Mary Allen
No matter where you hide, the Bloodhound will find you. Sounds weird? But that’s how it is because dogs have the best nose in the world.
When playing hide-and-seek, there is one candidate who beats everyone when searching. The Bloodhound will always find you. Can’t it be? Yes, that’s quite likely, because Bloodhounds are known for their extremely fine sense of smell.
Even after many days, the dogs should still be able to perceive smells. Prison escapees and other fiends should therefore wrap up warm if one of the dogs is used for the search.
In our article, you will find out why the Bloodhound is not only a hard-working search dog but also a lovable family dog. We also reveal what care, training, and attitude the super nose with the lop ears needs.
What does a Bloodhound look like?
Traits as hounds
You don’t see it at first glance from the somewhat massive body of the Bloodhound, but the dog belongs to the group of hounds. This term describes hunting dogs that do one thing above all: run a lot.
Their job is to track games over long distances and to detect tracks with their noses. The group of hounds includes different breeds of dogs. Included are u. a. the Beagle, the Basset Hound, and the numerous members of the Bracken breeds.
physique and external characteristics
The Bloodhound – or bloodhound as it is known in German – has a massive build. The hound is muscular, strong, and yet does not appear heavy. According to the standard, all appearance characteristics of the dogs should always appear harmonious and not exaggerated. Both the posture and movement of the Bloodhound should express elegance and dignity.
Dogs are clearly recognizable by their long hanging ears, long neck, and folds in the skin. The long neck is designed to help the dog keep its nose close to the ground even at high speeds.
The Bloodhound’s super nose is generally considered to be the finest and best nose of all dog breeds. In this article, you will find out why, strangely enough, the long ears also help dogs like the Bloodhound or the Basset Hound to smell.
Bloodhound fur
The dogs’ fur is very fine, short, and smooth. Approved colors are:
- Black,
- Liver or
- Red.
The skin of the breed is very thin, especially on the neck, chest, and head, which is why it hangs down in deep folds.
How big is a bloodhound?
The Bloodhound is one of the large dog breeds. He is also the tallest member of the hounds. Males reach an average height at the withers of between 64 and 72 cm and females between 58 and 66 cm.
How heavy is a Bloodhound?
The Bloodhound makes a scale groan quite a lot. Males weigh between 46 and 54 kg and females weigh between 40 and 48 kg on average.
To be fair, it has to be said at this point that the industrious super noses can’t do anything about their heavy weight. It’s just in their bones. The dog breed has an unusually large and heavy bone structure for dogs. This accounts for a large part of their weight.
How old does a Bloodhound get?
Unfortunately, the Bloodhound has a below-average life expectancy among large dog breeds. Depending on diet, care, husbandry, and health, a Bloodhound can live anywhere from eight to twelve years.
What character or being does the Bloodhound have?
The good-natured and deep character of the Bloodhound can already be seen in the dog’s face. The dog is considered a very loyal and people-related companion. The breed is therefore not only valued for hunting, but also at home in the family. With appropriate socialization, the bloodhound is very sociable, calm, and relaxed.
Aggressiveness is completely alien to the Bloodhound. Rather, the dog is reserved and alert. And even if you don’t see it that way from their slightly gloomy facial expression – the dogs are considered to be extremely happy and playful.
As lovely as dogs are, on the one hand, potential mistresses and masters should not underestimate the dog breed. The Bloodhound can be downright stubborn and stubborn. If the dog regards this or that command as nonsensical, it will show it. Once the Bloodhound has also sniffed out an interesting scent, the scent quickly fades out the entire rest of the world.
The History of the Bloodhound
If you want to tell the story of the Bloodhound, you need a lot of time and a good memory. According to various traditions, monks in the Belgian monastery of Saint-Hubert are said to have started breeding the Saint-Hubert hound as early as the 2nd century. This breed is considered the direct ancestor of the Bloodhound. The Saint-Hubert-Hounds were considered to be a popular companion dog for hunting, especially by the French aristocracy and the changing French kings.
The Bloodhound we know today was exported to England around the 14th century. There the dog also began a career as a popular hunting dog for the rich and noble. From this point on, there are also reports that the dogs’ keen sense of smell has been used to search for people.
With the decline of big game hunting, the Bloodhound also became rarer. (Also read: 11 particularly rare dog breeds) Thanks to a few enthusiasts and the export to other countries such as the USA, the dog breed was preserved century after century and also brought through the two world wars.
Today, the Bloodhound remains rare but enjoys a passionate following in many countries. This includes many hunters and amateur hunters. Thanks to its super nose, the Bloodhound is also used by the police in many countries as a sniffer dog. His tasks include tracking down missing people or escaped prison inmates. The dogs are also particularly popular in customs and rescue services.
Bloodhound: The right attitude and training
The Bloodhound is usually well trained as the dogs are enthusiastic, smart, and playful. At the same time, the dog breed also requires sensitivity in training.
Dogs are considered to be very sensitive. They are sensitive to harsh words or even aggression. Loving consistency is also very important in education. The dog with the stubborn head likes to test the skills of its people. If he notices that he can get away with this or that practical joke, it becomes quite difficult to teach the dog other manners afterward. It is best to visit a dog school with the puppy in order to socialize the dog early on.
As a dog with a super nose, the Bloodhound is not a suitable dog for the big city. Rural areas suit him much better, where he has a lot of nature and interesting smells around him. Since the dogs are large, they also need a lot of space and preferably a fenced yard.
The Bloodhound needs a lot of exercise and activity. Above all, his nose wants to be challenged. The nice thing about it: Planning and organizing the tracking work is not only fun for your dog but is also an exciting activity for you. And: shared adventures are known to weld people together!
What care and diet does the Bloodhound need?
The Bloodhound is one of the easy-care dog breeds. The short, smooth coat should be brushed regularly for grooming. It is also important that you take care of your dog’s ears and skin folds. Inflammation can quickly develop here or parasites can settle in.
Make sure that the long-eared bat also has a suitable diet. The Bloodhound (similar to the Labrador) loves to eat and is therefore prone to obesity. Since dogs have heavy bones, you should make sure that their diet contains sufficient nutrients when they are puppies. This allows the puppies to develop healthily and reduces the risk of certain hereditary diseases.
What typical diseases does the Bloodhound have?
Thankfully, the health of the Bloodhound has often been a top priority for breeders. There are hardly any exaggerated features like some other dog breeds. They are also banned in most breed associations. Nevertheless, bloodhounds suffer from a number of breed-specific hereditary diseases that can affect their health. The breed is commonly affected by:
- gastric torsion
- Inflammation of the eyes, ears, and skin. These include conjunctivitis or an infestation of the ears by mites.
- The Bloodhound’s large, heavy bones often lead to joint disorders such as hip and elbow dysplasia.
How much does a bloodhound cost?
Once you are confident that you can handle the Bloodhound’s lovable yet headstrong character, the search for a breeder begins. And you have to search for a long time in Germany because there are not many. Only one club is currently registered in the VDH, the Saint Hubert-Bloodhound Club Deutschland e. V. Expect to pay between €1,300 and €1,700 for a puppy from a reputable breeder.
If you have more resources at your disposal, you can also look for a puppy with a breeder in England or the USA. In these countries, the Bloodhound is more popular than in Germany. Or you can look directly at your local animal shelter to see if there is a Bloodhound or a mixed breed or any other good-hearted four-legged friend looking for a new home. Because it doesn’t matter whether you have a super nose or a flat face – they are all unique companions through life.