Animal Planet

• Major concerns: ectropion, entropion, gastric torsion, otitis
externa, skin-fold dermatitis, CHD, elbow dysplasia
• Minor concerns: none
• Occasionally seen: none
• Suggested tests: hip, elbow, eye
• Life span: 7 – 10 years

The quintessential scenthound, the bloodhound traces its roots to ancient times. Its earliest ancestor may have been the black St. Hubert hound documented in Europe by the eighth century. William the Conqueror is credited with bringing these hounds to England in 1066. In the 12th century, many church dignitaries were interested in hunting with these dogs, and most monasteries kept carefully bred packs. So highly bred were these dogs that they came to be known as "blooded hounds," referring to their pure blood and noble breeding. Bloodhounds have been known in America since the mid-1800s. Even though they gained a reputation as slave trailers, many of those dogs were mixed scenthounds. The bloodhound has since proved itself to be one of the most useful breeds, using its unrivaled sense of smell to trail lost persons and criminals alike. After the person is located, the bloodhound's job is over because it is never inclined to attack. The bloodhound holds many trailing records (for both length and age of trail), and at one time it was the only breed of dog whose identifications were accepted in a court of law. Ironically, the bloodhound's name and bad press scared many people away from the breed because they believed stories that claimed the dogs trailed people out of a lust for blood. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. The breed is well-known to all but not particularly popular as a pet; it is a competitive show dog and unsurpassed working trailer, however.