 The Bloodhound is a member of the Hound Group of dogs. Bloodhounds are powerful hounds with a legendary sense of smell, aided no doubt by their long snout. They also have long drooping ears and masses of loose, wrinkled skin.
Also known as the Flemish Hound, the Bloodhound was created by the monks of St Hubert, in Belgium, more than one thousand years ago. For that reason the Bloodhound is also known as the St Hubert Hound. From the Bloodhound were created the American Coonhound, the Swiss Jura Hound, the Brazilian Fila Brasileiro and the Bavarian Mountain Hound. Elements of all these dogs can be found in today's Bloodhound.
The Bloodhound is smooth coated and short-haired, making it an easy dog to groom despite its size. Bloodhounds need a considerable amount of exercise, especially since by nature they are tracker dogs and scenthounds and therefore used to travelling long distances in search of their prey on behalf of their human masters. Bloodhounds have traditionally been used by the likes of the police and the military to track escaped prisoners, missing childen or the likes of earthquake victims. The Bloodhound possesses the keenest sense of smell of any of the multitude of dog breeds and can track scent that is many days old and over considerable distances.
In spite of its size, the Bloodhound is a gentle, affectionate dog and one that makes an excellent family pet. Bloodhounds are wonderful with children, their easy-going temperament completely belieing their size. |
