Bloodhound

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Sicily.

MOST SUITED AS Hound or tracking dog, and family pet.

SIZE
The shoulder-height is 63 - 69cm (24 1/2 - 27in) for dogs and 58 - 63cm (22 1/2 - 24in) for bitches.

COAT
The Bloodhound has a short smooth-haired coat. The most usual colours are black and red, liver and red, and plain red. A small amount of white on the chest, feet, and tip of the tail is permissible.

CARE REQUIRED
There is little to the grooming of a Bloodhound. Brush them from time to time to remove loose and dead hairs. More attention is necessary for the ears. Check them for dirt to prevent infec­tions and it does no harm to wash them (for example after the ears dropped in the feeding bowl). The majority of dogs of this breed have drooping eye-lids. If necessary administer eye-drops containing vitamin A.

CHARACTER
The dogs of this breed are gentle-natured and affectionate, boisterous when young, friendly, tenacious, independent, do not keep barking but have a very loud bark, and they possess a very good scenting nose. Once their interest is aroused by something, it is difficult to get their attention for anything else. The new owner of a Bloodhound will need to have plenty of patience and to possess tact for training to succeed. The most important consideration is to be consistent - they know full well how successfully they can get around you with a pathetic look and make use of it to get their own way. Do not expect too much by way of obedience from this dog - they are naturally gentle-natured animals that have minds of their own rat­her than following your orders. Do not over tire them with long walks, for example, until fully grown. The Bloodhound is a big dog that grows rapid­ly and needs all its energy for developing strong bones, joints and muscles.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
The Bloodhound usually gets on well with children. Make sure they do not pester the dog because these dogs are so good-natured that they will lie there and meekly let Children clamber all over it. Both wanted and unwanted visitors will be greeted as if the Bloodhound thinks "the more the merrier." They can live in harmony with other dogs and household pets.

EXERCISE
This breed has a phenomenal level of stamina and can walk for hours on end. If you have one as a pet, you will have to do a fair bit of hiking quite regularly.
They are primarily tracking dogs which when they encounter an interesting scent want to find its source. Make sure that your garden is well fenced. Consider hunting with this hound or having it trained as a search dog. They are resistant to cold and can be kept in a kennel provided they get sufficient exercise and attention.