contents
Bloodhound Overview
Bloodhounds are active dogs who are primarily known for hunting by scent. Therefore, daily exercise is necessary for these canines, and positive training methods encourage them to perform competently. Although they have hunting instincts, they will coexist with other pets exceptionally well.
Bloodhounds are happy to live in a large fenced yard. However, they are unsuitable for homes with smaller kids because they can be rambunctious. Never leave them unsupervised with children. Although their coats need minimal care, their grooming needs are higher owing to their skin folds and their susceptibility to ear infections.
Other Names: St. Hubert Hound,Saint Hubert Hound, Chien de Saint-Hubert, Flemish Hound
Breed’s Original Pastimes: Hunting
Life Span: 11 to 15 years
History of Bloodhound
The history of Bloodhounds dates back to the 7th century. It is believed that St. Hubert (Belgium) and his monks perfected and bred these dogs. Also known as Flemish Hounds, Bloodhounds descend from this lineage. The Normans brought the canines later to England and, further, to the United States of America. William the Conqueror brought a handful of Bloodhounds when he arrived in England in 1066. To this day, Bloodhounds are employed for man trailing and search and rescue work.
Bloodhound Highlights
Bloodhounds are great family companions.
They are kid-friendly but need supervision initially.
Bloodhounds are not suitable for first-time owners.
Bloodhounds are pet friendly and can co-exist with them.
Early socialization and training are mandatory for these dogs as they can be rambunctious.
A bored Bloodhound can be a destructive dog.
Bloodhounds are great escape artists and diggers.
Although they can adapt to apartment living, large homes with fenced yards are ideal.
Bloodhound Personality
Bloodhounds are giant dogs standing 24 to 26 inches tall and weighing 80 – 110 lbs. A long face with wrinkles, droopy jowls, loose skin hanging, deeply set eyes, and floppy ears are remarkable features of this breed. The hollow, sunken eyes of Bloodhounds will leave a dignified impression in your heart. Bloodhounds boast short and flat coats that come in black and tan, liver and tan, or red. Finally, they bear powerful forequarters and hindquarters that keep them agile.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
High
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
High
Pet-friendly
High
Stranger -friendly
High
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
Low
Good to new owners
Low to medium
Sensitivity level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Low to medium
Cold-tolerance
Medium
Heat-tolerance
Medium
Bloodhound Physical Features
Head: Their heads are narrow and long, muzzles are long, and noses are black. Their eyes are sunken and diamond-shaped, varying in colors from deep golden to yellow. Their soft, floppy ears are elongated and hung low.
Neck: Bloodhounds have a long neck with an additional wrinkled skin hanging loose around the neck and head in deep folds with the dewlaps pronounced.
Topline: Their topline is symmetrical and has a black coat. Their shoulders are muscular and sloped appropriately at the back. The loin is deep and a little arched.
Body: The body is long, straight, and proportionate to the head, with skin hanging loosely. The chest is not so deep, and the ribs are well-sprung with white markings.
Tail: The tail stands high with a little curve on the topline at the back.
Forequarters: Their forelegs are straight and sturdy, divided by a deep keel chest. Their elbows are set squarely.
Hindquarters: The hindlegs are strong and muscular, with well-bent hocks aiding in free movements and balance.
Coat: They boast wrinkled, short skin that is rough textured. The hair on the ears and across the head is soft.
Color: The color of the coat includes black and tan, red, red and tawny, and liver and tan.
Gait: Their gait is free, with the stern carried slightly high over the back. Their stern also bears some white markings.
Bloodhound Temperament
Gentle, kind, and affectionate, Bloodhounds are lovable dogs. These dogs do well with children but would not like to glue with them and would not like getting pestered by them. On the other hand, Bloodhounds welcome all the attention of their owners. They thoroughly sniff whatever they find, including humans – sometimes an unwelcoming and rare ability found in Bloodhounds. Thus, Bloodhounds are a blend of these qualities rolled into one:
Even-tempered
Patient
Affectionate
Loyal
Outdoorsy
Independent
Determined
Attention loving
Gentle
Bloodhound Training
Training Bloodhounds is not a cake walk especially if they are novice owners. Thus, firmness and consistency are vital to handle these canines. Bloodhounds can go sniffing around, so training them on a leash is strongly recommended to keep their “hunting by scent” instincts in check. Since Bloodhounds are great droolers, they will have snoring and howling tendencies. However, these canines can be excellent human and pet companions when trained and socialized early. Training Bloodhounds for obedience is again a challenge. Their training methods should include the following:
Bloodhounds are highly energetic dogs. They need a secured high fence as they are excellent scent hounds and would require daily walks to meet their exercise needs. An idle Bloodhound is a destructive Bloodhound. Therefore, engaging him physically and mentally is mandatory to keep him happy. Remember, Bloodhounds would need a house with a large area or a strongly fenced backyard to play. If you live in an apartment, ensure you take them outdoors to exert their energy.
Exercising Bloodhounds is essential mainly for three reasons:
To keep the pet mentally and physically stimulated.
Avoid any other destructive behavior.
To keep the pet away from obesity.
Here are a few puzzles and dog toys to keep Bloodhounds engaged:
Bloodhound sheds moderately. His coat is short and rough textured and so has fewer chances of matting. Their grooming regime will include brushing them weekly.
Trim their nails, check and clean their eyes and ears, and maintain their dental hygiene as a part of regular grooming. It is enough to bathe him once or twice annually with a mild bath shampoo for dogs. Remember that excessive bathing can remove the natural oils from your canine’s skin. Also, ensure his wrinkles and folds are kept clean, as dirt and bacteria may accumulate in these areas and cause infection. Some grooming product suggestions for your pet:
Bloodhounds are relatively healthy breeds. However, like any other breeds, they are prone to health conditions stemming from their lineage. Thus, to keep them healthy, it is vital to take your dog to the veterinarian for regular health checkups and ensure that he is updated with vaccinations. The lifespan of Bloodhounds is 11 – 15 years. Some inherited health problems are listed below:
Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia occurs when the elbow joint bones don’t align properly. This misalignment causes abnormal pressure at the joint, leading to chronic rubbing and being prone to severe osteoarthritis. Symptoms include:
Mild to moderate pain
Lameness in the forelimbs
Although the symptoms begin to show as early as four months, some dogs will not show these signs until later in life. Further, the disorder may also injure the elbows, but one of them may be heavily affected.
Hip Dysplasia: A disorder that affects canines in their growing phase. It leads the hip joint to relax, resulting in discomfort and dysfunction. In addition, the cartilage and bones in the dog’s hip start to wear away as he develops. This leads to arthritis, muscular atrophy, and decreased mobility over time.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: A life-threatening condition that affects deep-chested dogs, especially if they have an overfed meal, eat rapidly, drink excessive amounts of water, or exercise vigorously after eating. Gastric Dilatation Volvulus leads to bloating in the stomach. Your dog cannot vomit to get rid of excess air in his stomach, and blood flow to the heart is prevented. Blood pressure lowers, and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog may die. Suspect bloat if your dog is drooling excessively and is not throwing up. He might be restless with rapid heartbeats. If you notice the above symptoms, take your furry friend to the vet as soon as possible.
Hypothyroidism is when a dog’s metabolism is slowed due to the lack of thyroid hormone production. Symptoms are:
Lethargy
Gaining weight
Reluctance to work out
Hair loss
Entropion: Entropion is when the eyelid rolls inward, irritating the eyeball from eyelashes rubbing on the surface. In critical cases, entropion can cause a corneal ulcer. The treatment for this disease is surgical.
Ectropion: Ectropion is a condition in which the eyelid rolls outward, causing irritation, dryness, and damage to the eyeball and conjunctiva (the tissues surrounding the eye). The treatment for this disease is surgical.
Epilepsy: A brain disorder that causes seizures. In most cases, there is no cure for epilepsy in dogs. Therefore, dog owners should maintain a seizure-free environment.
Skin Fold Dermatitis: Pyoderma is an inflammatory skin disorder that develops in skin folds such as facial folds, lip folds, armpits, and groins. Pyoderma is commonly linked with acute moist dermatitis. To avoid this type of condition, it is better to thoroughly dry your Bloodhounds with meticulous care after a bath or wash.
Ear Infections: This is most common in dogs with floppy ears. Fungi and bacteria can cause ear infections to thrive in the warmth and darkness provided.
Health Overview
Overall health
Medium
Weight gain tendencies
Medium
Size
Medium to high
Recommended Tests for Bloodhound
Hip Evaluation
Elbow Evaluation
Thyroid Evaluation
Cardiac Evaluation
Bloodhound Diet and Nutrition
Bloodhounds are high-energy dogs and would require four to eight cups of high-quality dog food that is divided into two meals. Several commercial kibbles are high in proteins, but consider supplementing the kibbles with rich quality lean meat and canned dog food. Depending on his size, age, weight, and activities, consult your veterinarian and feed him the amount of food he will need. You can divide his meal time into two or three as per his veterinarian’s suggestions. Here are a few nutritious suggestions for your Bloodhound:
Bloodhounds require the following living conditions to lead a happy and healthy life:
A fenced yard or ample space to run around.
A regular exercise regime.
If you live in an apartment, you must ensure that you provide time for his physical exertion.
Experienced pet owners.
Did You Know?
Bloodhounds could be seen in many fictional plots like Mickey Mouse’s Pluto.
An ideal Bloodhound’s nose has 230 million scent receptors.
Nick Carter, a dimed private detective, found many cases with the aid of Bloodhounds.
Bloodhound Club Recognition
ACA – American Canine Association Inc.
ACR – American Canine Registry
AKC – American Kennel Club
ANKC – Australian National Kennel Club
APRI – American Pet Registry, Inc.
CKC – Canadian Kennel Club
CKC – Continental Kennel Club
DRA – Dog Registry of America, Inc.
FCI – Federation Cynologique Internationale
KCGB – Kennel Club of Great Britain
NAPR – North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
NKC – National Kennel Club
NZKC – New Zealand Kennel Club
UKC – United Kennel Club
Adding a Bloodhound to Your Family
Adding Bloodhounds to your family will need proper research about their parent breed, cost, breeders, health, and certificates. Then, get your Bloodhounds from a reputable breeder who will provide you with vaccination and gene testing certificates. Also, ensure the health of the puppy’s parent breeds.
