Bloodhound
Group: Hound
Lifespan: 10-12 Years
Pups per Litter: 8-10
Average Weight: 80-110 lbs.
Average Height: 23-27 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: Moderate
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs Other Animals
History
The Bloodhound is a very old breed of dog dating back to over one thousand years. The monks that resided in St. Hubert, Belgium had bred this dog to the species it is today. The dog was later brought to England, and then the United States where it had brought its useful skills to hunters. They are known as scent hounds and also for their very loose jowls and deep howl when a prey has been caught or cornered! They are still used today for tracking of criminals, rescue, or just plain companionship.
Traits
The Bloodhound is a sweet and patient dog that is extremely human oriented. They are calm, gentle and love attention from people, children especially. This dog is not a guard dog, as it loves anyone it comes into contact with! The Bloodhound is, like most hounds, instinctual to follow wherever its nose decides. They have been known to sniff out smells that have been on trails over 100 hours!
Appearance
Weighing in at 80-110 lbs (36-50 kgs) and averaging 23-27 inches high, the Bloodhound is a strong hound! They have a lot of loose skin in the face region and have very large floppy ears that are perfect for hearing the steps of prey. The coat is short and hard yet the fur is smooth on the head and neck of the dog. The coat colours come in black and tan, red and tawny, and liver and tan. The body is solid and legs are strong to aid long days sniffing out different smells! The eyes are deep set and the tail is long and slender.
Health
The Bloodhound is prone to bloat. They have very deep chests and eating to quickly followed by rugged playing could lead in flipping the stomach on itself, so most breeders recommend to feed a few small meals a day rather then 1 or 2 large meals. They are also prone to ear infections, which is explainable as they have such large ears. Hip Dysplasia and entropian are also susceptible. This breed of dog will get calluses on its elbows and joints if it lays on harder surfaces.
Training
The Bloodhound is a happy go lucky dog and will need positive and very consistent training. They can be a bit stubborn but on the whole, do want to please their owners. Some owners say that the first 2 years are the most difficult as the Bloodhound can be a lot of work because as puppies, they are balls of energy.
Care
The Bloodhound is a very low maintenance dog. They have a very short coat that sheds about average and that only requires brushing once every two weeks or so. Their coat can become very shiny if you groom them with a hound glove. The Bloodhound tends to have a smell of dog more so then other breeds so bathing is up to the owner in regards to how often they would like to do so.
Breed
This breed is categorized in the Hound Group. They would do well in an apartment if they are exercised enough. They would do well if they had a backyard to run around in or an off leash park is just as good. Bloodhounds should always be walked on leash as they tend to go where their nose leads so their attention span isn’t that good when their nose is distracted. These dogs should not be tired to often after exercise when they are puppies because it is better to let them grow and have their joints strengthen as much as they can before they’re fully grown. The average lifespan of a Bloodhound is 10-12 years. They have on average 8-10 pups per litter. When obtaining a baby Bloodhound, keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bloodhound.htm Bloodhound Breed Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodhound Bloodhound Information
http://www.bloodhounds.com/tbn/bhrescue.html Bloodhound Rescue
http://www.akc.org/breeds/bloodhound/index.cfm Bloodhound AKC Standards
http://www.canadianbloodhoundclub.com Bloodhound Club of Canada
