BLOODHOUND
APPEARANCE
The Bloodhound is a member of the Sagaces canine group, which means it hunts via scent in groups. The Bloodhound has a sturdy body, and is powerful in stature. His coat is smooth and short, and his ears hang down framing the side of his face. The coat is short and can be red, black and tan, or liver and tan. The height of the Bloodhound is around 24-28 inches, and these large dogs weigh in at around 80-120 pounds.
PERSONALITY
The Bloodhound is a really loveable dog, mild mannered, and extremely patient. Stubbornness is a very common characteristic of this breed so consistent training when it comes to basic obedience will be needed. The Bloodhound does have a curious nature and once he gets hold of a scent he will want to follow it, which can sometimes result in landing him in trouble or even danger.
TRAINING
You will need to have lots of patience to train a Bloodhound. Above all else, you will need to be firm and fair. Gentle handling and speaking is a must as this breed can be very sensitive, but consistency is also necessary if this breed is to thrive and learn. Patience is key with this breed as they can create conflict with their masters training methods, and they have been known to perfect getting their way.
EXERCISE
Bloodhounds love a good run and need a lot of exercise. At least 90 minutes per day is required to keep this dog healthy, happy, and in shape. Always keep your Bloodhound on a leash when walking, as an interesting scent can cause the dog to run off at any time.
SOCIALIZATION
The Bloodhound is devoted to its master and gets along well with people. It can be aggressive with dogs of the same sex. But in general, the Bloodhound loves everyone and some will greet wanted and unwanted visitors happily. They are also sociable creatures, and tend to get on well with children, particularly when raised with them.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Bloodhounds do best with acreage and a large area to roam. The Bloodhound can live in an apartment or in the city so long as it has regular exercise and the place has a yard for it to play in.
GROOMING
The Bloodhound’s smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom with a hound glove. There is no trimming required with this breed. Bathe your Bloody only when necessary and rub him dry with a rough towel to leave his coat shiny. You should also check and clean the ears on a regular basis to reduce the risk of ear infections and to keep them clean. Bloodhounds are known for their distinctive doggy odor which some find offensive.
HEALTH ISSUES
The life expectancy of the Bloodhound is relatively short compared to many other breeds, and is around 7-9 years. Health concerns for this breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, skin-fold dermatitis, ectropion, entropion and gastric torsion. Hypothyroidism is also occasionally seen.
HISTORY
The Bloodhound is a scent hound that originated in Belgium and is used for the sole purpose of their ability to smell. They are very popularly used as police dogs as they can track down criminals on the run with ease. The Bloodhound was registered with the AKC in 1885.
