Special Tips for Taking Care of Bloodhound Puppies

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Bloodhounds are a large breed of dog that are one of the most recognizable breeds of all breeds. They are known for their droopy, wrinkly skin and long snouts with the big nose at the tip, notorious for sniffing. They have always been working dogs, used for sniffing with their highly keen noses and sense of smell. They are phenomenal at tracking and are often used to track and locate people, and are very often used all around the world for finding injured people, missing people and children, and tracking escaped prisoners. They have very good dispositions, typically gentle natured, but they can be a bit willful due to their instinct to track. They might be a bit hard to train and handle because of this. They are good with other pets and children, though they should be supervised around small children. The Bloodhound can make a good family pet, but there are some things you need to know about caring for Bloodhound puppies before you go out and purchase one to see if it is a good fit for your home and lifestyle. Take a look at the following special tips for caring for Bloodhound puppies.

1. Training

Because this is a large breed of dog, training your Bloodhound puppy should start right away so that they can start to learn good-dog behaviors and what is expected of them starting at a young age. These are willful dogs, due to their strong instinct to track. This is another reason why training should begin right away. These dogs will let their nose and sense of smell take over and they’ll want to follow their need to track, as opposed to listening to their pack leader (you). Obedience training, teaching your Bloodhound basic commands and how to walk on a leash, are important for these puppies to learn young.

2. Leash or fenced yard

Another issue related to this breed’s need to track, is that they cannot be let out to roam, or they will take off to follow a scent. When you are out with your pup, always have him on a leash, or let him into a yard with a fence to keep him from wandering off. Once they get on a scent, it can be very hard to get him to listen and come back.

3. Feedings

Your puppy needs good nutrition starting from puppyhood. Feed your puppy high quality dog food, or give him home cooked meals that are high in protein, like lean meats (chicken, turkey, lean beef). Cooked and some raw vegetables can also be added to their meals to give them added vitamins and minerals. Your puppy will eat more often when young, but by the time they are one year old, they should receive two-four small meals a day, as opposed to one large meal. Eating too much at one time can cause a potentially fatal digestive issues, called Bloat, which is more common in large breeds.

4. Crate train

One way to help teach your puppy how to behave in your home, as well as housebreaking training, is to use a crate. Your puppy will need a crate to put him in when he can’t be watched. This helps to train your puppy where he can be and not be in the home. It helps to keep him from wandering off and chewing on personal belongings, having accidents throughout your house, and he will feel safe and secure in the den-like crate, which is where dogs feel safest. Your dog should be able to turn around in the crate, and have plenty of head room, however, don’t put your puppy in a cage too big so that he has room to have an accident in it, or he will not learn to hold it until he is taken outside.

5. Socialize

You want your Blood hound to get accustomed to your lifestyle, as well as to grow into an obedient, calm-natured pet that can be in a variety of situations and environments without feeling stressed and anxious. You should begin to socialize your pup right away, taking him to dog parks to be around other dogs and people, introduce him to children so that he learns how to behave around them, as well as elderly people. Trips to the vet and groomer are also recommended, to let him get used to all the different environments and situations and people or strangers, handling them. Take your puppy on car rides on a regular basis to get him used to being in a car without feeling anxious. The more you work with your pup starting at a young age, the better he will do in a wide range of places and situations as an adult dog.

6. Ear care

Bloodhounds have very obvious, long, floppy ears that will need to be groomed and cleaned on a regular basis in order to help prevent ear infections and other problems. It’s recommended that you clean out their ears at least once a week to remove debris and bacteria causing organisms. If you want good tips for ear care for your Bloodhound, your vet can teach you how to take care of them from home. Groomers also should be able to give your Bloodhound complete care if you choose to have your pet professionally groomed.

7. Bathing

This is not a breed that needs to be bathed often like some breeds, as a matter-of-fact, you should really only bathe a Bloodhound when they really need it. When you do bathe your pet, use a hound glove, or Chamois, or rough towel on their hair in order to give them a shiny coat.

For more tips on caring for your Bloodhound puppy, you can always seek the advice of your veterinarian to find out more in-depth details for caring for this breed. Not all breeds are the same, so making sure you are doing all you can for this particular breed, is important.