How to Take Care of Bloodhounds

The bloodhound is a large dog that the American Kennel Club describes as affectionate, shy and sensitive to its owner's tone of voice. This breed is patient with children, although it can be challenging to control when outdoors as it has a strong instinct to follow the scent of anything it finds interesting. The owner must encourage the dog to see him as the pack leader to earn respect and trust. The bloodhound is prone to a number of health problems and it is important for owners to care for the dog correctly to reduce the risk of illness.

Things You'll Need

  • Padded dog bed
  • Leash
  • Hound glove
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a heavily padded dog bed for your bloodhound to prevent the dog's joints from rubbing on the ground and creating calluses. DogBreedInfo.com recommends you provide a thick dog bed as the bloodhound is prone to joint problems including hip dysplasia.

    • 2

      Feed your bloodhound three small meals a day rather than one large meal as the bloodhound can suffer from bloat. This malady is caused by gas becoming trapped in the stomach and cutting off the circulation throughout the body until the heart can no longer function effectively. Take your dog to the veterinarian if his stomach swells or if he appears to be acting strangely due to abdominal pain, as bloat can be fatal if it is not treated immediately.

    • 3

      Exercise your bloodhound daily by taking him for long walks. Avoid letting your dog off the leash as the bloodhound will tend to wander off to follow a scent and may stop listening to your commands. Walk with the dog slightly behind you to encourage him to see you as his pack leader. Correct the dog with a quick sideways tug of the leash if he attempts to walk in front or pull you and then relax the leash and continue walking in front of the bloodhound. Always walk before feeding your bloodhound and never after as exercising can increase the risk of bloat.

    • 4

      Wash your dog all over at least once a month. Use a hound glove to groom the dog as you do this. Clean the bloodhound's ears and jowls regularly to prevent an ear infection from developing as the ears will fall into the dog's food and water and become generally dirty, and the bloodhound will also slobber a lot.