General description of the dog, locality and breeding period, ancestors, use of the bloodhound, its distribution, recognition, appearance in literature and cinema, influence on other canines, origin of the name. The Bloodhound, also known as the Hubert hound and the sheuth hound, is one of the oldest recognizable breeds in the world. Many of them have developed their unique tracking abilities over the centuries, experts believe that the representatives of the species have the strongest sense of smell in the canine world.
Originally bred for hunting deer and wild boar, modern bloodhounds have become better known for their virtuoso talent in finding people. It is a large and powerful breed. The noses of these animals can be found by literally everything, from foxes and wolves, to children and beloved pets that have disappeared without a trace.
In fact, their olfactory system is so acute that those individuals used by police for search and rescue operations successfully track odors that are more than a week old. In 1995, a Santa Clara County pet named "The Tramp" successfully tracked down a man who had been missing for eight days.
The Bloodhound is one of the most distinctive and familiar dog breeds found around the world. They are large and heavy hounds, the weight of which should always be proportional to their height. The species has a traditional wrinkled drooling face, drooping ears, and sad eyes. Hobbyists say their long ears collect odor particles and also nudge them in the nose, although many believe this is unlikely. The eyes are deep-set, which gives the dog the serious, famous look of a bloodhound.
These canines are found in several different but similar colors. The most popular is black, but there are also brown and liver, as well as red ones. Many of the auburn and yellow and yellowish white colors have distinctive saddle-shaped markings on the back that are darker.
The locality and period of origin of the Bloodhound
The breed was one of the first dogs to be carefully bred to a standard. The species is probably a very old canine with roots in European territory. The origins of the bloodhound date back to at least the seventh century BC. It was at this time that Saint Hubert, a famous animal hunter known for his highly skilled deer hunting hounds, converted to Christianity, abandoning his earthly occupation in exchange for spiritual church practices. Subsequently, he was canonized, and he became the patron saint of hounds and hunting. It is unclear if Saint Hubert's real hounds are the direct ancestors of the Bloodhound, but it is known that the dogs bred by the monks at the monastery were named after him.
The Abbey of Saint Hubert is located in Mouzon in the Ardennes region of France and became famous for breeding canines in the Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance. The monks from this monastery paid close attention to the development of pickling dogs, which was very rare in the nineteenth century. The individuals bred by them were considered "bloody" or "from pure blood." These hunting hounds eventually became known as the hubert hound. It is not clear when exactly they appeared, but most likely their origin dates back to somewhere between 750 and 900 years, more than a thousand years ago.
Possible ancestors of the Bloodhound
It is unclear exactly which dogs were used by the monks of the Abbey of Saint Hubert to create their new breed. Some legends say that the species are direct descendants of the hounds of Saint Hubert, although this is impossible to verify and, for sure, unlikely. Perhaps the most common version of their origin is that the Crusaders returning from the Holy Land brought Arab and Turkish hounds with them. However, this is unlikely as there does not appear to be any historical record of this practice.
In addition, there are no modern or historical dog breeds in the Middle East that closely resemble the hubert hound depictions. This theory is made even less likely by the fact that the Abbey of Saint Hubert began to breed its dogs sometime between 750 and 900, and the first crusade did not begin until 1096. More speculatively, Bloodhounds were bred by careful breeding of native French hounds, with occasional foreign "brethren" added to the pedigrees with desirable traits.
Application of the Bloodhound breed
The carefully selected hunting hounds, the ancestors of the Bloodhounds, were highly desirable among the nobles who enjoyed hunting as their main pastime. They were widely known for their keen sense of smell. It became common practice in the monastery to send six young dogs to the King of France every year, and this continued for centuries. The popularity of these dogs among the royal court varied. Some monarchs used them extensively, while others avoided their full use. However, such pets were constantly valued as gifts of the nobility. Royal favors led to the rapid spread of bloodhound throughout the French and English domains.
Saint Hubert's dog and other hunting dogs played an important role in medieval and Renaissance society. Catching animals was one of the most cherished games of the nobility. Members of the royal nobility from all over Europe hunted, and their almost universal popularity made such canines their primary tool. At such "gatherings" great diplomacy was carried out, both international and domestic. The Bloodhounds have probably witnessed some of the most important treaties in European history. Hunting excursions also fostered camaraderie between families and nobles, as well as nobles and their knights. These trips built personal and professional loyalty during times of insurrection and war. The gift of bloodhounds was often more than a personal gift to a friend or relative, or even an indication of great favor. Such traditions formed part of a complex feudal system of competing loyalties and responsibilities. Such gifts strengthened the bonds between the often warring lords, which would later affect thousands of citizens of many nations.
Distribution history and unique abilities of the Bloodhound
While famous in France, these dogs were called the hounds of Saint Hubert, they became even more popular in England, where the local common names "blooded hound" and "bloodhound" were attached to them. Until now, the Bloodhound is known as the hubert hound, although this is now somewhat archaic. In Great Britain, they began to be bred along with horses. It was in this area that they began to be used to track people as well as animals.
Perhaps because of this use, the Bloodhound became associated with ancient English and Celtic myths. In the British Isles, there are many traditional stories of "black dogs" and "hellhounds". The vision of one of these beings inevitably leads to the death of the observer, and often descends him directly into hell. Although these myths foreshadowed the creation of the bloodhound, over the centuries the variety has replaced the breeds of dogs whose blood was originally contained in them.
The Bloodhound was such a highly valued and respected breed in England that it was one of the first purebred dogs to be imported into the American colonies. The earliest records of this species in America can be found at the University of William and Mary. In 1607, a bloodhound was brought to the United States to help defend against Indian tribes. If the 17th century species were anything like a modern breed that is so friendly that it is not suitable for sentry work, it is unlikely that they will be particularly useful in this regard.
However, the keen sense of the Bloodhound has always been respected in the United States, especially in the American South. Throughout most of American history, the bloodhound was the only animal permitted in criminal cases. It was believed that the dog's nose was reliable enough to identify a suspect, and according to the animal's testimony, a prisoner could be sent to prison for the rest of his life, and in some cases to execution.
Unlike Europe, where the Bloodhound was often used as a hunting dog, and in America it was traditionally used to find people. Unfortunately, one of the earliest practices in the United States was the persecution of runaway slaves by these canines. After all, they sought out and caught criminals or escaped convicts, a role in which the species surpasses others to this day. More recently, with great success, Bloodhound has been hired as search and rescue dogs and to find drugs. Now these dogs track and retrieve lost or escaped pets.
Recognition and features of the Bloodhound
As one of the oldest purebred dogs, it is not surprising that the breed has long performed in conformation shows and recorded in kennel registries. Bloodhound was first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885, a year after the AKC was founded. The American bloodhound club, or ABC, was founded in 1952. Because of the frequency and importance of breed representatives' work in law enforcement, there are additional breed associations dedicated to the law enforcement units of these dogs. In 1966, the National Police Bloodhound Association was founded, and the Law enforcement bloodhound association in 1988.
It is very possible that the Bloodhound's temperament has changed significantly over the course of the breed's existence. Several early historical records, similar to surviving notes from William and Mary University, suggest that the species may have been used in wars or battles. There are also numerous associations of bloodhound along with the powerful and demonic dogs of the British Isles. It is possible that medieval and Renaissance bloodhounds were much more aggressive than today's kind and affectionate canines. This makes sense in many ways. An animal used to track and hunt large, potentially dangerous game species such as deer needs some perseverance and brutality. In addition, in the Middle Ages, hounds had a much more general purpose than later.
Dogs were often expected not only to display hunting qualities, they were also responsible for the personal protection of their owners and the estates on which they lived. It also requires dogs to have a certain amount of aggression and protective instincts. However, since the Bloodhounds were used exclusively for hunting, a bonus was awarded due to their lack of aggression and responsiveness towards their owners. This process probably intensified when the species was used to track people rather than animals. As a rule, it is undesirable for a dog-search engine to attack its "prey" after its discovery.
Unlike many other breeds that are currently mostly kept as companions, a large number of Bloodhounds fulfill their original purpose. Thousands of members of the species are used by military, search and rescue and law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and around the world. They search for everything they need, from homemade explosives to lost kittens. However, the benevolent and gentle nature, combined with the unique and charming appearance, leads more and more families to choose to contain bloodhound for no other purpose than companionship.
The emergence of bloodhound in literature and cinema
The dog's pointed nose, along with its great fame in the fight against crime and its distinctive serious appearance, led to the fact that such individuals began to be widely represented in the popular media. Although usually depicted as a Great Dane or Mastiff, the Baskervilles Hound from a work written by writer Sir Arthur Conanan Doyle was probably based on a Bloodhound. Popular cartoons "Hanna Barbera Huckleberry Hound", as well as "Trusty from Lady and the Tramp", were not without the participation of these dogs. Perhaps most appropriately, McGruff's character, the forensic dog, also represents the breed. The continued popularity of the species can be traced to its appearance in later films such as Sweet home alabama.
Influence of the Bloodhound on Other Canines
Due to their antiquity and reputation as a bloodhound, they have incredibly influenced the creation and improvement of many other breeds. For centuries, if breeders wanted to improve their canines' sense of smell, the introduction of bloodhound blood into the gene pool was one of the main ways to do so. The species became very important in the development of many French and British hounds. The hubert hound is believed to have featured prominently in the pedigree of many Swiss hounds, notably the saint hubert jura laufhund, and probably several American coonhound breeds; as believed especially by black and tan coonhound.
The origin of the name Bloodhound
There is now considerable controversy as to how the breed was originally named. Many modern historians are inclined to argue that the name was acquired not because of the ability to smell blood, but rather because they are purebred (without admixtures of other species). This theory probably arose from the chronicles of Le Contule de Cantelyu (19th century), and is enthusiastically repeated by later authors. They believe that the name of this undoubtedly good-natured variety with indications of a passionate bloody temperament cannot be changed due to its origin.
Unfortunately, however, neither Kantelyu nor any later chroniclers have provided historical evidence to support this point of view. John Caius, the most important figure in the chronicle of the early development of the bloodhound, in his works (16th century) gives numerous descriptions of these canines and their detailed application. He describes their ability to hunt on a bloody trail, track thieves and poachers with their nocturnal instincts, how dogs will suffer if they lose their scent when intruders cross the water. The author also details their use around the Scottish borders (border area). Caius also made the following additional designations about bloodhounds: they pursue without fatigue, distinguish thieves from true men, hunt on water and on land, leading masters of their craft.
John believes that bloodhounds got their name from their ability to follow a blood trail. There is no earlier discussion or evidence to the contrary, and there is no reason to doubt his theory. In addition, the use of the word "blood" in reference to ancestry, such as "blood horse" or "blood supply", occurred hundreds of years after Caius's observations. Therefore, there is not enough historical evidence to support a modern explanation of the breed's name, and the earlier statement should be considered correct.
