Bloodhound

The St.Hubert hound more commonly known as the bloodhound is a fairly large dog standing 58-59cm tall and weighing about 33-50 kgs. They have very thick bones for their height with a large skeletal structure. Most of the dog’s weight is concentrated in their bones. They are usually seen in a colour combination of black and tan, red or liver and tan. They have hard coats composed of fur alone with no admixture of hair, which is typical of a scenthound. They were first bred by the monks of St.Hubert monastery in Belgium. Their roots probably lie in France much like other hounds. Originally bred for hunting wild boar and deer, these hounds were later used for tracking human scent. Bloodhounds are famous for being able to track scents that are hours or even days old over long distances for a prolonged period of time. With their extraordinarily keen noses and strong tracking ability it is no wonder that they are the preferred dogs for police officers. They help in tracking escaped convicts, missing people or even missing animals.

These dogs are known to be gentle and calm. They are still characterized by their stubborn nature and “what’s in it for me?” attitude. They are scenthounds and are thus a little difficult to train and are somewhat willful. Bloodhounds are even tempered and affectionate dogs that make excellent family pets. Their one flaw could lie in the fact that they are bulky and hence like any other large dog; they need to be monitored around young children as they can easily knock the children over with their weight. They have been known for their excessive drooling which can very well be traced back to their size. Bloodhounds are among the few dogs that are preferred to be fully grown before being put up for adoption.

Plagued by an exceptional tendency for gastrointestinal ailments, bloodhounds tend to suffer more than other pure bred dogs. Bloodhounds need to be thoroughly checked for developing problems as eye, skin and ear ailments are also an unusually frequent occurrence. Their owners need to beware of signs of “bloat” which is the most common gastrointestinal ailment that often leads to the death of these dogs. They have thick and heavy coats which tend to overheat over a short span of time. A moderate climate is preferable for these hounds to flourish and grow. With a controlled diet and all round exercise these dogs can have an increased span of life.

Bloodhounds have a lifespan of 6.75 years making them among the shortest lived breed of dogs. Their main cause of death is illness. It ranges from bloat to cancer or other eye, skin or ears diseases that go undetected and untreated. These dogs make great companions and are a boon to society. They make good watch dogs and are excellent trackers. Even with their short lifespan these dogs are gentle, playful and patient. They have the ability of being police dogs as well as family pets.