Also referred to as the St. Hubert Hound or Sleuth Hound, the Bloodhound is a breed of a large dog that is initially meant for hunting deer and wild boar. It was only later that those Bloodhounds are trained to track human beings based on scent using their keen noses, is combined with their strong and steadfast tracking instincts. Police and law enforcement all over the world are using Bloodhounds in tracking missing people, escaped prisoners and pets. Bloodhounds would normally weigh from 80 to 110 lbs and can stand 23 to 27 inches. In addition, they have an atypical large skeletal structure and thick bones wherein their weight is mostly concentrated.
Bloodhounds can be willful and difficult to obedience train to some extent because of their strong tracking instinct. Nonetheless, they make excellent house pets because they have an affectionate, even-tempered and gentle nature. However, they need to be supervised when they are around children. It is unfortunate that Bloodhounds are one of the shortest-lived of dog breeds as they an average lifespan of 6.75 years. The number one cause of most Bloodhound deaths is bloat. Bloodhounds are prone to gastrointestinal ailments and bloat is the most common occurrence. They can also suffer from ailments on skin, eyes and ears.
If you decide to raise a Bloodhound, there are things that you should consider about Bloodhound puppies in order for you to raise them properly. First thing you should remember that Bloodhound puppies need attention aside from their basic needs of food, shelter and water. Be sure to consult your veterinarian to know the food and the amount of food you should feed your Bloodhound puppy. This is important to learn so that you would not overfeed your Bloodhound puppy as they may lead to overgrowth is certain areas. Reading about Bloodhound puppies is also helpful.
One simple thing that you can do to prevent bloating is to elevate their food bowls this will also prevent them from bending over so much while eating. You should also only use bowls and buckets that are only half their size because Bloodhound puppies do not have muscles yet despite their weight. They are also pretty clumsy too so it is possible for them to drown on their bowls and buckets. You can change their bowls and buckets as they grew. Remember to keep the ears clean regularly because it might get ear mites that can lead to infections and expensive veterinary bill. Moreover, their ears are so long that it can drag anything along with it like dirt, food and water.
As for training Bloodhound puppies, it is highly recommendable to start when they are also six to eight weeks old. In addition, it is advisable to only reward them at the end of the session in order to maintain their focus on the training. This is because once their noses start working, it will be hard to get their attention. Nevertheless, once you understand their behavior, things will become easier.
Bloodhound Training…
