Now don’t judge this dog by its appearance – this saggy beauty has a useful noggin-and-nose! Precisely why it was elected as the Dog of the Week!
Origin
Well, it just so happens that the Bloodhound’s origin is currently unknown, but from legends and research, they are most likely from France. One legend says that the Bloodhound was first bred in Saint-Hubert Monastery in Belgium around 1000 AD. What a fun fact!
Appearance
Remember when we discussed the Vizsla? It almost looks like a Bloodhound, except a little less saggy. Most Bloodhounds are brown and black, but some are pure brown, and some are even reddish!
Now, their eye color…it’s usually from hazel to yellow, which makes them look like they have eyebrows!
Personality
Bloodhounds make great police dogs because of their noggin-and-nose. But they make great family pets! They are even-tempered and loving. They don’t hurt people they know, and they love to play!
Bloodhounds can be extremely baffled by small children, and they tolerate babies clambering all over them.
BEWARE: Bloodhounds can fight with dogs of the same congress (sex). Be careful when you introduce your Bloodhound to another pet.
If a Bloodhound smells a scent it likes, it will follow the scent as far as possible, not listening to anything else. They are going to be exceedingly determined to see where the scent is coming from.
Bloodhounds should be raised with people. If not, they will be really shy around people they don’t know and suspicious. It’ll be hard to keep your Bloodhound with you.
Okay, here’s the last thing (and a bonus): Bloodhounds can get along with cats, and it’ll be better if the cat is raised with the hound.
Diet
Many times, we’ve shortly discussed the diet of dogs. Too short, in fact, that it barely gives the reader any sense of what to feed your dog.
Dogs are omnivores, which means they can eat anything. Well, not anything. I’ve heard of dog owners that made lots of mistakes, feeding their full-grown dogs ice cream. Dogs and puppies are NOT to eat ice cream, even when they’re the age to drink milk, because they can only be fed their mother’s milk. There are milk replacers if you rescued an orphaned puppy, explorers out there, but you are not to feed your dog ice cream, especially if it’s chocolate flavored. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and the darker it is, the more toxic it is for them.
(Don’t get the idea that you can give your dog really light chocolate – it’s more life-threatening than you think!).
Here is a video to explain the TOP FIVE TOXIC FOOD’S FOR DOGS (explanation for each food included).
Health Problems
Last but not least, Bloodhound health problems. There is absolutely NO such thing as no disease dog.
Here are the top eight diseases a Bloodhound can catch.
- Bloat – a major killer of this breed.
- Cancer – second runner up killer to the Bloodhound!
- Orthopedic diseases – elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia, a major concern for the Bloodhound
- With large, heavy ears, Bloodhounds can easily catch ear infections and ear hematoma.
- Hypothyroidism – a common disease, for Bloodhounds have low thyroid levels.
- Heart disease and epilepsy – they come very badly, endlessly coming into the Bloodhound.
- Allergies – allergies cause itchy skin and therefore can lead to bacterial skin germs.
- Eye diseases – eye diseases, such as cherry eye, eyelid abnormalities, dry eye, and bad cataracts.
Check in with your local vet or research for more information.
(Note: Bloodhounds also have a lifespan of 7-12 years).
Well, there you have it! Almost all the information you need about the Bloodhound.
Speaking of ‘information’, we renamed our channel, formerly called ‘Munchkin the Ragdoll’, ‘Pets Pine’, because now it’s not just about Munchkin! If you want to see more videos besides ‘Top Five Toxic Foods for Dogs’, (that’s an episode on our channel), then here is a link to it:
Until next time!