The bloodhound, also known as St. Hubertus dog He is originally from Belgium. We are talking about one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, which also has imposing physical characteristics, thanks to its size and appearance. However, the character of the bloodhound surprises everyone who knows it, as it is also a very balanced canine breed that creates strong bonds with its guardians, whom it follows and protects.
Origin of the bloodhound or Saint Hubertus dog
Little can be said with precision about the origins of these dogs, but it is estimated that their ancestors were robust dogs, black or black and tan, which used to accompany the monk Hubert himself on hishunting days Later, this monk would be canonized and become part of history as "Saint Hubert ", patron saint of hunting and founder of the Saint-Hubert order of monks.
This explains not only the name of the breed, but also the reason why its creation is traditionally attributed to the monks of Saint-Hubert, who lived in the Andain Monastery, located in the Belgian part of the Ardennes. These dogs could have remained "isolated" in this region for several years, until King William "the Conqueror" decided to import some specimens to England during the 11th century.
The bloodhound as we know it today, most likely, is the result of selective crosses between the direct descendants of the Saint Hubertus dogs imported from Belgium with some individuals of the bullmastiff breed.
Because of its extraordinary sense of smell, the Saint Hubertus dog has historically been trained as a detector dog or tracking Shortly after its creation, the breed was already used in the search and rescue of pilgrims who got lost in the mountains and forests of the Ardennes region. The bloodhound has also been used for many years in big game hunting, especially wild boar or wild pigs.
In the official standard of the International Cinological Federation (FCI), the bloodhound is classified in section 1.1 of group 6, which includes large hound-type dogs. [1]
Characteristics of the bloodhound or San Huberto dog
The bloodhound or St. Hubert's dog is a dog large in size that stands out for its solid body, slightly longer than it is tall (rectangular profile), with a broad, long, oval chest, strong legs and well-developed muscles. In fact, he is considered to be the most powerful among all hound-type dogs, according to the official FCI standard [1]
Females can measure between 58 and 63 cm in height at the withers, while males measure between 63 and 69 cm. The ideal body weight of the breed is around 41 and 50 kg, being considered the dimensions of each individual. Despite its size and robustness, the Saint Hubertus dog should not be fat or coarse, showing harmonious lines and being able to execute precise and agile movements.
One of the most striking features of the bloodhound is the thin, hanging skin seen on the neck and head, forming abundant wrinkles and folds. Its head, which shows a square profile with a slightly pronounced stop, may be somewhat similar to that of the basset hound, but it is noticeably larger and more imposing, although it should not be excessively wide. The muzzle is wide and should be as long as the dog's skull, maintaining a uniform breadth throughout its length.
The thin and flexible ears of the Saint Hubertus dog are also very striking, 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, and extending almost to the base of the neck. Eventually, the bloodhound's eyes may give him a somewhat "sad" look due to his distended lower eyelids, exposing part of his conjunctiva. However, sunken eyes and excessively distended eyelids are not desirable, as they can harm the animal's he alth.
The bloodhound's coat is composed of straight, short and hard hair, becoming softer to the touch on the ears and on the head, and rougher and longer on the tail. Regarding the color of the coat, three variations are accepted: the solid red (or unicolor), the bicolor black and tan, and the bicolor fire and liver Although it is not a desirable characteristic, the presence of white hair on the fingers, on the tip of the tail and on the anterior part of the thorax.
Character of the bloodhound or Saint Hubertus dog
Behind the "stout giant" appearance, the Saint Hubertus dog reveals a friendly, docile and rather calm personality. These furry ones usually form a very special bond with their guardians, to whom they show extreme loy alty.
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 do not like being alone and if they spend many hours alone, they can develop behavioral problems, such as destructiveness or separation anxiety Therefore, do not They are recommended for those looking for a more independent breed of dog.
Of course, the behavior of each dog is not determined solely by its breed or lineage, but depends largely on the education, environment and care provided by their guardians. For this reason, if you want to obtain an obedient and balanced dog, you will need to provide the optimal conditions for its physical and mental development, in addition to investing in its education and early socialization.
Care of the bloodhound or San Huberto dog
As a large, robust dog, the bloodhound needs space to develop and express himself freely. Although due to its docile nature and its loy alty to its guardian it can adapt to different environments, the ideal is to have an open space of reasonable dimensions, such as a patio or a garden, where your dog can run, jump, play and explore the stimuli to your surroundings. This does not mean that the dog should live outside, on the contrary, but that it should have a space according to its size.
Maintenance of his coat is quite simple and requires little time on the part of the tutor: with a brushing a week it will be more than enough to remove dead hair and prevent the accumulation of dirt on your coat. The baths can be done only when the dog is really dirty, trying not to bathe it more than once a week or every 15 days. Ideally, take a bath every two or three monthsExcessive bathing removes the layer of fat that naturally covers and protects the body of dogs, leaving them more exposed to numerous diseases and skin problems.
However, it will be essential to regularly check their ears and folded or wrinkled skin to avoid the concentration of moisture, impurities and microorganisms that can lead to infection. We can clean these areas using a gauze, for example, making sure they are always completely dry.
Although the Saint Hubertus dog is not exactly a hyperactive dog, he does have a lot of energy and predisposition to training. Physical activity will be essential for the management of a he althy weight (something essential considering your tendency to obesity), in maintaining a stable and calm behavior, and in the prevention of stress symptoms and behavior problems. At a minimum, you will need to take your dog for a walk about 2 or 3 times a day, offering him walks of 30 to 45 minutes, and trying to vary his routes and incorporate new activities and games in the traditional walk. Also, you can consider introducing him to agility or another dog sport.
Just as important as exercising your body will be stimulating your bloodhound's mind and enriching its environment. Considering its powerful sense of smell, searching or sowing for dogs can be an excellent activity to encourage the cognitive development of your dog. But don't forget that training is the best and most complete exercise you can give your best friend, so we recommend you read the 5 training tricks that every owner should know. In addition, you can propose homemade intelligence games to share a good time with your furry and stimulate their intelligence.
Last but not least, San Huberto dogs, like all animals, need complete and balanced nutrition to fully develop physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially. There are several types of dog food that you can consider offering your best friend, from basing their diet solely on the consumption of balanced feed to opting for the benefits of a BARF diet. But you will need to consult a veterinarian before deciding to verify what is the most suitable type of nutrition for your furry, taking into account its age, size, weight and he alth status.
Education of the bloodhound or San Huberto dog
The education of the bloodhound dog 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 ranges from three weeks to three months of life. In this period we must ensure that the St. Hubertus puppy interacts with all kinds of people, animals, objects and environments, in addition to ensuring that all interactions be positive. This will have a direct impact on the character that it will have in its adult stage, so if we want to have a balanced dog, it will be essential to pay close attention to the socialization of the bloodhound.
Also in his puppy stage we will teach the bloodhound to relieve himself in the newspaper and to correctly manage the bite so as not to cause damage. Likewise, we will introduce you to the household rules, always in a positive way and without using punishment. Let us remember that these rules must be established with all the members of the family unit, since it is important that they all follow the same ones to avoid confusing the dog.
Later, when we start the vaccination schedule, we can take our young bloodhound out on the street and continue socializing him. At this time he must also learn to relieve himself on the street and we will introduce him to the basic training commands, essential for proper communication with people and to encourage positive and polite behavior.
Already in his adult stage we will continue working on the obedience orders to prevent him from forgetting them. We will incorporate more complex exercises to stimulate your mind and, in short, we will continue working to maintain a stable and positive character. For this we will always use positive reinforcement, rewarding the dog's behavior with food, caresses and kind words. Let's remember that positive education promotes learning and bonding with the owner[4] Likewise, we will never use physical punishment, since this can cause the appearance of behavior problems, such as aggressiveness [5]
He alth of the bloodhound or San Huberto dog
Like all dog breeds, Saint Hubertus dogs may have a certain genetic predisposition to developing some hereditary and degenerative diseases. The most common conditions in these dogs are hip dysplasia and stomach torsion[2] [3] But the following he alth problems can also eventually be diagnosed in the bloodhound:
- Elbow dysplasia
- Dry eye (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs)
- Prolapse of the third eyelid
- Entropion
- Ectropion
- Pyoderma
In addition, the bloodhound can also be affected by other common diseases in dogs and is prone to obesity It is therefore essential provide adequate preventive medicine to your best friend throughout his life. Remember to make visits to the vet every 6 months to verify its he alth status, respect its vaccination schedule and periodically deworm it with good quality products suitable for its size, weight and age.
With proper care and lots of affection, the life expectancy of a bloodhound is between 10 and 12 years.
