Bloodhound
Large
France / Belgium
Bloodhounds are an ancient breed, and their origins are still unclear. It is known however, that in the 7th century, St. Hubert (the patron saint of the hunter) and his monks had an important hand in developing the breed. The name "Bloodhound" is derived from the term "blooded hound," meaning a hound of pure breeding. It was around the time of the 16th century when the Bloodhound was first used to track man. Before this time they were regarded as large game hunters, hunting deer, etc. Their testimony was so highly regarded that they had the legal right to follow a trail anywhere, including into peoples homes.
The Bloodhound dogs are not a good choice for everyone. With one shake of their head, they can fling saliva over 20 feet, their large size, large food requirements, vet bills and inherently short lifespan make them an unlikely choice of pet for the average dog owner. When they are still puppies, they can grow at a tremendous rate of sorund four to seven pounds in a week. As is common with most large dog breeds, they have a short lifespan of about 10 years.
