Bloodhound: Breeder selection and lines
When choosing a Bloodhound, verify the named records and the issuing scheme before relying on a breeder's description. Treat the record as background information, not proof of how this individual dog will respond. Ask for named tests, dates, scheme or laboratory, parent identity, and the written result; compare the record with the intended home routine. Verify the document with the issuing scheme or laboratory before treating it as evidence for a decision.
What to verify before choosing
Bloodhound's recommended parent-club health tests is recorded as ['Hip Evaluation', 'Elbow Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam']. Here, that matters because it identifies a record to verify, not a diagnosis of the dog in front of you.
Read the record, not the promise
- Ask for named tests, dates, scheme or laboratory, parent identity, and the written result; compare the record with the intended home routine.
- Keep the recommended parent-club health tests in view (['Hip Evaluation', 'Elbow Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam']) and make the next step reversible, observable, and easy to stop.
- Verify the document with the issuing scheme or laboratory before treating it as evidence for a decision.
Walk away or pause if
Do not proceed on verbal assurances when required records are missing, unverifiable, or inconsistent.
References
Height: 25-27 inches (male), 23-25 inches (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 90-110 pounds (male), 80-100 pounds (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: The Bloodhound has a short, dense coat that is shed once or twice a year. Weekly brushing with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or tool, or a hound glove will remove the dead hair before it can fall onto the furniture. Brushing also promotes new hair growth and distributes skin oils throughout the coat to keep it healthy. Bloodhounds should be…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: The popular misconception is that Bloodhounds spend their days lazing on the front porch. The truth is that the Bloodhound, who was bred to follow a scent for hours on end, is an active dog who requires daily exercise. He will benefit from long daily walks'always on a leash, as he may not respond to commands if he has found a scent to follow. Additional…
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: As with all breeds, early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended. With a Bloodhound, it's best to start obedience classes early; they tend to become set in their ways, and it's better if the behaviors they hold onto for a lifetime are the behaviors the owner wants. Bloodhounds like to take charge, so an owner needs to be firm but…
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The world-famous 'Sleuth Hound' does one thing better than any creature on earth: find people who are lost or hiding. An off-duty Bloodhound is among the canine kingdom's most docile citizens, but he's relentless and stubborn on a scent.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Hip Evaluation', 'Elbow Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club
Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Bloodhound.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
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