Last Updated on November 2, 2022 by Pets Feed
The bloodhound also known as Saint-Hubert dog is easily recognizable thanks to its noble and wrinkled head, its drooping eyelids and its long ears hanging like pendulums.
This dog has an innate and unparalleled ability to locate, so he is the only dog whose tracking evidence is allowed by the court in some countries.The bloodhound dogs are known for their excellent tracking ability, which no other dog can equal.
| Breed name | Bloodhound |
| Country of origin | Belgium |
| Weight | 40 – 54 kg |
| Height (at the withers) | 62 – 68 cm |
| Life expectancy | 12 years |
| Size | Big |
Bloodhound photos
Characteristics of the Bloodhound
Bloodhound is a powerful dog with a specific, colorful appearance. A characteristic feature of the breed is a large head with numerous drooping folds. In males, this feature is more pronounced.
In adults, growth is about 62-68 cm, weight is about 40-54 kg. Males are larger than females.
- Head: Narrow, oblong, flattened on the sides. Wrinkled, saggy skin. Deep and long forehead. Wide nose, black and brown.
- Jaws: Strong, strong. The bottom row merges with the top row in a castle.
- Ears: Elongated, planted at the same level as the eyes. Hang low to help carry scent from floor to nose. Velvety, soft to the touch. Rolled up inside.
- Eyes: Medium sized, oval sunken eyes. The skin goes down over the eyes, it helps focus on the trail. The color varies from yellow to hazelnut.
- Torso: Muscular, with wrinkled skin. Top and bottom are parallel to each other. The belly is turned up. Narrow and oval chest. Stretched collar.
- Legs: Short, straight, parallel to each other. Strong, with pronounced musculature.
- Coat: Short, tight, hard. Protects the body well from external influences. The coloring is red, red or black.
Behavior and character
The bloodhound dog breed, despite its threatening appearance and size, is very fond of people.
They are very intelligent and devoted animals, they care a lot about their family and their master, they love close contact, interaction, participation in family life, affection and tenderness.
The bloodhound dog is perfect for keeping in a private home with its own yard, but it can adapt very well in an apartment. These animals are quite strongly attached to their family, and therefore leaving them alone for a long time is not a good idea. If you travel a lot and it is not possible to do so with your four-legged friend, it is better to choose a different breed of dog.
Some bloodhound dogs can bark loudly and a lot in a state of excitement, while others, on the contrary, are not inclined to give a voice. In general, the breed is distinguished by obedience, although you will have to get used to their independent nature.
Health
The average life span of the Bloodhound is 10-12 years. To maintain his body in a healthy state, preventive examinations with X-rays and tests should be carried out annually in a veterinary clinic. This will help to detect the disease in time and get rid of the problem at the initial stage.
Bloodhound dogs are predisposed to the following diseases:
- Joint dysplasia – if not treated, at the last stage the Bloodhound will not be able to walk and will suffer from unbearable pain.
- Dermatitis of the skin folds is a skin disease that occurs due to inadequate care.
- Epilepsy – accompanied by seizures.
- Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormones.
- Entropy, ectropia – twisting and eversion of the eyelid does not lend itself to drug treatment, in this case, surgery is required.
- Bloating, volvulus – if you do not take immediate action, the dog can die in a matter of hours.
- Cherry eye is a third eyelid adenoma.
Life expectancy
The average life span of the Bloodhound is 10-12 years.
Basic care
The bloodhound dog breed has a short coat and therefore should be brushed once a week. Usually that is enough.
The eyes should be cleaned of deposits daily, the ears are usually cleaned 2-3 times a week.
The claws are cut three times a month, you need to bathe the dog at least once a month.
Among other things, monitor the cleanliness and condition of the skin folds.
Important
The Bloodhound loves walking. He loves to run, play a hunter, sniffing out smells on the way. If this dog gets too carried away by some smell, it can, leaving the owner behind, go on an independent journey. Therefore, it is important to always keep your pet on a leash, at least when walking in public places in an open area.
Exercise
Because of their size and rate of growth, it is best not to exercise excessively when they are still puppies. During the first year, care must be taken to ensure that bones and joints have the opportunity to develop properly.
The adult Bloodhound dog loves endurance and needs at least two hours of physical exercise a day. They are mainly stalk dogs looking for smells and looking for origin. There are courses and tests, and your participation in these courses is recommended.
Bloodhound – St. Hubert dog Fun Facts
- About 1,000 Bloodhound dogs accompanied Gonzago Pizarro when he set out on a jungle expedition in 1540.
- Bloodhound is able to follow a trail that was left more than four days ago. If he is not hindered, he will not stop until he reaches the target.
- The Saint Hubert dog tends to gnaw and swallow the most unusual objects, for example, remotes from home appliances, batteries, stones, plants …
- Although the breed is believed to be called bloodhound in England for its pure blood, it is also possible that this name refers to the ability of these dogs to chase blood trails from all kinds of animals and even people.
The history of the breed
The birthplace of Bloodhound is Belgium. The name of the breed sounds somewhat ominous – “blood dog”. In fact, Saint-Hubert dogs do not possess any bloodlust, their severity is at the level of hunting dogs.
Regarding the origin of the name, there are 2 versions:
- Bloodhound has a talent for successfully chasing wounded game while hunting, guided by the smell of blood.
- The name “Dog of Blood” indicates the purebred dogs of the indicated breed.
Bloodhound is the oldest species of hounds. The distant ancestors of modern Bloodhounds lived in monasteries. The monks were engaged in breeding these dogs and monitored purebred. In the Middle Ages, the hunting abilities of bloodhounds were appreciated by royalty. Representatives of the breed were kept in packs at the royal kennels, participating with their high-ranking owners in the hunt.
Bloodhounds were introduced to England in the tenth century. It was here that the development of the breed continued. Representatives of high English society appreciated the Belgian hounds.
The popularity of the breed grew. An exceptional sense of smell made a Bloodhound not only a hunter. In America, these dogs began to be used as bloodhounds. They participated in search operations, and could easily find a person in any locality. Even if the search lasted 24 hours, the dog followed the trail without rest.
Also, bloodhounds are used in the police service, at customs. They help to investigate crime scenes. By smell, they often manage to detect the culprit.
European breeders have made more than one attempt to develop aggression in the Saint Hubert dog. The effort was in vain. These powerful, brave dogs do not attack humans. Aggression is not peculiar to them.
