Bloodhound

by Amy Tokic

Published: February 5th, 2013

About Bloodhound

Weight

80-110 lb

Lifespan

10-12 years

Group

AKC Hound

Best Suited For

Families with children, singles, seniors, houses with yards

Temperament

Gentle, passive, intelligent, relaxed, friendly

Comparable Breeds

Basset Hound, Bullmastiff

Height

23-27 inches

Bloodhound Basics

While the name might suggest a dog that comes from Transylvania, the true nature of Bloodhounds is far different than you might expect, particularly if you’ve never worked with a Bloodhound before. One of the most famous “noses” – that is, strength of scent detection – in the world of dogs, Bloodhounds aren’t only friendly and loyal dogs but make exceptionally useful assistants in the world of law enforcement and security. So why does this breed end up with such a nasty name?

Well, before we get to that, let’s focus on what makes the Bloodhound unique in a world of hounds, spaniels, and terriers. Why would you want a Bloodhound for your family? They’re a relatively plain dog that usually wouldn’t be described as “cute” unless you’ve raised one from a puppy. As you’re about to find out, there’s always more than meets the eye, and a great pet is more reliant on personality. The Bloodhound’s personality is among the best in the world of dogs and makes for a loyal house pet, a friendly companion, and a great long-term friend.

So let’s get to it and find out if the Bloodhound is really a good choice for you and your family’s next pet.

The Bloodhound’s personality is among the best in the world of dogs and makes for a loyal house pet, a friendly companion, and a great long-term friend.

Origin

When you’re talking about Bloodhounds, you’re talking about an animal with a very rich and clearly defined history dating back to the Middle Ages. Essentially descended from a dog known as the St. Hubert’s Hound, the Bloodhound made its mark on history by accompanying nobility and royalty on hunting excursions.The Bloodhound’s personality is among the best in the world of dogs and makes for a loyal house pet, a friendly companion, and a great long-term friend. These dogs would be able to sniff out prey, track down a wounded animal and generally assist with various aspects of the hunt. Its legendary nose becoming more famous, the name “Bloodhound” is perhaps a reference to the way Bloodhounds were great at sniffing out the blood of wounded prey.

Some report that the Bloodhound first made its way into England at around the time of the Norman Conquest under William the Conqueror, but there are no official sources to corroborate this. Nobility used Bloodhounds not only for the hunt, but eventually as tracking dogs to assist in law enforcement. One legend states that a dog was able to track down a criminal over seven miles along a route that was heavily trafficked.

Pedigree

Descending quite clearly from the St. Hubert’s Hound as well as the Sleuth Hound, the Bloodhound is able to track its pedigree back several hundred years, first earning its historical mentions and descriptions well ahead of many other dogs – minus the ancient dogs like the Pug. The pedigree of many Bloodhounds can actually be quite strong because of its relatively noble lineage and even today, many upper-scale dog owners love to have a Bloodhound as part of their pack.

It’s also known that the Bloodhound had a relatively strong identity prior to classification, as old paintings show us examples of Bloodhounds before they were ever given formal classification in organizations such as the American Kennel Club.

Food / Diet

Bloodhounds have a droopy face and ears, so it’s important not to give them a diet full of messy food that can get stuck in the creases of its face. A normal dog’s diet of meat and whole ingredients like vegetables and potatoes can really give your Bloodhound plenty to chew on. Be sure to incorporate treats as part of its diet, rationing them so you don’t over feed them while training.

The Bloodhound made its mark on history by accompanying nobility and royalty on hunting excursions.

Training

The most spectacular element of the Bloodhound’s behavior is its ability to track. So let your Bloodhound use that skill in the wild – it’s important for every dog to feel that it has its own unique role in your pack. Bloodhounds are popular because of its loyalty and its relatively high rate of obedience. Bloodhounds aren’t very independent dogs who like to go roaming without you.

Weight

Typically, a Bloodhound should be considered a mid-to-large-sized dog weighing around 80 to 110 pounds, but Bloodhounds can sometimes get larger than that. Be sure to aim for a healthy weight relative to your Bloodhound’s frame and you should have no trouble encouraging longevity and a high quality of life for your pet.

Temperament / Behavior

This breed should be considered gentle, but it can be relentless in its pursuit of a scent, which is why it’s important for you to give your Bloodhound some scents to sniff out every once in a while. It should act out any pent up energy in this kind of healthy activity rather than around the house. Generally speaking, these dogs are a low-maintenance dog with a near-ideal behavior for lovers of more passive dogs that just enjoy being loyal.

Common Health Problems

Bloodhounds have higher rates of gastrointestinal conditions including bloating. Be sure to check your Bloodhound’s eyes, ears, and nose for issues as its characteristically droopy face can sometimes hide ailments that have been developing.

Life Expectancy

Bloodhounds typically live around 12 years, typical for a dog of its size.

Exercise Requirements

Bloodhounds can use regular exercise like any animal, but it’s also important to let them work with you in open areas so that it can sniff out scents. Letting an animal exercise in the way it was born and bred to exercise is a great, natural way to get it to live out its most instinctual behaviors in a healthy, energetic way.

Generally speaking, these dogs are a low-maintenance dog with a near-ideal behavior for lovers of more passive dogs that just enjoy being loyal.

AKC

According to the American Kennel Club, “Although affectionate, they can possess shy natures, sensitive to kindness or correction by their master. Colors of the Bloodhound include black and tan, liver and tan, and red, sometimes flecked with white.”

Coat

Maintain your Bloodhound’s coat with a weekly brushing to keep them looking and feeling good.

Puppies

Be sure to not over exercise your puppies and to adequately socialize them, as Bloodhounds can actually become quite shy.

Photo credit: Erik Lam/Shutterstock

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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Living Fixed Asset designation provides felines with care and shelter for life.

The U.S. Postal Service Just Released Its National Dog Bite Rankings

Not all dogs are friendly and calm, and U.S. Postal employees know this all too well. Just in the last year, incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees have risen to more than 5,800 cases. In an effort to raise awareness of these issues, the organization started the USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign and is now offering key guidelines on how dog owners can help foster a better environment for safe mail delivery. Starting on June 2nd and running through June 9th, the campaign is running under the slogan “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.” Supporters can also spread awareness on social media, with the hashtag # dogbiteawareness.“Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager, Employee Safety and Health Awareness. “The U.S. Postal Service consistently encourages responsible pet ownership. The national dog bite campaign is an effort to promote dog bite awareness to keep our customers, their dogs, and letter carriers safe while delivering the mail.”Letter carriers are aware that dogs can be unpredictable, and even those who seem docile can bite unexpectedly. This is because doggos are usually protective of their home and are suspicious of strangers, even if they are just postal employees. They are now trying to emphasize the importance of dog owners ensuring safer mail delivery. As most people know the usual time a postman comes each day, it should be easier to secure their pets and minimize the risk of dangerous situations. When a postal employee comes to your home, try to keep your dogs inside the house or behind a secured fence, away from the door, or on a leash. Besides this, owners can now use Informed Delivery, a new and free USPS service, which allows customers to digitally preview any incoming mail and packages from their computer, tablet, or smartphone. Since the service launched in 2017, it garnered more than 52 million customers. Sign-up is possible at informeddelivery.usps.com. All dog owners can now anticipate the arrival of the postman and prepare accordingly. Dog bites can be harmful and costly too. Information from the Insurance Information Institute reveals that the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555. When a postal employee gets bitten, the owner can end up responsible for lost wages, medical bills, uniform replacement costs, and the pain and suffering that the employee endured.Of course, all postal employees are trained to observe an area where they know dogs are present. They have to remain alert and expect dangerous conditions. But also they have to respect a dog’s territory and their natural instinct. Overall, they are trained to never startle a dog, never attempt to pet or feed them, keep their eyes on the dog, and lastly to never assume a dog will not bite. They are also instructed to use a dog repellant if necessary and try to protect their vital areas.“Even though a customer’s dog is friendly to most people, it can always have a bad day,” said letter carrier Tara Snyder. “I know, from experience, even when a dog is in the house, customers need to make sure their door is secure so their dog can’t push it open and bite the letter carrier.”As a stark glimpse into the rate of dog bites on postal employees, a ranking was released as a part of this campaign. This lists the top 20 cities where dog bites occurred in 2023. Leading the list at number one is Los Angeles, with 65 attacks reported, followed by Houston and Chicago, with 56 and 58 attacks respectively. As for the states, the most reported attacks occurred in California, 727 in total. 

Can Dogs Have Insomnia?

We all had trouble sleeping, at least once in our life. Some have a more persistent problem, which is called insomnia. This is a sleep disorder that can make it very hard to stay asleep or even fall asleep to begin with. But can dogs suffer from this problem as well? If you notice your pooch having trouble snoozing and staying up all the time, it could be a sign that they have some form of sleep disorder. And it could very well be canine insomnia. Can Dogs Have Insomnia and What Causes It?In short, the answer is yes, dogs can experience insomnia, although it is not as common as it is in humans. Insomnia in dogs can be caused by various factors, including physical discomfort, anxiety, changes in routine or environment, underlying medical conditions, or even age-related issues. If a dog consistently has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it's essential to consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns and to determine the best course of action to help the dog sleep better. After all, it might not be insomnia that is causing the issues, as there could be several factors to cause changes in sleep patterns for doggos. For example, pain from injuries and physical discomfort can affect their quality of sleep. Dogs that are recovering from surgery, or senior dogs with arthritis, can find it difficult to lie down in a comfy position to sleep. So they can’t sleep at all. What is more, chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia or intervertebral disc disease can also contribute to insomnia.Anxiety and stress can also affect sleep in dogs. Things like loud thunderstorms, fireworks, or similar noises can cause great stress for doggos, and completely inhibit them from sleeping. Similarly, changes in their environment or routine, or being in unfamiliar surroundings can make them anxious, as well as being separated from their owners. All this affects sleep. Another common cause of insomnia in dogs is canine cognitive dysfunction ( dementia) which affects senior doggos. Being old, these dogs may experience changes in their sleep patterns due to cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. They may become disoriented at night, leading to restlessness and difficulty sleeping.But young dogs too can have trouble with sleep, especially if they are hyperactive or have excessive energy levels. Due to this excess energy, young dogs can have difficulty relaxing and settling down to sleep. It is always best to tire out young dogs and help them spend that energy with classic dog toys, so they can sleep “like babies”. By far the best way to tire out a young, active dog is a good ol’ game of fetch – small but sturdy balls such as these tough rubber ones by Chuckit! are the best choice as they can be thrown far and will withstand your pet’s gnawing without any issue.

Can A Dog Be Autistic?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects humans and can be manifested in a variety of ways, most of which are related to challenges with social skills, communication, and interaction with the world itself. While the many sides of the autism spectrum are well understood and documented, there’s a lot that remains a mystery, such as the question if autism is specific to humans – or more precisely: can a dog be autistic?Canine autism is still not officially recognized in veterinary medicine in the same way it is in humans, however, there are some behaviors in dogs that can resemble traits associated with autism in humans, leading some pet owners and veterinarians to use the term "autistic" in order to describe them more specifically. Here is all that you need to know about this complex topic.Can a Dog Be Autistic?Some dogs may exhibit behaviors that are similar to those seen in autistic individuals. For example, some dogs may exhibit repetitive behaviors. This might include excessive licking, tail chasing, pawing, or pacing. In fact, they get so repetitive that it quickly becomes abnormal. Besides all this, some “autistic” dogs can have difficulties with social interactions. In these cases, they might be less responsive to social cues, avoid eye contact, or prefer being alone. Similarly, some dogs can have overwhelming sensitivity to various stimuli. This means that certain dogs might be overly sensitive to sounds, lights, or touch – things that seem ordinary in most cases. These behaviors could be due to various factors, including genetic predispositions, developmental issues, or environmental influences. Some dogs may also be affected by canine-compulsive disorder (CCD). Similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in humans, dogs with CCD engage in repetitive behaviors that are difficult to interrupt. This can contribute to autistic behaviors. The same goes for dogs with sensory processing disorders. In such cases, they might have abnormal sensory processing, making them overly reactive or unresponsive to certain stimuli. Ultimately, though not well-defined, certain neurodevelopmental issues could lead to behaviors reminiscent of autism. Either way, in the case that your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help. Working with a professional dog trainer or a veterinary behaviorist can help you address problematic behaviors and deal with them efficiently. After all, autistic dogs can be as happy and normal as all other pets. Providing mental and physical stimulation through toys,  puzzles, and regular exercise is very important, however, as it ensures that they remain happy and active. 

Can a Parrot Get Dehydrated?

The summer months are in full swing, and the temperatures are soaring high. Due to this, pet owners across the world are concerned about their furry and feathery friends and the possible adverse effects extreme weather could have on them. A group especially vulnerable to heat is parrots, who are usually small and don’t tolerate high temperatures. Like all other pets, they too need to have plenty of fresh, cool water available at all times, as it is essential for maintaining their overall health and also aids digestion and regulates body temperature. But how much water does your avian pet really need in the summer? Can parrots get dehydrated and can you prevent it? Here is what you need to know.Can a Parrot Get Dehydrated?Like all living creatures, parrots also require water, and without enough of it, they can certainly become dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when a parrot loses more water than it consumes, which leads to an imbalance in their body’s water levels. There are many reasons why this can happen. Most often it is insufficient water intake, excessive heat, sickness, or improper diet. To calculate how much water a parrot needs, you need to consider their size and weight – a majestic Moluccan Cockatoo will certainly need more water than a cute little Budgie. A good rule of thumb is to ensure they get at least 5% of their body weight in water each day.Dehydration in parrots can have serious health consequences, including kidney function, digestion, and overall vitality. That is why it is important to always provide them with a fresh source of water and monitor for signs of dehydration.Signs of Dehydration in ParrotsAll parrot owners need to know how to spot the symptoms of dehydration. This can be crucial for their health and allow you quick intervention. Some of the common signs are:#1 Sunken Eyes:When dehydrated, a parrot’s eyes can appear sunken or dull. This is one of the more noticeable signs and it needs to be addressed immediately.#2 Dry Skin and Beak:A dehydrated parrot can have dry or flaky skin and a dry beak. The skin can also lose its elasticity, and the beak may appear brittle.#3 Lethargy:When dehydrated, parrots can become lethargic or less active than usual. They might not show any interest in playing or interacting with their environment in the usual way.#4 Reduced appetite:A lack of water intake can lead to loss of appetite, as dehydration can cause digestive issues and general discomfort. #5 Rapid breathing:In an attempt to regulate their body temperature, dehydrated parrots may pant or breathe at a rapid pace.#6 Sticky mucous membranes:The inside of the parrot’s mouth may appear sticky or dry due to a lack of moisture.#7 Weight loss:Over time, dehydration can lead to noticeable weight loss, as the parrot’s body struggles to maintain its normal functions.Preventing and Treating Dehydration in ParrotsOf course, it is equally important to understand what can cause dehydration in parrots in the first place. This can also help you to prevent it from occurring. The number one cause is inadequate water supply. If a parrot’s water source is not easily accessible or is often empty, they may not consume enough water. Make sure that their waterer is always clean, easy to use, and made from parrot-safe materials.

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