Bloodhound

Also known as a "Sleuth Hound" Bloodhounds are very large and highly skilled at tracking down their quarry by smell alone which includes through water and over vast distances. These dignified and noble looking dogs have been highly prized for their tracking skills for decades by search and rescue teams as well as hunters alike.

They are an ancient breed of hound that's thought to have been first developed by Belgium monks but their true origins remain a bit of a mystery. Today Bloodhounds are kept as companions as well as working dogs often seen helping the Police in their work when tracking missing persons. They are wonderful family pets although they are better suited to people with large back gardens and who are familiar with the specific needs of Bloodhounds which includes their need for a ton of daily physical exercise.

It is thought that Bloodhounds originate from Western Europe and that they were first developed in France during the 12th century by the monks of Abbey St Hubert. These dogs were highly prized by the monks for their proud appearance their strength and for their stamina. In the 14th century the breed was renamed from Chien St Hubert to Bloodhound. They were given this name because of their pure bloodlines and over the centuries these hounds have worked alongside man tracking both animals and humans in challenging environments the world over.

The first records of Bloodhounds being seen on English shores dates from around the 13th Century although the breed may have been around even earlier than that. What is known is that the Bloodhounds seen in England are believed to be descendants of those that were bred in France and those bred by the monks of St Huberts in Belgium.

Legend has it that a Bloodhound was used to track Robert the Bruce and William Wallace when they fled from the enemy. They were known as Sleuth Hounds because they were so highly skilled at tracking their prey whether beast or man along the Scottish borders right up to the end of the 16th Century.

By the 17th century scientist Robert Boyle wrote a credited paper on Bloodhounds traits and their effectiveness in the field because he thought so highly of their skills at tracking down quarry with their acute sense of smell. However the sport of deer hunting fell into decline when fox hunting with Beagles became popular and as such the popularity of Bloodhounds declined too.

Luckily with the help of a few enthusiasts the breed was saved from vanishing altogether although during World War I and World War II their numbers fell dangerously low once again. Through the efforts and dedication of breed enthusiasts Bloodhounds were bought back from the brink of extinction which was achieved by importing dogs to the UK from France and other European countries. Today these noble looking dogs are once again highly prized for their tracking abilities and the fact they make such wonderful companions for people who lead active outdoor lives.

Interesting facts about the breed

• Is the Bloodhound a vulnerable breed? No they are one of the more popular hounds in the UK and have a large fanbase in other countries of the world too
• Anyone wanting to share a home with a well-bred healthy Kennel Club registered puppy may have to wait anything up to 2 years for the pleasure of doing so because there are long waiting lists and breeders can be very choosy as to who they sell one of their Bloodhound puppies to
• Bloodhounds are used the world over for tracking people by the Police and other authorities
• Their long ears creases and fold on their faces and jowls serve an important purpose which is to help waft scents they pick up to their noses
• Their name "Bloodhound" refers to the fact that early breeders kept a close eye on a hounds bloodlines to ensure they only produced the "best" hounds
• Bloodhounds can track and follow a scent that's 300 hour's old
• Bloodhounds are challenging to train even though they are such incredible trackers

Height at the withers: Males 64 – 72 cm Females 58 – 66 cm

Average weight: Males 46 – 54 kg Females 40 – 48 kg

Bloodhounds are large and impressive looking dogs that boast a dignified and noble expression. Often described as "sad looking" they also give the impression of power and wisdom. They are well-muscled easily recognisable dogs thanks to their large heads and long ears that almost reach the ground. They have loose skin that form creases and folds around their faces and bodies which is what gives the Bloodhound their famous sad and forlorn look.

Their heads are narrow with muzzles that taper slightly and a pronounced occipital peak. Their forefaces are long with a defined stop and as previously mentioned these dogs have wrinkles and folds on their faces. They have large open nostrils and black noses. Eyes are medium in size and can be either dark brown or hazel in colour.

Bloodhounds have long well-muscled necks and their shoulders are muscular and nicely sloped. Dogs have straight front legs with lots of bone. Their chests drop between their front legs and ribs are well sprung. Bloodhounds have strong backs and slightly arched loins. The power comes from their hindquarters which are muscular with thighs and second thighs being well developed and strong looking.

Their feet are strong and extremely well knuckled and a Bloodhound's tail is long and thicker at the base before tapering to the tip. Tails are set high and boast a moderate amount of hair on the underside. Bloodhounds carry their tails high and curved but never over their backs.

When it comes to their coat Bloodhounds have short smooth coats that boast being extremely weather resistant. Dogs come in a variety of acceptable colours with the accepted ones for Kennel Club registration being as follows:

• Black & Tan
• Liver
• Liver & Tan
• Red

Darker coloured dogs sometimes have lighter or badger-coloured hair interspersed through their coats and sometimes they are flecked with white. Bloodhounds are allowed to have a small amount of white on the chest feet and tip of tail which is acceptable as a breed standard.

It is worth noting the that acceptable breed colours for registration can differ to the colours as set out in a dog's breed standard.

Gait/movement

When a Bloodhound moves they do so with an elastic free-moving gait.

Faults

The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog's overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.

Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is only given as a guideline.

Bloodhounds are renowned for being affectionate dogs by nature rarely showing any sort of aggression towards other dogs or people. They are also known to be sensitive and quite reserved gentle and placid characters which means they are a good choice of family pet.

Because they are sensitive by nature Bloodhounds do not respond well to any sort of harsh handling or training. However they are very good at turning a deaf ear when it suits them and are known to have a bit of a stubborn streak in them which is especially true if they pick up the scent of something interesting and decide to wander off after it.

They are lovely gentle giants but there are a few downsides to sharing a home with a Bloodhound which includes the fact they have a tendency to slobber and they are renowned for their loud snoring too. Bloodhounds have a particular odour about them which takes a bit of getting used to and their bark is not only very deep but extremely loud too.

They are definitely not a good choice of dog for first time owners because they can be hard to train. However for an experienced handler who is familiar with the breed and this type of dog they make wonderful companions.

Are they a good choice for first time owners?

Bloodhounds are not the best choice for first time dog owners because they are better suited to people who are familiar with their specific needs which includes the fact that these large dogs need a tremendous amount of daily exercise to be truly happy well-rounded and nicely behaved dogs.

What about prey drive?

Bloodhounds have a high prey drive which is a trait that is deeply embedded in their pysche having been bred to track animals and men down for centuries. As such care should always be taken as to where and when they can run off the lead more especially if there is wildlife and livestock around. If a Bloodhound picks up an interesting scent they are known to follow their noses to whenever it takes them which is why owners must teach a dog the "recall" command as early as possible. Even then there is often no guarantee that a Bloodhound would listen.

What about playfulness?

Bloodhounds have a very playful side to their natures and love to entertain and be entertained more especially when they are puppies and young dogs. They tend to become more serious as they age but this is not to say that a mature Bloodhound won't have a mad moment when the mood takes them.

What about adaptability?

Bloodhounds being extremely large dogs need to have enough room to express themselves as they should. They benefit from having a large high fenced secure back garden they can roam in whenever possible so they can really let off steam. They do not as such adapt well to living in an apartment.

What about separation anxiety?

Although Bloodhounds form strong ties with their families and are incredibly loyal by nature they are also quite independent which means that they are generally not known to suffer from separation anxiety although no dog likes to be left to their own devices for too long which includes Bloodhounds.

What about excessive barking?

Bloodhounds have a lovely loud and distinctive bark but are not known to be "barkers" and will typically only voice an opinion when they deem it necessary to do so.

Do Bloodhounds like water?

Most Bloodhound are not adverse to getting their feet wet which in short means they like swimming and will take to the water whenever they can more especially when the weather is hot or if they have picked up an interesting scent. However if anyone who owns a dog that does not like water should never force them to go in because it would just end up scaring them. With this said care should always be taken when walking a Bloodhound off the lead anywhere near more dangerous watercourses just in case a dog decides to leap in or they fall in and then need rescuing because they cannot get out of the water on their own.

Are Bloodhounds good watchdogs?

Bloodhounds are not natural watchdogs because it's something they were never bred to do. With this said their size and their deep throated barks are enough to put any wrongdoers from coming onto their territory.

Bloodhounds are intelligent but they are independent thinkers and quite sensitive dogs which can make training them a challenge for people not familiar with the breed or this type of hound. It takes a Bloodhound a lot longer to respond to a command which can be confused for them being stubborn which they are not. Training a Bloodhound takes time and patience but the end results are very worthwhile. The key is to always be consistent and if possible to enrol into classes where a Bloodhound can do what they do best which is to track a scent.

Bloodhound puppies like all puppies are incredibly cute with their creased faces and extra-large paws. As such it is all too easy to spoil them when they first arrive in their new homes. However puppies quickly grow up to be very large mature adult dogs which means that as soon as a puppy is settled in their new homes owners must start out as they mean to go on. This means laying down rules and boundaries so that a puppy understands what is expected of them and what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. It also helps establish a "pecking order" and who is the alpha dog in a household. The first commands a puppy should be taught are as follow:

• Come
• Sit
• Stay
• Heel
• Quiet
• Leave it
• Down
• Bed

Bloodhounds despite their large size are gentle and placid giants which means they generally make good family pets and are good around children. However because of their size any interaction between a dog and the kids needs to be well supervised by an adult at all times to make sure things don't get too boisterous and younger children are not accidentally knocked over which could end up scaring them.

If well socialised and introduced to a family cat from a young age Bloodhounds usually get on well with them. However it would be unwise to trust a Bloodhound around other smaller pets commonly found in the home because the result could be disastrous.

The average life expectancy of a Bloodhound is between 7 to 8 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

However like so many other breeds they are known to suffer from a few hereditary health disorders which are worth knowing about if you are planning to share your home with one of these gentle giants. The health issues most commonly seen in the breed includes the following:

• Hip dysplasia - dogs must be hip scored throught the BVA/KC health scheme with the breed mean score being 11.5 but parent dogs should be lower
• Elbow dysplasia - dogs must be tested with the breed score ideally being 0:0
• Multi-ocular defects (MOD) (Schedule B) - litter screening is a must
• Dermatitis- due to the many folds and loose skin
• Aortic stenosis
• Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
• Bloat/gastric torsion
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Wobblers syndrome
• Ectropion
• Entropion
• Cherry eye
• Dry eye
• Injuries to their ears
• Nervous temperament
• Weak hindquarters and unsound gait

It is worth noting that Bloodhounds are deemed a "high profile" breed by the Kennel Club and as such careful monitoring of health and welfare conditions is required and that the COI for the breed is 11.7%.

What about vaccinations?

Bloodhound puppies would have been given their initial vaccinations before being sold but it is up to their new owners to make sure they have their follow-up shots in a timely manner with the vaccination schedule for puppies being as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.

What about spaying and neutering?

A lot of vets these days recommend waiting until dogs are slightly older before spaying and neutering them which means they are more mature before undergoing the procedures. As such they advise neutering males and spaying females when they are between the ages of 6 to 9 months old and sometimes even when a dog is 12 months old.

Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. Wtih this said many breeds are different and it is always advisable to discuss things with a vet and then follow their advice on when a dog should be spayed or neutered.

What about obesity problems?

Like other breeds some Bloodhounds gain weight after they have been spayed or neutered and it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline just in case they do. If a dog starts to put on weight it's important to adjust their daily calorie intake and to up the amount of exercise they are given. Older dogs too are more prone to gaining weight and again it's essential they be fed and exercised accordingly because obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years. The reason being that it puts a lot of extra strain on a dog's internal organs including the heart which could prove fatal.

What about allergies?

Bloodhounds are prone to suffering from skin allergies and more especially dermatitis thanks to the many folds and creases found in their coats. As such it's important for a dog to see a vet sooner rather than later if one flares up. Allergies can be notoriously hard to clear up and finding the triggers can be challenging. With this said a vet would be able to make a dog with an allergy more comfortable while they try to find out the triggers which could include the following:

• Certain dog foods that contain high levels of cereal and other grain-like fillers
• Airborne pollens
• Dust mites
• Environment
• Flea and tick bites
• Chemicals found in everyday household cleaning products

Participating in health schemes

All responsible Bloodhound breeders would ensure that their stud dogs are tested for known hereditary and congenital health issues known to affect the breed by using the following schemes:

• Hip dysplasia - through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) or Health Trust (AHT)
• Elbow dysplasia -through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) or Health Trust (AHT)
• Multi-ocular defects (MOD) (Schedule B) litter screening

What about breed specific breeding restrictions?

Apart from the standard breeding restrictions for all Kennel Club recognised breeds there are no other breed specific breeding restrictions in place for the Bloodhound.

What about Assured Breeder Requirements?

Currently there are no Kennel Club Assured Breeder requirements for the Bloodhound.

As with any other breed Bloodhounds need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this they need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Caring for a Bloodhound puppy

Bloodhound puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. With this said any puppy is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother the better although it should never be for too long either.

It's best to pick a puppy up when people are going to be around for the first week or so which is the time needed for a puppy to settle in. Puppy-proofing the home and garden means putting away any tools and other implements that a boisterous puppy might injure themselves on. Electric wires and cables must be put out of their reach because puppies love chewing on things. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too.

Puppies need to sleep a lot to grow and develop as they should which means setting up a quiet area that's not too out of the way means they can retreat to it when they want to nap and it's important not to disturb them when they are sleeping. It's also a good idea to keep "playtime" nice and calm inside the house and to have a more active "playtime" outside in the garden which means puppies quickly learn to be less boisterous when they are inside.

The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:

• Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
• They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
• Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
• They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old

Things you'll need for your puppy

There are certain items that new owners need to already have in the home prior to bringing a new puppy home. It's often a good idea to restrict how much space a puppy plays in more especially when you can't keep an eye on what they get up to bearing in mind that puppies are often quite boisterous which means investing in puppy gates or a large enough playpen that allows a puppy the room to express themselves while keeping them safe too. The items needed are therefore as follows:

• Good quality puppy or baby gates to fit on doors
• A good well-made playpen that's large enough for a puppy to play in so they can really express themselves as puppies like to do
• Lots of well-made toys which must include good quality chews suitable for puppies to gnaw on bearing in mind that a puppy will start teething anything from when they are 3 to 8 months old
• Good quality feed and water bowls which ideally should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal
• A grooming glove
• A slicker brush or soft bristle brush
• Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Scissors with rounded ends
• Nail clippers
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner which must be specifically formulated for use on dogs
• A well-made dog collar or harness
• A couple of strong dog leads
• A well-made dog bed that's not too small or too big
• A well-made dog crate for use in the car and in the home that's large enough for a puppy to move around in
• Baby blankets to put in your puppy's crate and in their beds for when they want to nap or go to sleep at night

Keeping the noise down

All puppies are sensitive to noise including Bloodhound puppies. It's important to keep the noise levels down when a new puppy arrives in the home. TVs and music should not be played too loud which could end up stressing a small puppy out making them timid and shy bearing in mind that Bloodhounds are sensitive to loud sounds by nature.

Keeping vet appointments

As previously mentioned Bloodhound puppies would have been given their first vaccinations by the breeders but they must have their follow up shots which is up to their new owners to organise. The vaccination schedule for puppies is as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

When it comes to boosters it's best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However if a dog ever needed to go into kennels their vaccinations would need to be fully up to date.

What about older Bloodhounds when they reach their senior years?

Older Bloodhounds need lots of special care because as they reach their golden years they are more at risk of developing certain health concerns. Physically a dog's muzzle may start to go grey but there will be other noticeable changes too which includes the following:

• Coats become coarser
• A loss of muscle tone
• Bloodhounds can either become overweight or underweight
• They have reduced strength and stamina
• Older dogs have difficulty regulating their body temperature
• They often develop arthritis
• Immune systems do not work as efficiently as they once did which means dogs are more susceptible to infections
• Older dogs change mentally too which means their response time tends to be slower as such they develop the following:
• They respond less to external stimuli due to impaired vision or hearing
• They tend to be a little pickier about their food
• They have a lower pain threshold
• Become intolerant of any change
• Often an older dog can feel disorientated

Living with a Bloodhound in their golden years means taking on a few more responsibilities but these are easily managed and should include taking a look at their diet the amount of exercise they are given how often their dog beds need changing and keeping an eye on the condition of their teeth.

Older Bloodhounds need to be fed a good quality diet that meets their needs at this stage of their lives all the while keeping a close eye on a dog's weight. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives:

• Protein content should be anything from 14 – 21%
• Fat content should be less than 10%
• Fibre content should be less than 4%
• Calcium content should be 0.5 – 0.8%
• Phosphorous content should be 0.4 – 0.7%
• Sodium content should be 0.2 – 0.4%

Older dogs don't need to be given the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. All dogs need access to fresh clean water and this is especially true of older dogs when they reach their golden years because they are more at risk of developing kidney disorders.

Bloodhounds boast having short naturally glossy coats which are low maintenance in the grooming department. Water literally runs off their backs because their coats are so weather-resistant making them the ideal dog to take out for a walk when it is raining. With this said regularly brushing a dog's coat helps keep it in good condition and the same can be said for their skin.

Because Bloodhounds have such long pendulous ears it's important to check them on a regular basis to make sure they are kept dry and free of any foreign objects. If moisture builds up inside a dog's ear canal it can lead to a yeast infection taking hold which can be notoriously hard to clear up once it flares up.

Bloodhounds need to be given a lot of daily exercise because although they may look a bit cumbersome they are in fact athletic characters that need a minimum of 2 hours exercise every day to be truly happy well-rounded dogs. They also like to be given a lot of mental stimulation or boredom can set in which can lead to a dog developing a few unwanted behaviours and this includes being destructive around the house and eating or chewing anything within their reach.

If you get a Bloodhound puppy from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule for your new pet and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding them the same type of puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upset and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and before discussing things with the vet before attempting to change their diet again.

Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature Bloodhound twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories which is important or they might start to gain too much weight.

Because Bloodhounds have a tendency to suffer from bloat (gastric torsion) it’s important not to feed them before they go out for a walk or to do any sort of strenuous exercise. It’s also important not to feed them as soon as they come back from a walk for the same reason.

Feeding guide for a Bloodhound puppy

Puppies need to be fed a highly nutritious good quality diet for them to develop and grow as they should. As a rough guide a Bloodhound puppy should be fed the following amounts every day making sure their meals are evenly spread out throughout the day and it's best to feed them 3 or 4 times a day:

take 90 from lower and higher

• 2 months old - 304g to 339g depending on puppy's build
• 3 months old - 414g to 490g depending on puppy's build
• 4 months old - 466g to 544g depending on puppy's build
• 5 months old - 568g to 671g depending on puppy's build
• 6 months old - 659g to 779g depending on puppy's build
• 7 months old - 666g to 782g depending on puppy's build
• 8 months old - 665g to 782g depending on puppy's build
• 9 months old - 611g to 731g depending on puppy's build
• 10 months old - 568g to 728g depending on puppy's build
• 11 months old - 523g to 674g depending on puppy's build
• 12 months old - 484g to 621g depending on puppy's build
• 13 months old - 448g to 577g depending on puppy's build
• 14 months old - 445g to 536g depending on puppy's build

Once a puppy is 24 months old they can be fed adult dog food.

Feeding guide for an adult Bloodhound

Once fully mature an adult Bloodhound should be fed a good quality diet to ensure their continued good health. As a rough guide an adult Bloodhound can be fed the following amounts every day:

• Dogs weighing 40 kg can be fed 409g to 573g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 46 kg can be fed 429g to 593g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 48 kg can be fed 439g to 603g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 54 kg can be fed 499g to 663g depending on activity

If you are looking to buy a Bloodhound you would need to pay anything from £800 to over £1000 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Bloodhound in northern England would be £71.75 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £130.13 a month (quote as of February 2018). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things and this includes where you live in the UK and a dog's age and whether or not they have been spayed or neutered.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry to feed your dog throughout their lives making sure it suits the different stages of their lives. This would set you back between £50 - £70 a month. On top of all of this you would need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Bloodhound and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying your dog when the time is right and then their annual health check visits all of which could quickly add up to over a £1400 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Bloodhound would be between £140 to £220 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your dog but this does not include the initial cost of buying a pedigree Bloodhound puppy.

When visiting and buying any puppy or dog there are many important things to consider and questions to ask of the breeder/seller. You can read our generic puppy/dog advice here which includes making sure you see the puppy with its mother and to verify that the dog has been wormed and microchipped.

Bloodhounds have a fanbase in the UK but not many well-bred puppies are available every year which means that puppies can often command a lot of money. As such with Bloodhounds there is specific advice questions and protocols to follow when buying a puppy which are as follows:

• Beware of online scams and how to avoid them. You may see online and other adverts by scammers showing images of beautiful Bloodhound puppies for sale at very low prices. However the sellers ask buyers for money up front before agreeing to deliver a puppy to a new home. Potential buyers should never buy a puppy unseen and should never pay a deposit or any other money online to a seller. You should always visit the pet at the sellers home to confirm they are genuine and make a note of their address.
• As previously touched upon Bloodhounds have a fanbase in the UK and puppies can be very expensive. As such some amateur breeders/people breed from a dam far too often so they can make a quick profit without caring for the welfare of the puppies their dam or the breed in general. Under Kennel Club rules a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. Anyone wishing to buy a Bloodhound puppy should think very carefully about who they purchase their puppy from and should always ask to see the relevant paperwork pertaining to a puppy's lineage their vaccinations and their microchipping.
• It is worth noting that the Bloodhound has been placed on the Kennel Club's high profile list which means that the KC closely monitors the health and welfare of the breed.