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From: [e-mail] (Cindy Tittle Moore)
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Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Bloodhounds FAQ
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Date: 5 Dec 1992 06:02:31 GMT
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Archive-name: dogs-faq/bloodhounds

This is the breed-specific FAQ for Bloodhounds.  It is not posted on a
regular basis, but may be obtained via anonymous ftp at pit-manager.mit.edu
under /pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/bloodhounds. Or, send email to
[e-mail] with

send usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/bloodhounds

in the subject line, leaving the body empty.

AUTHOR

Cindy Tittle Moore, 24 March 1992.

DESCRIPTION

Bloodhounds are the largest and most powerful of the hound family.
They weigh up to 110lbs/50kg and stand as much as 27in/69cm at the
shoulders.  They have a very expressively wrinkled face with
pronounced flews and dewlaps (lips and throat), giving them a most
solemn expression.  The coat is thin, hard and short.  Colors are
black and tan, tawny, or red and tan ("liver" is sometimes used
instead of "tan").  The eyes are neither sunken nor prominent,
although the excess skin may pull the lower eyelids down.  The ears
hang low and are long and soft.  They are a relatively rare breed; you
will only see a few, if any, at most dog shows.

AKC Official Bloodhound Standard (partial):

General Character: The Bloodhound possesses, in a most marked degree,
every point and characteristic of those dogs which hunt together by
scent (Sagaces).  He is very powerful and stands over more ground than
is usual with hounds of other breeds [that is, he should not be
short-coupled].  The skin is thin to the touch and extremely loose;
this being more especially about the head and neck, where it hangs in
deep folds.

Height: The mean average height of adult dogs is twenty-six inches,
and adult bitches twenty-four inches.  Dogs usually vary from 25
inches to 27 inches and bitches from 23 to 25 inches; but in either
case the greater height [up to the limit stated] is to be preferred,
provided that character and quality are also combined.

Weight: The mean average weight of adult dogs, in fair condition, is
90 lbs and of adult bitches 80 lbs.  Dogs attain the weight of 110
lbx, bitches 100 lbs.  The greater weights are to be preferred,
provided (as in the case of height) that quality and proportion are
also combined.
...
Temperament: In temperament he is extremely affectionate, neither
quarrelsome with companions nor with other dogs.  His nature is
somewhat shy, and equally sensitive to kindness or correction by his
master.

Head:  The head is narrow in proportion to its length, and long in
proportion to the body, tapering but slightly from the temples to the
end of the muzzle, thus (when viewed from above and in front) having
the appearance of being flattened at the sides and of being nearly
equal in width throughout its entire length.  In profile the upper
outline of the skull is nearly in the same plane as that of the
foreface.  The length from end of nose to stop (midway between the
eyes) should be not less than that from stop to back of occipital
protuberance (peak).  The entire length of head from the posterior
part of the occipital protuberance to the end of the muzzle should be
twelve inches or more in dogs, eleven inches or more in bitches.

Skull: The skull is long and narrow, with the occipital peak very
pronounced.  The brows are not prominent, although, owing to the
deep-set eyes, they may have that appearance.

Foreface: The foreface is long, deep, and of even width throughout,
with square outline when seen in profile.
...
[description of sound body and colorings deleted]

RECOGNIZED

American Kennel Club
Australian National Kennel Club
Federation Cynologique Internationale,
Canadian Kennel Club
Kennel Club of Great Britain
United Kennel Club

HISTORY

Bloodhounds are an ancient breed, and its origins are unclear.
However, in the 7th century, St. Hubert (patron saint of the hunter)
and his monks had an extensive hand in developing the breed.
Bloodhounds today are still registered with FCI as _chiens du St.
Hubert_.  The name "bloodhound" is derived from the term "blooded
hound," meaning a hound of pure breeding.

Bloodhounds are extensively associated with royalty: William the
Conquerer arrived in England with several bloodhounds.  Bloodhounds
were often given as gifts among royalty and nobility.  For almost
seven hundred years, the St. Hubert Monastery sent a pair of black and
tan Bloodhounds to the King of France each year.  These hounds and the
white Talbot hounds are considered the ancestors of modern-day
Bloodhounds.  The former died out by the French Revolution after their
popularity plummeted when Charles IX favored the white hounds.  Modern
Bloodhounds are descended from the hounds that William the Conqueror
brought to Britain.

It was not until about the 16th century that the bloodhound was used
to track man.  They were regarded as large game hunters before then:
deer, etc.  Their testimony was so highly regarded that they had the
legal right to follow a trail anywhere, including into homes.

As need grew for smaller, faster hound dogs, the Bloodhound was
crossed with a variety of breeds to produce Harriers, Beagles and
others, all of which owe their nose to the Bloodhounds.  The use of
bloodhounds declined due to increasing population and decreasing game
area until there were very few left.  The introduction of dog shows in
1859 revitalized the breed.  More companionable animals, suitable for
showing, resulted.

In 1898, Bloodhound breeders began to promote manhunting trials as
sport.  The only animals available for this were those who had been
bred for show and companion for many years; yet their noses were as
keen as ever.

Foxhounds have been crossbred into Bloodhounds several times,
especially after WWII, when the stock was severely depleted in
Britain.  This ancestry sometimes shows up as white markings on
Bloodhounds although the markings may also be throwbacks to the white
Talbot hounds.  Such markings do not disqualify from show so long as
they are confined to the chest, toes, and base of tail.

Contrary to popular wisdom, Bloodhounds were not actually used to
trail runaway slaves in the US.  Those dogs were usually mongrel
crosses and of vicious temperament, which the Bloodhound does not
posess.  _Uncle Tom's Cabin_, the book and the movie, in particular
gives an exceedingly inaccurate depiction of Bloodhounds.

Mantrailing has enjoyed a steady, athough by no means explosive,
increase in modern day law enforcement and search and rescue.  Trails
performed by Bloodhounds are permissible evidence in court.

CHARACTERISTICS AND TEMPERAMENT

Bloodhounds are not for everyone.  Due to generous flews, they can
fling saliva 20 feet with one shake of their head.  Their enormous
size, food requirements, vet bills and inherently short lifespan make
them dubious companions for the average dog-lover.  As a puppy, the
Bloodhound will grow four to seven pounds and one-half to one inch in
height *per week*.  As is common with large dogs, they live from 8 to
10 years.

Bloodhounds are friendly, often very good with children.  When they
find someone at the end of the trail, they are likely to lunge at them
-- to plant wet slobbery kisses (their specialty) all over them.
Criminals often turn themselves in on the spot rather than face
Bloodhounds, whether to escape the kisses or in the mistaken belief of
their ferocity is sometimes hard to tell!

Bloodhounds are very determined.  They are aggressive in the sense
that they will want to finish trails, and that they can be hard to
call off once on a track.  They can be difficult to train off-leash
for this reason.  The pendulous skin over their ears and eyes will
fall down over their eyes when they lower their head to trail,
effectively blinding them.  Because of this and their determination,
Bloodhounds are usually run on leash for their own safety.

Bloodhounds can make an amazing variety of sounds.  They can bay
expressively, howl and whine, all in melodious tones.  The neighbors
may not appreciate this, however.

SPECIAL MEDICAL PROBLEMS

As with any large dog, Bloodhounds are prone to hip dysplasia.  They
have short lives, as is also common with large breeds.  Gastric bloat,
or torsion, can be a problem for some Bloodhounds.

REFERENCES

1.  Books

Appleton. _The First Bloodhound Handbook_. 1960. $35. **

Brey and Reed.  _The Complete Bloodhound_. 1987. $19.95. **

Brey, Catharine F. and Lena F. Reed.  _The New Complete Bloodhound_.
Howell Book House, New York (Maxwell Maxmillian, Toronto).  1991.
ISBN: 0-87605-077-1 (hardback).
  New revised version of the classic _The Complete Bloodhound_.  A
  definitive recounting of bloodhounds: history, exploits, training,
  and breeding.  A must in the library of anyone interested in the
  breed or in search and rescue in general.

Brough.  _The Bloodhound and its Use in Tracking Criminals_.

Caras, Roger. _Yankee: The Inside Story of a Champion Bloodhound_. **
G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York.  1979. $15.95.

Owen.  _How to Raise and Train a Bloodhound_. 1964. (paper) $3.95. **

Owen.  _Bloodhounds_. 1990.

Tolhurst, William D. with Lena F. Reed.  _Manhunters!  Hounds of the
Big T_.  Hound Dog Press, 10705 Woodland Avenue, Puyallup, WA 98373.
1984.  ISBN: 0-9617723-0-1 (hardback).
  Tolhurst is a Search and Rescue volunteer in upstate New York.  This
  book recounts his experiences using bloodhounds in trailing.  Many
  fascinating stories.  Tolhurst includes a section on training a dog
  to locate dead bodies.

Whitney. _Bloodhounds and How to Train Them_. 1947. $120. **


** Out of print, but stocked by 4-M Enterprises, Inc., 1280 Pacific
Street, Union City, CA 94587 (catalogue).

2.  Breed Rescue Organizations

Bloodhounds West * Breed Rescue
20372 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
[phone]

3.  Breeders

Disclaimer: These breeders have been recommended in good faith by
readers of rec.pets.dogs.  However, you are still responsible for
verifying that a particular breeder meets your needs to your
satisfaction.

Bojangles Bloodhounds
Bob and Jane Mangles
14 Manfre Road
Watsonville, CA 95076
408-728-2717

4.  Breed Clubs

American Bloodhound Club
Ed Kilby, Corresponding Secretary
1914 Berry Lane, Daytona Beach, FLA 32014

American Bloodhound Club Bulletin
Mary Michener
P.O. Box 974
Ellensburg, WA 98926