Talk:Bloodhound
Removed the following from article, as it's not true--all dogs can scent in the air and after a rain. See article for better description.
- Bloodhounds, unlike many breeds of dog, have the ability to follow a scent in the air. Most breeds follow the scent marks on the ground or on nearby objects. This is why many dogs will lose a scent after rain, or if it crosses water. The Bloodhound's nose is so sensitive, it is able to pick up the much more diffuse scent from the air.
Elf | Talk 13:34, 5 May 2004 (UTC)
"It is believed that..."
In the "Scenting Ability" section, the last sentence uses a common weasel term: "It is believed that pendulous ears and moist, pendulous lips...". I know this is a minor complaint, and the knowledge is less than arcane, but is there a source we can cite? – ClockworkSoul 15:49, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)
- You're right. I probably wrote that myself (for shame) and I'll see whether I can backtrack to where I got the info. Elf | Talk 20:41, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I have cleaned up this article somewhat, and clarified some of the issues raised on this page. I've also added a few additional details. This article needs better organization and fuller treatment; compare Basset Hound, which is clearer and more informative. I will try to re-write when I have more time.66.108.4.183 16:06, 9 May 2006 (UTC)Allen Roth
Alternative source of Bloodhound history
A comprehensive, well researched and referenced, and generally well written history of the bloodhound by Mac Barwick of the (UK) Bloodhound Club (http://www.bloodhoundclub.co.uk/History/index.htm) takes issue with a number of assertions on this page. These include the place of origin of the bloodhound (Britain rather than Belgium/France), the general lineage of the bloodhound (not clearly related to either the St. Hubert hound or the Talbot hound), the earliest known reference to the bloodhound (mid-1300s rather than 1000), and the origin of the name ("blood-seeking hound" rather than "pure-bred hound"). He also provides the origin of the misinformation in each case.--Bgungle 16:58, 29 May 2006 (UTC)
Not surprised that a UK source claims the Bloodhound was created in Britain: it is virtually indisputable that all early hounds stem originally from France or surrounding areas (e.g. Belgium). As an American, I would love to say otherwise, but those facts are cited everywhere, even as to the origins of the American Foxhound (a champion of which I once owned, before I discovered the magnificence and sweetness of the Bloodhound). I will admit that, as I wrote above, this article is really poorly organized and written, and even that some of its statements are possibly incorrect (I only supplied a few corrections after I came upon it) but, while the St. Hubert monastery story may be incorrect, the origins of the Bloodhound (and most of the early Hound breeds) are clearly France and Belgium. The American Foxhound was created in the 1700s after George Washington received a gift of French Hounds from General LaFayette, which were mixed with the English Foxhounds that were brought here (I mean the United States); the English Foxhound had been created in the time of K. Henry VIII by mixing the Greyhound, the Fox Terrier, and the English Bulldog. I will take a look at your link, to see if I may be mistaken. 66.108.4.183 18:02, 24 June 2006 (UTC) Allen Roth
Correction
–In the American antebellum South, the Bloodhound was frequently used to track runaway slaves, which accounts for the large number of Bloodhounds and breeders still located in that region. Bloodhounds, which are almost always used in a pack, do not attack upon reaching their quarry, as many erroneously believe, but surround him and bay, alerting the searchers.
—The tracking of slaves was a use in all existing states prior to the civil war era not only the south. The most common use of Bloodhounds, the tracking of crimminals was and is still very common. The use of bloodhounds as slave tracking bloodthirsty monsters was picked up and exagerated by the media esp. abolitionist newspapers of the era after the publication of Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
– Bloodhounds have also been and still can be used to track and alert their master to large game such as deer and elk through heavily wooded areas as well, this was the main use by the royalty of europe that caused the name we use today. The intentional breeding and conditioning out of the kill and attack instincts of the breed originated so that the master could kill the prey came during this time period. Bloodhounds that are used for animal and offlead people tracking require intensive training due to the fact that once on a trail a bloodhound will sometimes follow the trail until it finds the quarry or collapses which may be many miles away from it master.
–Bloodhounds used today normally work alone as a 1 handler 1 dog team rather than in packs, due to the tendency of all hound breeds to play follow the leader. Bloodhounds can work in packs but that practice has been rarely followed since the 1920's in law enforcement and rescue work.
–A handler / bloodhound team used for law enforcement or rescue work normally requires 3 - 5 years of training to be come proficient and regular daily / weekly training in all weather and all conditions to become very dependable and capable. Training include trail laying, work with cadaver/ body recovery, subject identification from a line up of similar test subjects, and socialization/familiarization to any of the environemnts it may be called to work in (Urban, rural, suburban mountains swamps etc.) Proficient Bloodhounds have been used as evidence in crimminal cases due to the ability of highly trained bloodhounds to identify suspects and pick them out of a lineup by only their individual scent and the trail that they leave.
Mac's owner--71.28.195.143 21:23, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
Commentary
Slavery was illegal in states other than the "South" prior to the War Between the States. Consequently, tracking runaway slaves was an operation carried out almost exclusively by Southerners. Although, as recounted in the famous case Dred Scott v. Sandford, slaveowners did indeed venture into non-Slave States in pursuit of their quarry, the use of Bloodhounds to track slaves was clearly restricted to Southerners. Of course, Bloodhounds had been used to track escaped prisoners throughout the United States. Nevertheless, the prominence of Breeders and Bloodhounds in the South is clearly apparent even in the twenty-first century. Anyone interested in acquiring a Bloodhound will notice this almost immediately upon beginning research into breeders.
It is rare for Bloodhounds to be used for tracking game such as deer or elk; the Coonhound or other scenthounds are typically used for this purpose. Bloodhound use is generally confined to tracking human beings: e.g. lost children, escaped prisoners, earthquake victims, etc.
The linkage of the Bloodhound (or any other scenthound, for that matter) with aggression or killing is extremely doubtful. It is unlikely that the kill instinct had to be "removed" from the Bloodhound by the time the breed was created, as that instinct had long ago been systematically eliminated from the dog in general (with the exception of fighting breeds or guarding breeds) during the process of domestication. In addition, the "voice" was bred into many of the scenthounds precisely because of the likely separation of the trackers from the hounds (or hound) during the chase; the characteristic sound of the hound was specifically designed to be both heard from afar, and also easily identifiable to the searchers, indicating that the hounds had cornered their quarry. The American Foxhound, in particular, has always been noted for its melodious tones. As an example of the absence of agression in such hounds, a cornered fox is occasionally thrown to the foxhounds at the conclusion of a hunt, for the specific purpose of reinforcing their hunting (tracking) instinct. In the ordinary course of events, the hounds will never attempt to kill or eat the fox even after cornering. Aggression and tracking are not linked. This is a common misconception. "Hunting dogs," of whatever group--whether Pointers, Setters, or Hounds, are used as part of the sport of hunting, not for attacking or killing. The Bloodhound, especially, is known as one of the gentlest breeds, even quite timid, for the most part. 66.108.4.183 03:41, 1 July 2006 (UTC) Allen Roth
- You should create an account rather than do it as an anon ip user! - Trysha (talk) 21:01, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
hoax?
On 2006 June 16, anonymous IP 66.108.4.183 added an unsourced story about a bloodhound named Nash. Frankly, it looks like a joke at the expense of Wikipedia, so I'm taking the liberty of deleting it. If someone (presumably a resident of New York City) can provide confirmation that these claims are factual and that the dog deserves to be internationally known (which I doubt), then feel free to restore it. --KSmrqT 05:57, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
[ Sorry KSmrq, I haven't worked out how to add a separate entry and embed wiki links yet :-( ]
I was attracted to this article by the google search summary:
Bloodhound - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bloodhound is prone to hip dysplasia, and is the breed that is the most ... The bloodhound was first bred ca. AD 1000 by monks at the St. Hubert ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodhound - 27k - 7 Aug 2006
Since I thought this was misleading, I joined up :) I hesitate to edit the article page.
The breed in the USA may be prone hip dysplasia, but this did not feature as prominent in the last UK survey. I agree that the breed is prone to bloat, but what justifies the statement "is the breed that is the most frequent victim of bloat."? The reference to American Bloodhound Association, if it is not the National Police Bloodhound Association. [ http://www.npba.com/ ] presumably should refer to The American Bloodhound Club, but having failed to find anything on this at http://www.bloodhounds.org/ could do with a factual reference.
I may have a less pro-Brit attitude after I have been in the parade of hounds held on the 3rd September at St Hubert, Ardennes [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Hubert%2C_Belgium ]
My understanding is that St. Hubert, Ardennes was part of France then. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium From the sixteenth century until the Belgian revolution in 1830, Belgium, at that time called the Southern Netherlands, . .
For now, changing
The bloodhound was first bred ca. AD 1000 by monks at the St. Hubert Monastery in Belgium.
which contains a dead link, might more accurately state
The ancentry of the bloodhound dates back to AD 1000, when hounds were bred at the Monastery of St Hubert [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubertus ] in Ardennes [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardennes ]
The name bloodhound was adopted in the 14th century in England, for a pure-bred, large, scent-hound, sometimes used to track people.
Perhaps he is topical, but in historical terms, I wonder about the validity of the feature on Ch. Heathers Knock on Wood.
The statement
"He has received more Best in Shows than any other Bloodhound, and is the first liver-and-tan Bloodhound ever to win a Best in Show"
should be qualified to refer to "in the USA" and it would be more informative to state how many Best in Shows he received?