Dog Articles
Past and Present: Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is a dog of only medium size and, in
spite of his name and reputation, is gentle and affectionate.
According
to some authorities, these dogs were brought to England by William
the Conqueror; according to others, they were brought by pilgrims
from the Holy Land.
They are
often spoken of as "black St. Huberts," but there were white ones
and red ones also, and it is quite possible that our modern
Bloodhounds are a blend of the three. They probably derive their
name from the fact that originally they were used to track animals
which were wounded and bleeding, though they have long been
associated chiefly with the tracking of men, and for the last
hundred years or more, particularly with the trailing of criminals.
The
English Bloodhound is simply the extreme development of those
characteristics which typify the hound: long, low-hung ears, loose
skin, long muzzle, and somber expression find in him their greatest
degree of perfection.
In fact,
the skin of the head and face is so loose and ample that it falls
into deep folds and wrinkles; the weight of the ears pulls it into
furrows, and the lower eyelid falls away from the eye, disclosing a
deep haw. The ears, of thin, fine leather, are so long as to trail
when the nose is down.
The head
is well domed, the occipital point is very prominent, the flews and
dewlap reach excessive development, only equaled in the St. Bernard.
The
Bloodhound should stand 23 to 27 inches and weigh from 80 to 95 or
100 pounds. He should be black and tan, in strict conformity with
the standard as shown in the picture, or all deep tan. The more
primitive coloring, the black and tan, is generally preferred. The
tail is not carried quite so gaily as in the case of Foxhounds and
Beagles. Any appreciable amount of white betrays impurity of strain.
In disposition he is the gentlest of gentle hounds, though his
rather fearsome name has earned him an unjust notoriety with those
who do not know much about dogs.
Only a few
kennels breed Bloodhounds now. They are used by police departments,
both in this country and in Europe, and if brought to the scene of a
crime within a few hours after it has been committed, and if the
criminal fled across ground not too much trampled over by other
people, they can render valuable assistance by leading the police
directly to the man they are seeking.
There have
been Bloodhounds credited with following a trail thirty hours after
it was made, but such performances must be made under
ideal conditions and are very rare, to say the least.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
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Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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