Mary Allen
Purebred Guard Dog – Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. These are scent hounds and tracking dogs that are bred and trained in Belgium to use their scent (scent) to find large games.
Bloodhounds have a very sensitive nose. You can even smell where a person is underwater or where someone walked from, even if it’s been 3 weeks with a lot of rain. They are still used successfully today to search for people, for which they are better suited than all other dog breeds. After all, the super noses among dogs have 300 million olfactory cells!
Because of its name, the Bloodhound wrongly has a bad image. Sometimes it is even said that he is bloodthirsty, but his name only refers to the pure blood of this dog breed.
How Big & How Heavy Does a Bloodhound Get?
It can grow to be over 60 cm tall and, with its massive body, can weigh between 40 and 48 kg.
Fur & Color
The coat of hair is short and fine. It is even silky soft on the long floppy ears and on the head.
There are different colorings in the Bloodhound. The prominent skin folds on the forehead and cheeks are characteristic of him.
The eyes are often bloodshot, giving them a dangerous appearance. However, this is typical of the breed and in no way pathological.
Nature, Temperament
The Bloodhound is obedient when hunting and otherwise very smart, easygoing, affectionate, and gentle.
The Bloodhound builds up a good relationship with children and is also suitable as a family dog, provided it gets enough activity.
The Bloodhound is happiest when tracking, either with the police or as an active hunting dog. As a private individual, you should think very carefully about whether you can keep and exercise such a dog in a species-appropriate manner in the long term.
However, if treated very badly, the dog can react very aggressively and, depending on the situation, even bite.
Upbringing
Bloodhounds can be quite stubborn, so puppies should be dealt with consistently. These dogs follow commands much more easily if they make sense to them.
The hunting instinct often shows up when they go for a walk when a fresh scent catches their eye. You should work on it with the young dog. He has to learn early on to listen to his owner.
Posture & Outlet
This breed of dog requires a lot of space. A house with a garden is ideal for keeping bloodhounds.
In addition, these dogs need a lot of exercises and mental activity, ideally tracking work.
Breed Diseases
These include hip dysplasia (HD) and the occasional heart and eye disease.
Life Expectancy
On average, Bloodhounds reach an age of 10 to 12 years.