The Bloodhound was around long before Christianity. No one knows how the name was originated. Historians feel that BlueBloods, or the aristocratic society, were among the few to own Bloodhounds. At least that could be one possibility...the name could have been attributed to the BlueBloods name being shortened to "Blood" and combined with their hounds to make "Bloodhounds".
Bloodhounds are considered to be the first of the PURE blooded hounds. They are used in good effect as the ultimate tracking animal and are not known to be good guard/attack dogs. Their sweet disposition will not lend itself to guard animals; however, they do make very good alarms. If something is out of place, or doesn't belong, they will bark/howl or sing in an effort to alert their owners.
Bloodhounds tend to drool...some worse than others. This is a characteristic of the breed that contributes to their amazing sense to track.
Further Notes on the Bloodhound:
Their smooth coat is easy to maintain with a light brushing; this will take care of unneeded loose hair.. If your Bloodhound lives indoors, you may want to brush them daily to minimize shedding. Due to the Bloodhounds having long ears, dirt can gather quickly...it's recommended that their ears be cleaned weekly. If you start this at a young age the dog will learn to look forward to it.
Inverted eyelids have been known to be seen in some Bloodhounds. Good nutrition is essential. As with any large dog it is better to feed two or more small meals a day rather than one large one. Exercise your dog before a meal, not after to lessen the possibility of bloat.
The Bloodhound is a large dog,. They do require room to run and need to be exercised daily if kept indoors. They do enjoy chasing balls and playing even though people think they're generally lazy. The Bloodhound can grow to an average of 23-27 inches Coat colors are black and tan, clear red or liver and tan. A small portion of white on the chest or paws is accepted.
Bloodhounds live an average of 9-12 years. If properly taken care of, they can live a full life and contribute a lot of joy to most any family.
Bloodhound Personalities:
Bloodhounds are very affectionate and they love people and kids. Bloodhounds are very easily insulted and truly want your approval. They love the water and are very good swimmers.
