Bloodhounds are descended from the scent hounds of the Middle Ages.
They were in the 1888 Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City. We’ve all seen them in old paintings and in so many movies baying and tracking criminals in the woods. Or in Disney classics such as Trusty in Lady and the Tramp, Bruno in Cinderella, and Towser in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
The urban legend is that Pluto, from the 1930s Mickey Mouse cartoons, was a bloodhound. And then there is Duke from the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
Bloodhounds earned their name because they were originally bred for royalty. Thus, they were known back then as “blooded” hounds, which was meant to refer to hounds that were of aristocratic blood. It was later shortened to “bloodhound,” the name that we use today.
Bloodhounds have a wrinkled face, drooping eyes and long ears. Drooping ears that drag on the ground collect odors and sweep them into the nostril area.
The animals have large nostrils filled with 230 million olfactory cells, or scent receptors. They can distinguish smells at least a thousand times better than humans.
Bloodhounds have been called “a nose with a dog attached.” The bloodhound is so adept at scent tracking, its trailing results is admissible evidence in a court of law.
When a bloodhound sniffs a scent article (a piece of clothing or item touched only by the subject), air rushes through its nasal cavity and an “odor image” is created.
Using the odor image as a reference, the bloodhound is able to locate a subject’s trail, which is made up of a chemical cocktail of scents, including breath, sweat, vapor and skin.
So powerful is the drive to track, bloodhounds have been known to keep on a trail for more than 130 miles. They can smell a scent up to 300 hours old (12½ days).
Police use bloodhounds to search for criminal suspects, especially if break-in or a crime happened a few days prior to the search, as other dogs can no longer track the scent.
These dogs are used for search and rescue of children, Alzheimer’s patients and even lost pets. The military has used them to sniff out enemy soldiers and weapon stockpiles.
The bloodhound is also used for smelling and identifying dangerous substances, such as drugs and explosives.
This is why you see police and other security officials accompanied by bloodhounds in a crime scene or at the airport. It is due to how amazing their sense of smell is and how capable they are in detecting people and objects alike.
If you are considering having a bloodhound as a family pet, realize that they are big. Both male and female weigh about 100 pounds.
They are kindhearted, patient, noble and mild-mannered dogs. Bloodhounds enjoy being around people and are very gentle. They are often even friendly toward strangers. They get along well with cats and other domesticated animals. To stay so laid-back indoors, they require extensive daily exercise, however.
Generally independent and stubborn because this breed was bred to be left alone when trying to sniff and track down prey, bloodhounds can be difficult to train as they follow scents.
Do not let your bloodhound off leash, except in a securely enclosed area. An interesting scent can set off a chase that may make your bloodhound unreceptive to your commands. It is essential to have a large fenced yard.
The dogs mature slowly, reaching full maturity at about 2 years old. During the prolonged adolescence, they can be clumsy and curious. They often chew and eat many things they shouldn’t, such as towels, underwear, car seats, television remotes and so forth. These objects may have to be surgically removed.
They love to vocalize, baying, whining and howling. Their sagging jowls make them profuse droolers, and with a quick turn of their head, they can spray drool up to 20 feet.
They also have a “hound” odor. Some people feel this adds to their enchantment and others do not enjoy the smell.
It is best to meet, embrace and smell bloodhound puppies and their mother before you take one home.
People who love bloodhounds as pets are captivated by their unique character, noble appearance and loving manner. They give their all for us.