"Why A Bloodhound?"

 is The first question most breeders will ask you, as  this is not a breed to be taken on lightly.

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Bloodhounds are not the most obedient of dogs, mainly because they are ruled by their noses. This doesn’t mean they are totally un-trainable (and therefore there is no point trying), it merely means they require considerably more patience from their handler. They live in a world we cannot begin to understand-the world of scent. Their first instinct is to identify and follow scents though this may sometimes take them in quite the opposite direction to that of your choice. If you respect and admire this ability you are more than halfway to joining the Bloodhound fraternity.

 

Their coat care is minimal, a regular polish with a soft brush and occasional bath will keep them gleaming, they do however, have the habit in common with most breeds of dog, of shedding hair from time to time.

If you are excessively appearance, garden or house proud, they are not the breed for you.

 

The ‘slobber’ is even more of a problem than the hair. . A good shake of a Bloodhounds magnificent head can send a slobber missile fifteen feet or more. What goes up must come down- unless it sticks to your furniture, clothing or  the ceiling -and forms a stalactite.

If by now you are not searching for the address of your nearest Chihuahua breeder, read on – our breed has much to commend

 

 

In temperament Bloodhounds are considered to be natures

Gentlemen, courteous to humans and other dogs and extremely

sensitive to their owners’ feelings.

They require a couple of hours minimum of daily exercise and are not

a breed that should be left home alone to its own devices.

They tend to be lifelong chewers of furniture and 

When they bay it is melodious and doesn’t last for

long……but your neighbours may not agree!

 

Bloodhounds are a large breed - much larger than most people

imagine.

The males are approximately 27”at the shoulder (withers),

sometimes taller, which means they can (and will) steal from a table

(29”) without needing to lift one foot off the floor. They are heavy,

males weigh at least 8 stones, often much more.

Being so large theynaturally need a large amount of food, which is not cheap: keeping

just one hound you would probably need to budget about£30 per

week for food and insurance etc.

They carry their tails (called sterns) high and

wag them often hard and strong enough to clear your lowest

shelves of all those priceless ornaments!

Their ears (called leathers)

are long and heavy, almost always wet or sticky or both, from being

dipped in their food and water bowls, and covered in dirt from

sweeping the ground. An old towel (we call them slobber cloths )

becomes your constant appendage to wipe their mouths and ears,

and the clothing etc. of your guests.

 

Bloodhounds can fall ill from most of the canine ailments that

affect any breed, but they do, because of their physical

construction, appear particularly susceptible to gastric torsion.

This is a twisting of the gut that causes the hound great distress,

and unless veterinary help is immediately called, is usually fatal

This is commonly known in the breed as “bloat”, and all breeders

And owners are constantly on guard to watch for signs. Many of the larger breeds suffer from this.

 

Their ears need to be kept clean internally. Because of the length and weight of the ears, sometimes air cannot get to the inside and they need to be regularly cleaned 

Bloodhound eyes are, despite their appearance, remarkably free of most of the diseases that can affect canine eyes, but they do occasionally suffer from entropion (an in-turning of the lids causing rubbing on the eye). This is an inherited condition which, due to the efforts of breeders, has been largely bred out.

 

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A BREEDER ?

Firstly, to be interrogated about yourself, your home and your lifestyle before you even meet the breeder. To see the puppies with their dam and to be expected to visit and meet the breeder at least once.

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 Request information on health testing of the parents, which should include BVA hip and elbow scoring, and ideally BVA heart testing, DM testing and eye testing.

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At the time of buying the puppy, to be given the pedigree, a diet sheet, a receipt, and the KC registration (not always possible) along with a compre-hensive puppy pack and a full and legally binding contract.

Finally, a good responsible breeder will  support you with lifelong on-going help with advice on feeding, showing, trialling and general health.