65-90 lbs
25-28"
United States
The Bloodhound is a breed that can trace its roots back over many centuries. A terrific scent tracker, the Bloodhound has been used for his tracking ability for generations. He would rather hunt and track than kill its prey. He has been used to track game, criminals, and lost children. He is not only a skilled tracker, but a great companion dog as well. He is rather massive, but a gentle giant. The Catahoula was originally bred as a hunting or herding dog. He originates from an area in north Louisiana near Catahoula Lake. He himself is a mixture; most likely he has a bit of Bloodhound in his lineage. He is also a tracker, and he loves to hunt game.
The Bloodhound is a dog that has been around for over a thousand years. He really came to be known during the Middle Ages. A group of monks at St. Hubert’s Abbey bred the ancestor dog of the Bloodhounds. Bloodhounds are sometimes referred to “St. Hubert’s hounds” because the man loved to hunt with the breed. Elizabeth I, who was an accomplished hunter, kept a pack of St. Hubert’s hounds throughout her life. William the Conqueror had brought them to England around 1066, and the Hound became a favorite of royalty. The Bloodhound was brought to America during the colonial times. Unfortunately, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about the Bloodhounds who were brought in to track runaway slaves in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; the breed was depicted as vicious and received a bad reputation because of the depiction. However, in 1888, the Bloodhound competed in the Westminster Dog Show, and once again, people showed a healthy interest in the breed. The Bloodhound is normally used by law enforcement in search and rescue work. The Catahoula is the state dog of Louisiana. His name comes from a Choctaw (Indian) word that means “sacred lake.” The breed is relatively new, and is likely a mixture of Bloodhounds, Mastiffs and Greyhounds. They are used for wild boar hunting. Like the Bloodhound, they are also great trackers. The Catahoula is not the perfect dog for every family; they are protective of their family, but have a good bit of energy, so he is not always a good inside dog.
The Bloodhound has a loose coat which feels thin to the touch. It has wrinkles around its neck and head and long ears. The Bloodhound is often black and tan, liver and tan, or red. Occasionally there is some white on the dog, but not much. The Catahoula parent breed has a coat that is short to medium in length which may be smooth or coarse. It is a variety of colors and patterns. The leopard pattern has a base color with contrasting spots of other colors. There are solid-colored Catahoulas as well as brindles. Some even have a patchwork pattern of color. Based on this information, it is likely the Bloodahouli will be a variety of colors. He may have some wrinkles, but in all probability he will not have the deep wrinkles of the Bloodhound. He may have longer ears (the Catahoula has short, pointed ears). He should be a rather large dog considering his parent breeds are typically both 100 pounds or more. He may have a loose coat, but it may be tighter to the body than that of the Bloodhound parent breed.
The Bloodhound has a loose coat and usually has quite a few wrinkles on his head and neck. Because of this, the Bloodahouli will require routine cleaning of his folds in order to prevent infection. Simply take a damp washcloth and wipe the folds, then wipe with a dry cloth. Another point of contention is the ears – because they are long and hang down, they are prone to getting damp and growing bacteria, which results in an ear infection. Clean the ears weekly to prevent this. The Bloodhound parent, unfortunately, drools quite a bit. The Catahoula parent needs weekly brushing of his short, medium density coat. He does not shed often, only once or twice a year. They are usually very clean dogs and do not need to be bathed unless they get into something grimy. Grooming of your Bloodahouli will be a combination of weekly brushing and fold maintenance, even if the folds are less prominent. You should brush your Bloodahouli’s teeth at least three times a week; however, if you want to prevent gum disease, brush the dog’s teeth daily. Trim your dog’s nails every other week. The rule of thumb is, if you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, it is time to cut them.
The Bloodhound is best known for his sensitive nose, but he is also quite an intelligent, gentle dog. This parent breed is very easygoing, but can be stubborn. He is affectionate but can be shy with strangers. He is difficult to train; it is recommended that owners begin training classes with their Bloodhound as soon as possible. He is not a good guardian although he is quite large; he loves people too much to prove to be a good watchdog. The Catahoula parent is not aggressive toward people, but he does require a special type of family. He has a lot of energy; he is a herder and hunter and he must expel that energy somehow, so sometimes keeping a Catahoula inside is not a good idea. In contrast to the Bloodhound, the Catahoula is an excellent guardian. He may not get along with other male dogs although he is not known to be the aggressor in a fight. Handlers must be firm with a Catahoula. Owing to this, the Bloodahouli hybrid will also have a sensitive nose, be a great hunter and herder, and may be a little stubborn. He is likely to be a better watchdog than his Bloodhound parent and could prove to be a bundle of energy that may or may not get along with other canines. Socialization at an early age will be key.
The Bloodahouli is a rather active dog; however, he can be kept indoors primarily as long as he gets a generous amount of exercise. Both parent breeds are high-energy; it is recommended that this hybrid be given ample exercise time as he needs an outlet for his energy. Your family addition is known to chew; be sure to keep plenty of appropriate toys around and provide ample attention and exercise in order to satisfy this urge. If you leave the Bloodahouli outdoors in a fenced-in area, be sure the fence is at least six feet tall. Bloodhounds are notorious escape artists, as are Catahoulas.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 10/09/2017, edited: 10/30/2021
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