The Bloodhound is a long-established breed known as the father of all scent and hunting hounds. The breed originated in Belgium in 700 AD and was bred to track game for hunting. Bloodhounds have been kept by monks and bishops and were a big part of the monastery of St. Hubert, assisting in the tracking of wolves, big cats and deer.
The Bloodhound was introduced in England following the Norman invasion in 1066. At this time the black-and-tan variety became known as the Bloodhound. The white variety became know as the Talbot Hound and is extinct today.
Throughout the years, bloodhounds have been used for a number of purposes, including the tracking of missing people and criminals and for assistance with drug searches. It has been said that their sense of smell is three million times better than man?s. They have been credited with saving many lives and their ability to trail a scent is so accurate that it will hold up in a court of law. The breed was introduced in the US more than a century ago and has acquired an excellent reputation as a police dog.
