Is a Bloodhound the right dog for you?
They are often described as gentle, affectionate, and patient dogs. Bloodhounds have a calm and laid-back nature, making them great companions for families and individuals. Despite their large size, they are typically very good with children and other pets.
The Bloodhound has an
long history that dates back thousands of years. Some experts believe that the breed existed as far back as 1000-2000 BC, pointing to an ancient Babylonian drawing that depicts a dog with striking similarities to the Bloodhound. This drawing suggests that these dogs were used for tracking and hunting purposes even in ancient times.
The French St. Hubert Hound
is a breed of dog that has a history dating back to the 8th century. Developed in a French Monastery between 700-800 AD, these hounds were highly regarded for their exceptional scenting abilities and incredible endurance. Many experts believe that they are the true ancestors of the modern Bloodhound breed.
The Bloodhound is considered to be
the top scent tracking dog worldwide. They have been used in countless search and rescue missions. With their exceptional sense of smell, they have the remarkable ability to track missing individuals, criminals, and even disaster victims over vast distances with remarkable precision. What sets the Bloodhound apart is its extraordinary olfactory capabilities, boasting over 300 million scent receptors in its nose, more than any other breed of dog. This unparalleled sense of smell allows them to pick up even the faintest scents and follow trails that would be undetectable to humans or other animals.
In Landmark Research on Modern Dog Breed
development, the Bloodhound has been shown to share the most DNA with an ancestor of the following breeds:
Otterhound
Foxhound
Beagle
Although Bloodhound’s may not have
a high top speed, they can maintain a steady and quick pace at their preferred trot for miles and hours on end. Once the Bloodhound picks up a scent, it will obsessively follow it to its source. They can pick up a scent trail that is almost 2 weeks old.
According to FCI Breed Standard
the Bloodhound can reach up to 27 inches in height and up to 110 pounds in weight. Accepted coat colors are:
“There are three distinct coat colours: the bicolours black and tan and liver and tan and the unicolour red.”
One of the most distinctive features
of the Bloodhound are its hanging, deep folds of skin and ears. This loose and wrinkled appearance makes them appear older than they are, but it also serves an important function when working to track scents. The loose skin allows for a large surface area that helps to pick up even subtle smells on the ground. A bloodhound named Tigger holds the worlds record for the longest dog ears at 13.75 inches.
Growing Up Bloodhound
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How Fast Can a Bloodhound Run?
The AKC Conducts Dog Racing Trials each December in Orlando, FL. called the Fast CAT Invitational. This is a 100 yard race where dogs run individually chasing a lure. The average running speed by Bloodhound’s is almost 20 mph. The fastest recorded speed by a Bloodhound was by a dog named King Douglas at 23.46 mph!
Bloodhounds are messy.
They do slobber and drool and are not the cleanest eaters. Some even love to “snorkel” down into their water bowls. An outside water bowl is just an invitation to be dumped over so your hound can go trouncing through the water! Baby pools can be quite popular with Bloodhounds.
Bloodhound’s were the First Breed
in the world registered by a kennel club. United Kingdom’s Kennel Club is the first kennel club ever founded and a Bloodhound named “Abeille” was the first dog ever registered.
Bloodhounds are very observant
and curious. They will sniff everything. Make sure your garbage is tightly closed. If something smells good and they can reach it-is not safe! They have also been known to open cabinets and push ice buttons on refrigerators…supervision is important for insuring they don’t get into something dangerous.
Bloodhound Humor!
In the Landmark Book
entitled, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Bloodhound ranks 74th out of 138 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands in 80 to 100 repetitions and obey first commands less than 25% of the time. This puts them in the “lowest working and obedience intelligence” category. In contrast, the most intelligent breeds will learn the same command in 5 repetitions or less!
Bloodhound’s Have an Average
lifespan of 10-12 years. They are typically more prone to health complications than most breeds. Bloodhounds are predisposed to both dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. They are also susceptible to several eye problems and Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (Bloat).
The Bloodhound has a Reputation
as having a very expressive vocal range. Baying, howling and whining are all part of their repertoire. They can make some unique sounds, and although they are usually not big barkers, they have a loud booming bark as well.
Check Your Bloodhound Facts and Take a Fun Bloodhound Quiz!
Quick Facts About Bloodhounds Infographic
Facts About the Bloodhound-Final Thoughts
Bloodhounds are remarkable dogs that possess a unique set of traits and abilities. Their distinctive look with long ears and wrinkles adds to their charm, while their tracking ability is unmatched. Contrary to popular belief, Bloodhounds are not just sleuth hounds used by law enforcement agencies to find missing people; they can also make wonderful family pets. With their affectionate temperament and loyalty, they quickly become an integral part of the family. Bloodhounds are known escape artists and if they find an interesting scent, they will do their best to follow it-a Bloodhound’s nose has no boundaries! Whether serving as trackers or simply as a companion, Bloodhounds are well suited to becoming loyal family members and an affectionate family dogs.
