Bloodhound

Size
Medium (11kg - 27kg)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Weekly
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Often alone
Grooming
Low maintenance
Barking preference
Moderate
Personality
Independent + affectionate

2. Ffire Photography Submitted by Michelle Ashpole

History

The Bloodhound possesses, in a most marked degree, every point and characteristic of those dogs which hunt together by scent (Sagaces). Of the scent hounds the Bloodhound has the most size, the most power, and the most skin. He is the ultimate trailing machine.

They have a history that extends back to the 7th century AD in Belgium and France. Today's Bloodhounds are descended from those hounds, bred by Hubert, a 7th-century monk, who later became patron saint of hunters, and from hounds bred by other medieval noblemen who kept scent hounds as hunting dogs. Many strains, including hounds brought back to Europe by the Crusaders from the Holy Land, have blended to produce today's gentle giants. It was not until the 16th century that the Bloodhound was used to track humans. The breed’s name was derived from the expression “blooded hound”, meaning a hound of pure breeding.

Temperament

Bloodhounds are pack hounds and should be easy-going, an affectionate and extremely gentle hound. They can, however, be reserved with strangers. The breed can be rather stubborn and Obedience training should be started early, practised regularly, and made as much fun as possible. The Bloodhound is easily distracted, and training should be kept short, especially whilst young. While it’s beautiful to watch the breed’s head go down and its tail go up, as it picks up a scent trail, it’s important to note it can be almost impossible to call a Bloodhound back.

3. Ffire Photography Submitted by Michelle Ashpole

Appearance

The Bloodhound is very powerful and stands over more ground than is usual with hounds of other breeds. The skin should be surprisingly loose and velvety, especially around the head. The ears are long, low, and soft. The deep lip continues into loose folds of skin, the flews, which themselves merge into folds of dewlap under the jaw and neck. This excess skin, and the slobber that accumulates on it, helps to trap the scent particles. The pendulous ears, far longer than the muzzle, sweep the scent toward the large nostrils.

As the dog lowers its head, wrinkles will form over the eyes, yet as it looks up the skin slides smoothly rearward. This “superabundance” of skin also protects the eyes from rough vegetation and brambles. The skin easily stretches if snagged, pulling the offending branch along with it, until the skin is able to slide off and catch up with the dog. A well-made bloodhound almost never suffers lacerations, no matter how rough its territory.

The skull is narrow, relatively flat at the sides, and sporting a pronounced occipital peak. Skull planes, viewed from either the side or from the top, ideally are parallel not divergent. The standard describes the expression as “noble and dignified, and characterised by solemnity, wisdom and power”. The weight of the skin pulls the eye rims into lozenge or diamond shapes and usually exposes varying amounts of pink haw.

A very powerful endurance dog, it can travel over great distances at a steady gait in pursuit of a trail.

The breed’s colours are black and tan, liver and tan, and red. A small amount of white is permissible on the chest, toes and tip of the tail.

Health

Although a fairly healthy breed, when bred responsibly, with a life span of eight to 12 years, the breed does have a few health issues that buyers should be aware of. Eye problems such as Entropion and ectropion can be a problem for the breed and like most deep chested dogs, bloat can be a concern. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia can affect the breed & as such all reputable registered breeders should be health testing their breeding animals through the ANKC ORCHID scheme. Along with the hip & elbow testing, cardiac screening by a Cardiologist (echo preferred – breed can be affected by SAS) should be carried out and DNA testing for DM – Degenerative Myelopathy. Skin problems can also occur in the breed, due to the abundance of skin folds, so daily management is advised.

5. Ffire Photography Submitted by Michelle Ashpole - edited

6. Ffire Photography Submitted by Michelle Ashpole

8. Ffire Photography Submitted by Michelle Ashpole

Maintenance

The coat is smooth, short and weatherproof and easily maintained. Regular baths, especially in the summer months, and weekly grooming with a rubber mitt will keep your Bloodhound in good shape.

Bloodhounds find having their nails trimmed particularly unpleasant, so it’s advised that they are done routinely each fortnight from a very early age, otherwise it can become quite problematic.

Activities that can help to keep your Hound fit and well, other than a regular daily walk, include swimming, fetch and nose works games, which the Bloodhound loves.

The Bloodhound does require some specific maintenance. Those long ears and deep folds need daily attention. Wearing a snood at meal times can assist with messy ears and with regular drying under the neck and dewlaps goes a long way to keeping fungal infections away.

Suitability

The Bloodhound is usually very good with children (care with toddlers as they can potentially knock them over) and other animals; however the breed is not for everyone. Youngsters can be extremely clumsy around the house and as an adult it can hurl slobber for metres, even reaching the ceiling.

Bloodhounds require a fully fenced yard, with a minimum height of about 5ft, and regular daily exercise. The breed needs to be on-lead for any exercise taking place outside a secure area, as that wonderful nose it is known for often leads to trouble.

Words & Image: Michelle Ashpole

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Bloodhound you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Bloodhound and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 02 Jul 2009)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Noble and dignified expression, characterised by solemnity, wisdom and power.

Characteristics

Possesses in a most marked degree every point and characteristic of those dogs which hunt together by scent (Sagaces). Very powerful, standing over more ground than is usual with hounds of other breeds. Skin relatively loose.

Temperament

Affectionate, neither quarrelsome with companions nor with other dogs. Somewhat reserved and sensitive.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Head narrow in proportion to length and long in proportion to body, tapering slightly from temples to muzzle, thus when viewed from above and in front having an appearance of being flattened at sides and of being nearly equal in width throughout entire length. In profile upper outline of skull is nearly in same plane as that of foreface. Length from end of nose to stop not less than that from that from stop to back of occipital protuberance. Entire length of head from posterior part of occipital protuberance to end of muzzle 30cms (12 ins) or more in dogs and 28cms (11 ins) or more in bitches. Skull is long and narrow, with occipital peak pronounced. Foreface long, deep and of even width throughout, with square outlines when seen in profile. Head furnished with only a small amount of loose skin. Nostrils large and open. In front, lips falling squarely making a right angle with upper line of foreface.
Eyes	Medium size, dark brown or hazel, neither sunken nor prominent, the lids being oval in shape and meeting the cornea (front window of the eye) perfectly without any irregularity in their contour. Eyes should be free from any interference from the eyelashes. Signs of any obvious eye irritation must be heavily penalised.
Ears	Thin and soft to the touch, long, set on low and falling in graceful folds, lower parts curling inwards and backwards.
Mouth	Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck	Long.
Forequarters	Shoulders muscular and well sloped. Forelegs straight, large, round in bone with elbows well set in. Pasterns strong.
Body	Ribs well sprung, chest well let down between forelegs forming a deep keel. Back and loins strong, the latter deep and slightly arched.
Hindquarters	Thighs and second thighs very muscular. Hocks well let down, bent and squarely set.
Feet	Strong and well knuckled up.
Tail	(Stern) Long, thick, tapering to a point, set high with moderate amount of hair underneath. Carried scimitar fashion, but not curled over back or corkscrew any time. When moving carried high.
Gait/Movement	Elastic, swinging free.
Coat	Smooth, short and weatherproof.
Colour	Black and tan, liver and tan (red and tan) and red. Darker colours sometimes interspersed with lighter or badger coloured hair and sometimes flecked with white. Small amount of white permissible on chest, feet and tip of tail.
Size	Height:Adult dogs 66 cms (26 ins)Adult bitches 61 cms (24 ins)Dogs usually vary from 63-69 cms (25-27 ins)Bitches usually vary from 58-63 cms (23-25 ins)Mean average weight: Adult Dogs 41 kgs (90 lbs) in fair condition.Mean average weight: Adult Bitches 36 kgs (80 lbs) in fair conditionDogs attain the weight of 50 kgs (110 lbs)Bitches attain the weight of 45.5 kgs (100 lbs)Hounds of the maximum height and weight preferred, providing that quality, proportion and balance combine.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.