Content
- Bloodhound or Cão-de-Santo-Humberto: origin
- Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: characteristics
- Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: personality
- Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: care
- Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: education
- Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: health
O bloodhound, also known as Dog-of-Saint-Humbert, is a breed originating in Belgium. It is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, it has impressive physical characteristics, thanks to its size and appearance. However, the Bloodhound's personality surprises everyone who knows it, as it is also a very balanced canine breed that creates strong bonds with its guardians, whom they follow and protect.
If you are considering the option of adopting a Bloodhound, or simply want to know more about the Hound-of-Saint-Humbert, in this Animal Expert Breed Sheet we will show you everything you need to know about the Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert, who is probably the dog with the best sense of smell in the world. Keep reading!
Source
- Europe
- Belgium
- Group VI
- muscular
- Extended
- long ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- very faithful
- Quiet
- Houses
- hiking
- Hunting
- harness
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Short
- Hard
- Thin
Bloodhound or Cão-de-Santo-Humberto: origin
Little can be said precisely about the origins of these dogs, but it is estimated that their ancestors were robust dogs, black or black and fire, which used to accompany the monk Hubert himself on your hunting journeys. This monk would later be canonized and become part of history as "Saint Humbert", patron of hunting and founder of the order of monks of Saint-Hubert.
This explains not only the name of the breed, but also why its creation is traditionally attributed to the monks of Saint-Hubert, who inhabited the Monastery of Andain, located in the Belgian part of the Ardennes. These dogs may have remained isolated in this region for several years, until the king William "the Conqueror" decided to import some copies to England during the 11th century.
The Bloodhound as we know it today is probably the result of selective crossings between direct descendants of Hogs-of-Santo-Humberto imported from Belgium with some individuals of the Bulmastife breed.
Due to your extraordinary smell, the Cão-de-Santo-Humberto was historically trained as detector dog or tracking dog. Soon after its creation, the breed was already used in the search and rescue of pilgrims who got lost among the mountains and forests of the Ardennes region. Bloodhound has also been used for many years to hunt large animals, especially wild boar or wild pigs.
In the official standard of the International Federation of Cynology (FCI), the Bloodhound is classified in section 1.1 of group 6, which includes large dogs.
Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: characteristics
O bloodhound or Dog-of-Saint-Humbert is a large dog that stands out for its robust body, slightly longer than tall (rectangular profile), with a broad, long and oval chest, strong legs and well-developed musculature. In fact, it is considered the most powerful of all Hound-type dogs, in accordance with the official FCI standard.
Females can measure between 58 and 63cm in height at the withers, while males measure between 63 and 69 cm. The ideal body weight for the breed is between 41 to 50 kg, taking into account the dimensions of each individual. Despite its size and strength, the Cão-de-Santo-Humberto should not be fat or coarse, but present harmonious lines, being able to execute precise and agile movements.
One of the most striking features of the Bloodhound is the thin and hanging skin which is seen in the neck and head region, forming abundant wrinkles and folds. Its head, which shows a square profile with a slight stop, may look a bit similar to that of the Basset Hound, but it's remarkably larger and imposing, though it shouldn't be overly broad. The muzzle is broad and should be as long as a dog's skull, maintaining an even breadth throughout its length.
At thin and flexible ears Dog-of-Santo-Humberto are also impressive, both for their large size and for the velvety texture they reveal to the touch. Its insertion is very low, starting at eye level or even lower, extending almost to the base of the neck. Eventually, the Bloodhound's eyes can give you a look a little "sad" due to the distended lower eyelids, which leave part of his conjunctiva in sight. However, sunken eyes and overly distended eyelids are not desirable as they can harm the animal's health.
The Bloodhound's mantle is composed of smooth, short and hard hair, which become softer to the touch on the ears and head, and rougher and longer on the tail. Regarding coat color, three variations are accepted solid red (or unicolor), the bicolor black and fire, it's the bicolor fire and liver. Although not a desirable feature, the presence of white hair on the toes, tip of tail and on the front of the chest is tolerated.
Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: personality
Behind the appearance of a "massive giant", the Hound-of-Saint-Humbert reveals a friendly, docile and very calm personality. These furry ones usually create a very special bond with their owners, to whom they show extreme loyalty.
When properly socialized, they can also be very sociable with unknown people and animals, and tend to be especially gentle and patient with children. These dogs don't like loneliness, and if they spend too many hours alone, they can develop behavior problems such as destructiveness or separation anxiety. Therefore, they are not recommended for anyone looking for a more independent breed of dog.
Obviously, the behavior of each dog is not only determined by its breed or lineage, it depends mainly on the education, environment and care provided by its owners. For this reason, if you want to have an obedient and balanced dog, you will need to provide the ideal conditions for its physical and mental development, in addition to investing in its early education and socialization.
Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: care
Being a large and robust dog, the Bloodhound need space to develop and express themselves freely. Although it can, due to its docile nature and loyalty to its owner, adapt to different environments, it is ideal to have an open space of reasonable dimensions, such as a patio or garden, where your dog can run, jump, play and explore the stimuli around you. This does not mean that the dog should live outside, quite the contrary, but it should have a space according to its size.
The maintenance of your coat is quite simple and requires little time from the owner: one brushing a week it will be more than enough to remove dead hair and prevent dirt from accumulating in your coat. Baths can only be given when the dog is really dirty, trying not to bathe him more than once a week or every 15 days. Ideally, this breed should take a bath every two or three months. Excessive bathing removes the layer of fat that naturally covers and protects the dog's body, leaving them more exposed to numerous diseases and skin problems.
However, it will be essential to regularly check the Bloodhound's ears and folded or wrinkled skin to avoid concentration of moisture, impurities, and microorganisms that can cause infections. You may clean these areas using gauze, for example, ensuring that they are always very dry.
Although the Hound-of-Saint-Humbert is not exactly a hyperactive dog, he has a lot of energy and predisposition for training. THE physical activity it will be essential in maintaining a healthy weight (an essential given your tendency to obesity), in maintaining a stable and calm behavior, and in preventing stress symptoms and behavior problems. You will need, at the very least, to take your dog for a walk 2 or 3 times a day, offering walks of 30 to 45 minutes and trying to vary its paths and incorporate new activities and games in the traditional walk. Also, consider starting it in training in agility or other canine sports.
As important as exercising your body, it will be stimulate the mind of your Bloodhound and enrich your environment. Considering its powerful sense of smell, the searching or dog tracking can be an excellent activity to encourage your dog's cognitive development. However, don't forget that training is the best and most complete exercise you can offer your best friend, so we recommend you to read the 5 training tricks that every tutor should know. Besides, you can propose homemade intelligence games to have fun with your furry friend while stimulating your intelligence.
Last but not least, Hogs-of-Saint-Humbert, like all animals, need a complete and balanced nutrition to develop physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially. There are several types of dog foods you can consider offering your best friend, from basing your diet solely on eating balanced dog foods to enjoying the benefits of a BARF diet. However, you will need to consult a veterinarian before deciding which type of nutrition is most suitable for your furry, taking into account its age, size, weight and health status.
Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: education
Bloodhound education should begin in its early stages, when it is still a puppy, although it is important to emphasize that it is always possible to educate and train an adult dog. Puppy education begins with socialization, a stage that goes from three weeks to three months of life. During this period, it is necessary to ensure that the puppy of the Cão-de-Santo-Humberto relates to all types of people, animals, objects and environments, in addition to ensuring that all these interactions are positive. This will have a direct impact on the personality he will have in his adult life. Therefore, if you want to have a balanced dog, it will be essential to pay close attention to Bloodhound socialization.
It is also in the puppy stage that we teach the Bloodhound to do their necessities on the newspaper and to correctly control their bite so as not to hurt. Likewise, it must be started in the house rules, always positively and without punishment. Remember that these rules must be established with all members of the family unit, and it is important that everyone follow the same rules to avoid confusing the dog.
Later, when the vaccination schedule begins, you can take your young Bloodhound out to the street and continue your socializing. At this time, he must also learn to do his own needs on the street and be initiated into basic training commands, which are fundamental for correct communication with people, in addition to encouraging positive and polite behavior.
As an adult, you should continue to work on obedience commands to keep the Bloodhound from forgetting them, as well as incorporating more complex exercises to stimulate your mind, and ultimately, continue working to maintain a stable, positive personality. For this, always use positive reinforcement, rewarding the dog's behavior with food, affection and kind words. Remember that positive education favors learning and bonding with the owner. Similarly, in no case should physical punishment be used, as it can cause the appearance of behavioral problems, such as aggression.
Bloodhound or Hound-of-Saint-Humbert: health
Like all dog breeds, the Hounds-of-Saint-Humbert may have a right genetic predisposition to develop some hereditary and degenerative diseases. The most common conditions in these dogs are usually hip dysplasia and stomach twist. However, the following health problems may also occasionally be diagnosed on Bloodhound:
- Hip dysplasia;
- Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Dry in Dogs);
- Third eyelid prolapse;
- Entropion;
- Ectropion;
- Pyoderma.
In addition, the Bloodhound can also be affected by other common dog diseases and is prone to obesity. Therefore, it is essential to provide your best friend with the proper preventive medicine throughout his life. remember to perform veterinarian visits every 6 months to check the state of your health, respect your vaccination schedule and periodically deworm you with adequate and good quality products, according to your size, weight and age. With the proper care and affection, the bloodhound life expectancy is estimated to be between 10 and 12 years.