History
The Bloodhound is also known as the Saint Hubert Hound or the Sleuth Hound. The name is thought to denote either a blood seeking hound or a hound of pure blood.
The ancestors of the Bloodhound were the black Saint Hubert Hounds, which were documented in Europe as early as the 8th Century. Saint Hubert Hounds were first bred in the Saint Hubert Monastery in Belgium, but the Bloodhound breed originates in France. Saint Hubert Hounds were regularly sent as gifts to the kings of France, from around the 13th century, and it is from this stock that the Bloodhound breed arises. They have been used for hunting deer and wild boar and also for tracking people. They were usually employed as solitary trackers, but have also been used in packs. In hunting, they were most often used to track the animal being hunted, rather than bringing down the prey.
Bloodhounds have been used to track missing persons, escaped criminals and slaves and are renowned for their incredible tracking ability. Even in modern times they are used by law enforcement for tracking criminals and lost people with great success. They were used to track people right from the earliest origins of the breed. Nowadays, they also participate in the sport of man trailing. They are able to track scents that are several days old and can even track over water, and their scenting capabilities are superior to most, if not all, other breeds of dog. They are extremely persistent trackers, tracking scents for long distances, and have followed trails of 50 kilometers and more in length.
While the breed is rare in most countries it is fairly widely distributed throughout the world and is most popular in the United States.
Appearance
The Bloodhound is a large dog with long, drooping ears, which help it to catch the scent while tracking. The coat is smooth and short and can be black and tan, liver and tan or red. The white variety was known as the Talbot Hound, although these are now extinct. The eyes are sunken and almond-shaped, and they have deep, hanging flews and folds of loose skin around the head and neck. They have deep facial wrinkles, which again assist in trapping scent. While their coats require minimal upkeep, the ears and facial folds need regular cleaning, especially as they drool a lot. The ears are thin, low set and long. The nasal chambers are larger than those of most other breeds. They weigh between 33 and 50 kilograms.
Temperament
The Bloodhound has a pleasant temperament and is usually a mellow dog when not tracking a scent. They make good family companions and are tolerant with children. They are mainly relaxed and gentle, although they can be stubborn and independent, not responding well to confrontational training methods. They require a fair amount of exercise and should be kept on a leash during walks, as when they catch a scent, it is difficult to call them off. They also need fenced yards as they may wander off when distracted by a scent. Rescue groups have found Bloodhounds as far as four counties away from their homes when a pet dog has discovered a scent. As with many hounds they have strong, loud, melodious voices.
Health
The average lifespan of the Bloodhound is seven to ten years. Many Bloodhounds do not live that long as they are very prone to gastric torsion or bloat, where the stomach becomes overstretched because of excessive gas. This is the leading cause of death in Bloodhounds. To prevent this, they should be fed two or three small meals daily, rather than one large meal. While many deep-chested breeds are vulnerable to this ailment, the Bloodhound seems to be particularly so. They also frequently have problems with infections of the ears, eyes and skin and all of these need to be checked regularly.