The Bloodhound, also known as Saint Humberto's dog, is a well-known big dog that is certainly part of many people's imagination. He has already participated in some films, and is a great partner for Mickey Mouse and his gang. But do you know what it's like to live with this puppy in real life? Despite its sad appearance, the Bloodhound is a pleasant surprise in several places.He is very calm, docile, loving and independent, making him the perfect companion for any family.

If you're thinking about opening your heart to the Bloodhound dog breed, it's good to know everything about this dog - and we've got you covered! Here's a guide with all the information about the breed, such as care tips, behavior, price and more.

Learn more about the origin of the Bloodhound breed

It is not known for sure which dog breeds were part of the development of the Bloodhound, as they are very old dogs with few records. What is known, however, is that the breed originated in Belgium and was bred and perfected by the monks of Saint Hubert's Abbey - and that is why it is also known as "Saint Humbert's dog". There, the breed was used for hunting wild boar and the like.other animals, as well as sniffing out truffles and mushrooms. This, in fact, is one of the Bloodhound's greatest qualities: the incomparable dog nose.

Some time later, the dog was taken to England by William the Conqueror, and the breed ended up establishing itself in the country under the name Bloodhound. No wonder, the little dog became very popular among nobles and English royalty. The Bloodhound dog breed is recognized by the most diverse cynophilia clubs, such as the American Kennel Club and the Brazilian Confederation of Cynophilia.

Bloodhound: dog has striking physical features

The Bloodhound is easy to recognize with its long drooping ears, pointed nose, sad expression and body full of folds. It is a large dog, with remarkable and robust musculature. The ideal height for males is 68 cm for males, and 62 cm for females, with a tolerance of 4 centimeters more or less. The weight can vary between 40 and 58 kg, but always in the same range.in harmony with the size of the animal and without encouraging obesity.

The Bloodhound's coat type is short, hard, dense and quite resistant. On the head and ears, it can be even shorter and softer to the touch; while near the tail it tends to be a little longer and harder. As for the allowed color pattern, there are only three: unicolor red, bicolor red and black or bicolor red and brown. White markings on the chest, paws and end of thetails are tolerated, but not ideal.

Personality of the Bloodhound is docile, sociable and independent

• Coexistence

Having a Bloodhound at home is synonymous with a lot of joy, love and loyalty. This is a dog that is very attached to the family and likes to be always around, even though he has a very strong sense of independence. Docile and calm (at least most of the time), the dog is easy to live with, as long as he receives the right care.

Being a large dog, however, it is important to have adequate space to raise them. The Bloodhound breed has very present exploratory senses, and so they need a large place to move around, play and hunt. Environmental enrichment for dogs is a great way to promote this, even in small spaces, but keep in mind that the Bloodhound has a lot of energy and maybecome very agitated if not given appropriate stimuli.

In addition, this is a dog that likes to bite everything in sight! It is not exactly a destructive animal, but you should direct this behavior to dog toys - such as teethers - and other accessories for this purpose, or the furniture in the house will become the target of the Bloodhound's teeth. Other than that, it is a quiet dog, which does not bark much and gets along with everyone.world, having high chances of providing unforgettable moments for the whole family.

• Socialization

This is one of the best dog breeds for those who have children at home! The Bloodhound is very patient and tolerant with the little ones, regardless of their age. In addition, they are super playful and usually have a lot of fun alongside the little ones, becoming great friends. The level of friendship with other pets is also great, no matter what species it is. The Bloodhound breed is sociablein that respect, and doesn't mind socializing with other pets - he actually likes it.

With strangers, the breed can be a little more reserved, but it is not aggressive. The Bloodhound prefers to maintain closer contact with those who are family and present in everyday life. You can try to change this by socializing the breed when it is a puppy, but it is important not to force the bar so as not to make the puppy uncomfortable.

• Training

The Bloodhound is an intelligent dog (even more so than many people think). He likes to be challenged, and training is a great opportunity to put this into practice, stimulating him mentally and physically. However, despite being intelligent, this is not always an easy task. As stubbornness is part of the Bloodhound's personality, training needs patience andOne way to get the animal interested in the activity is with rewards and positive reinforcement - and dog treats help a lot in this mission.

5 curiosities about the Bloodhound dog

1) The Bloodhound is one of the famous dog breeds in fiction, as the characters Goofy and Pluto belong to this group.

2) Among the sniffer dog breeds, the Bloodhound stands out a lot for its olfactory ability.

3) One of the most impressive dog facts is that the Bloodhound can sniff out a smell even if it has been "gone" for 300 hours.

4) Queens Elizabeth I and Victoria were great admirers of the Bloodhound breed.

5) One of the dog movies in which the Bloodhound appears is "The Buscapé Family" from 1993.

Bloodhound puppy: what to expect and how to care for the puppy?

The Bloodhound is curious and already shows his powerful canine sense of smell in the first months of living with him, with that insatiable desire to know and explore everything. However, one thing every guardian should know is that the Bloodhound takes a little longer to reach maturity than other dogs. It takes about two years before he becomes an adult, and many people refer to him as an "eternal child".So don't be surprised if your puppy continues to exhibit puppy behavior for so long!

In addition, the guardian should provide a small space with everything the Saint Humberto dog needs to have a good quality of life. This means a place with various toys, a bed for him to rest, a drinking fountain, a feeding trough, hygienic mats and much more. Walks are also important to stimulate the Bloodhound in different ways, but they should only be inserted into the routine after the Bloodhound is born.application of all doses of puppy vaccine.

Important day-to-day care of the St. Humbert's Dog

• Brushing Brushing your Bloodhound's hair weekly is necessary to keep the coat beautiful and healthy. At changeover periods, this frequency should be greater.

• Wrinkles the Bloodhound's wrinkles can accumulate a lot of dirt and moisture, so it is recommended to clean them daily with the help of a damp wipe.

• Bath As this dog drools a lot and has many folds, he can get bad smelling more quickly. Weekly or fortnightly baths are indicated with specific products.

• Teeth Taking care of your pet's oral hygiene is essential to avoid problems such as tartar in dogs and bad breath. The ideal is to brush your Bloodhound's teeth at least three times a week.

• Nails : since long nails can hurt, it's good to create a routine to trim them at least once or twice a month. Be sure to get your puppy used to it!

• Ears The long drooping ears of the Bloodhound need a lot of care! To avoid problems, it is good to check them weekly and clean the dog ear with solutions indicated by the veterinarian.

What do you need to know about the health of the Bloodhound breed?

The Santo Humberto dog needs some attention to its health. Because it has large, drooping ears, the region accumulates dirt more easily, which can cause infections. The wrinkles scattered around the body also tend to favor allergy conditions in dogs, and the Bloodhound's large size is a risk for dysplasia. So, be aware of the pathologies thatare usually more frequent in the breed:

• Gastric torsion in dogs
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Eye problems
• Canine otitis
• Dermatitis in dogs

Veterinary consultations should be carried out with a certain regularity. In addition to helping to diagnose and / or prevent the above conditions, they help to keep your dog's health up to date. Don't forget other care, such as keeping your Bloodhound's vaccination schedule up to date, as well as dewormers.

Bloodhound: price of the puppy is at least R $ 3 thousand

It is possible to find Bloodhound dogs starting at R$ 3,000. The maximum estimate can go up to R$ 8,000, depending on the animal's physical characteristics and genetic lineage. Females are usually more expensive than males, and when the animal descends from a champion, it also has a higher cost.

In addition, the choice of dog kennel is another factor that influences the price, since it is the breeders themselves who often set the value of the puppies. Remember to look for a space that is reliable and committed to the welfare of animals to avoid falling into traps and financing establishments with a history of mistreatment.

It is worth noting that to have a Bloodhound puppy, price is a factor that must be carefully evaluated. After all, in addition to the purchase price and documentation, the guardian must also worry about the expenses that the animal will demand throughout its life with food, veterinary consultations, care and much more. So be sure before opening the doors of your home to a puppy!

Bloodhound x-ray

Origin : Belgium

Coat : short, hard and dense

Colors : unicolor red, bicolor black and red, bicolor brown and red

Personality : docile, calm, energetic, sociable

Height : 62 to 68 cm

Weight : 40 to 54 kg

Life expectancy : 10 to 12 years