Alt Names: St. Hubert Hound Country of Origin: Belgium / France

History: The ability to follow a scent has always been valued and superb scent trackers were developed separately in lowland Europe at the St. Hubert Monastery and in Britain. The Bloodhound was mentioned by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in his history of the Roman Empire. This dog has been known as a breed since at least the Middle Ages and it is the oldest known breed of hound. Its excellent tracking skills were a target as it was used in the development--intentional or unintentional--of other fine tracking breeds such as the American Coonhound, Swiss Jura Hound, Bavarian Mountain Hound, and many others.

It is a scenthound famed for its ability to follow a scent many days old, over vast distances. This dog is often used as a police dog to track missing people, fleeing suspects, or escaped prisoners.

Appearance: Modern Bloodhounds weigh from 80 to 110 lb (36 to 50 kg) and stand 23 to 27 inches (58 to 69 cm) high at the withers. Bloodhounds now come in black and tan, liver and tan, or red. In the Middle Ages, they also occurred in other solid colors, including white (known as the Talbot Hound), but these no longer occur. The colors appear in other breeds descended from the early Bloodhounds, however.

Temperament: This breed is a mellow, cheerful, relaxed dog who is nonetheless tireless in slowly and steadily following a scent. Its laid-back attitude makes it somewhat difficult to obedience train. However, with the proper amount of time and effort, this can be achieved.

Health: Like most large breeds, their life expectancy is only 10 to 12 years. The Bloodhound is prone to hip dysplasia and bloat.