Bloodhound

Part of the joy of owning a Bloodhound is training him to track a scent. You'll both have fun, and you might even be able to help your community should someone need to find a missing person!

The Bloodhounds' scenting ability is intense. All they really need is an article of clothing belonging to the missing person: They take a sniff and can follow the scent anywhere. In the 1100s, the most powerful people in Europe, including bishops, kept packs of Bloodhounds. Monasteries and aristocratic families took great care with their Bloodhounds' breeding. Some people believe that they got their name because of the care taken with the "blood lines," or family histories, of the dogs, and not because they follow the scent of blood on the trail.

The Bloodhound is a large dog and strong. His owner must be prepared to handle him with both respect and discipline. He is also one of the kindest and gentlest of all dogs. Bloodhounds are intelligent and want to please.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Powerful, with thin, loose skin, especially around head and neck, where it hangs in loose folds. Possessing a wise and noble expression.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Height--males, 25 to 27 inches at the withers; females, 23 to 25 inches; for both, the greater height is preferred. Weight--males, 90 to 110 pounds preferred; females, 80 to 100 pounds preferred.

Fun Facts

The wrinkly faced Bloodhound is often used to find people, including children, who have been lost for days or criminals on the run. The Bloodhound can follow a trail over a hundred miles to locate someone, even if he has to swim across water. And he can pick out the person he is tracking from a crowd. These dogs do not give up. When the Bloodhound finally finds what he's after, he does not attack the person he has been trailing. The Bloodhound is as sweet and affectionate as he is determined.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.