Let Talk About The Dog Walking Behind a Nose.

 The Bloodhound is famed for its ability to find and follow a track.  What track depends on the trainer of the dog.  These dogs can be trained to track any scent the owner wants them to and to do it relentlessly to the point of total exhaustion.

The Bloodhound is one of the oldest breeds of dogs known.  The breed was perfected over 1100 years ago by the monks of St. Hubert in Belgium.  Later the dogs were brought by the Normans into England.  In some parts of the world they are still known as the St. Hubert Hound or the Flemish Hound.

These dogs are known to be physically massive, powerful, slow and a tracker above and beyond any other breed.  Males average 25 to 27 inches at the shoulders and weight varies from 85 to 105 pounds.  The ladies of the breed are only slightly smaller.  The breed has a very long head, a black nose, and pendent lips.  The skin over its forehead and cheeks is extremely wrinkled and these wrinkles are said to help the Bloodhound absorb odors that are days old.  The eyes are dark hazel-brown and kindly.  Their ears are very long, low set and hanging; it is also believed that the set and size of the ears aid in their ability to follow a scent.  The tail is set low and slightly curved.  The coat is short, tight against the body and sleek against the head, ears and upper body.  The coat colors can be black with varying amounts of tan shadings, chestnut, liver or solid bright red.

This breed is known to be meek, silent, timid, good-natured, polite and lovable.  They become totally devoted to their masters and family. The breed is rarely aggressive and is known to get along well with children, other dogs and cats.

The uses for a Bloodhound vary as much as scents vary.  They are used by police the world over for searching for people and are capable of picking out a trail that is several days old.  The Bloodhound is a commendable companion but due to its good nature it cannot be trained as a guard dog.

With more attention being paid to blood trailing dogs in the hunting woods, we are sure to see more and more deer hunters with a Bloodhound around the house.

References:

American Kennel Club, . (1996, January 9). AKC meet the breeds®: Bloodhound. Retrieved from http://www.akc.org/breeds/bloodhound/

United Kennel Club, Inc. (2009, January 1). Bloodhound. Retrieved from http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Breeds/BloodhoundRevisedJanuary12009

By Luanne Bragg

TalkHunting Pro Staffer, Luanne "Beaglepup" Bragg, started hunting (going hunting) with her Grandfather in the fall of 1965.  He loved to squirrel hunt and would carry her into the woods and sit her on a rock and let her hold his prizes.  He took Luanne on her first Pheasant and Rabbit hunts when she was 7.  Shortly after that he had a massive stroke and was never able to return to the woods again.  When Luanne was 9 her Father, who was about to retire from the Marine Corps after 20 years active duty, and Uncle decided that since she could shoot she could remove the ground hogs and crows from the farm fields.  Luanne spent the next few years watching all the wildlife and removing varmints from the farm.  She took herself deer hunting for the first time when she was 15 and took her first deer at 17.  There was a long time between Luanne's first deer and her next deer due to college and work and general life.  She did a lot of small game hunting with her ex-husband starting in 1985 and killed her next deer in 1988.  She has not missed a deer or turkey season since.  When not hunting she is fishing or working in her garden (when not WORKING...).

Luanne has raised, trained and field trialed Beagles in the UKC and ARHA formats for 20 years and has produced several Field and Show Champions and Grand Field and Show Champions.  There is usually at least one litter of puppies born on her place every year.

She holds a Real Estate License in Virginia and owns a Dog Boarding Kennel.  Luanne belongs to the National Association of Realtors, Central Virginia Beaglers Association, NRA, NWTF and Buckmasters.  She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio,  and started showing Appaloosa horses in 1969 and was the Pennsylvania Appaloosa Queen in 1980 and runner up to the National Queen Title the same year. When she gets the chance she still enjoys a long trail ride.  She graduated from Kent State University in Kent Ohio in 1982 with a degree in Applied Science. Luanne relocated from Ohio to Virginia in 1984.

Comments(1):

1. Bloodhound

   Being a Hound person, loved this story!!!

   Friday, December 10, 2010 Wilton