Blood Hound
Description:
The Bloodhound is known for its keen sense of smell which is the most acute of all scent-hounds or in fact of all dog breeds. The Bloody is a powerful massive hound with a very large muzzle, big drooping ears and a very loose, wrinkled and waterproof coat. The Bloodhound’s smooth, short-haired coat is thin to the touch and very loose. The Bloody’s coat is usually red, black and tan or red and tan. Male Bloodhounds stand 25 to 27 inches tall and females 23 to 25 inches tall at shoulder height. Bloodys can weigh from 80 to 110 pounds.
Bloodhounds are members of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Hound Dog Group.
Bloodhound Pictures:
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History:
Bloodys are one of the oldest hound groups. This breed can trace its ancestry back to 8th century Belgium where it was further developed by the monks of St. Hubert. The Bloodhound breed was brought to England by the Normans in 1066. The name may come from the English aristocracy or ‘blue bloods’ who kept the ‘pure blooded’ breed for hunting. Today these dogs function as extraordinary trackers and family companions. The Bloody was ranked 50th out of 154 dog breeds registered by the AKC in 2004.
Temperament:
The Bloodhound is a kind, gentle and loveable dog. The breed is gentle and affectionate with his family and children. The Bloody should be supervised around small children and pets as he can be possessive of his food and toys. Bloodhounds are prodigious droolers. They require lots of space and a fenced yard. Bloodys should be kept in a fenced yard and walked on a leash because once they find an interesting scent nothing can dissuade them from their tracking mission. Bloodhounds are difficult to obedience train because they feel you should be following them instead of the other way around. Bloodys are slow to mature and their adolescence lasts until they are 2 years old. Bloodhounds tend to eat everything they can fit in their mouths. However with the proper training they become wonderful dogs when they mature. The Bloody needs a kind, patient and firm owner who has some experience with dogs.
Exercise:
Bloodhounds need a lot of exercise and enjoy a good run. Keep the Bloody on a leash as it will run off and investigate any interesting scents. This breed shouldn’t be over walked until it has matured at about 2 years old. This is not an apartment dog and needs a large yard.
Grooming:
The Bloody needs minimal grooming with a hound glove. Bathe this hound only when necessary abut clean its ears on a regular basis.
Health Issues:
These Bloodhounds live for about 10 to 12 years and do have some common health issues such as: hip dysplasia, ear infections and entropion (in-turned eyelids). Bloodys are also subject to bloat and stomach cramps and should probably have two small meals instead of one each day. Information on these genetic diseases can be found in our article Hereditary Diseases in Dogs. Prospective buyers should ask for the breeding parents Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) test results for hip dysplasia and also the Canine Eye Registry (CERF) recent ophthalmologists report for eye disorders.
Article type: xdogbreed
