Points Of The Bloodhound

value

Head.....

15

Ears and eyes......

10

Flews......

5

Neck.........

5

35

value.

Chest and shoulders..

10

Back and back ribs..

10

Legs and feet....

20

40

value.

Colour and coat...

10

Stern.....

5

Symmetry......

10

26

Grand Total 100.

1. The Head (Value 15)

1. The head (value 15) is the peculiar feature of this breed; and I have accordingly estimated it at a very high rate. In the male it is large in all its dimensions but width, in which there is a remarkable deficiency. The upper surface is domed, ending in a blunt point at the occiput; but the brain case is not developed to the same extent as the jaws, which are very long and wide at the nostrils, hollow and very lean in the cheeks and notably under the eyes. The brows are moderately prominent, and the general expression of the whole head is very grand and majestic. The skin covering the forehead and cheeks is wrinkled in a remarkable manner, wholly unlike any other dog. These points are not nearly bo fully developed in the bitch; but still they are to be demanded in the same proportionate degree.

2. Ears And Eyes (Value 10)

The ears are long enough to overlap one another considerably when drawn together in front of the nose; the "leather" should be very thin, and should hang very forward and close to the cheeks, never showing the slightest tendency to "prick" they should be covered with very short, soft, and silky hair. The eyes are generally hazel, rather small, and deeply sunk, showing the third eyelid or "haw," which is frequently but not always of a deep red colour; this redness of the haw is, as a rule, an indication of bloodhound cross wherever it is met with, whether in the mastiff, Gordon setter, or St. Bernard, though occasionally I have met with it in breeds in which no trace of the bloodhound could be detected.

3. The Flews (Value 5)

3. The flews (value 5) are remarkably long and pendant, sometimes falling fully two inches below the angle of the mouth.

4. The Neck (Value 5)

4. The neck (value 5) is long, so as to enable this hound to drop his nose to the ground without altering his pace. In front of the throat there is a considerable dewlap.

5. Chest And Shoulders (Value 10)

The chest is rather wide than deep, but in any case there should be a good girth; shoulders sloping and muscular.

6. The Back And Back Ribs (Value 10)

6. The back and back ribs (value 10) should be wide and deep, the size of the dog necessitating great power in this department. The hips, or "couples," should be specially attended to, and they should be wide, or almost ragged.

7. Legs And Feet (Value 20)

Many bloodhounds are very deficient in these important parts, owing to confinement. The legs must be straight and muscular, and the angles of full size; but it is not to be expected that the upright and powerful pasterns so dear to the M.F.H. should be found in the bloodhound. The feet also are often flat, but they should be, if possible, round and catlike.

8. Colour And Coat (Value 10)

In colour the bloodhound is either black and tan, or tan only, as is the case with all black and tan breeds. The absence of black is a great defect, but many well-bred litters contain one or two tan puppies without it. The black should extend to the back, the sides, top of the neck, and top of the head. It is seldom a pure black, but more or less mixed with the tan, which should be a deep rich red. There should be little or no white. The coat should be short and hard on the body, but silky on the ear and top of the head.

9. The Stern (Value 5)

9. The stern (value 5) is, like that of all hounds, carried gaily in a gentle curve, but it should not be raised beyond a right angle with the back. The lower side is fringed with hair about two inches long, ending in a point.

10. The Symmetry (Value 10)

10. The symmetry (value 10) of the bloodhound as regarded from an artistic point of view should be examined carefully, and valued in proportion to the degree in which it is developed.

The engraving of the celebrated Druid, which originally illustrated this breed in the "Dogs of the British.Islands," gives a good view of his frame and legs; but it is on too small a scale to convey an adequate idea of the remarkable head which the bloodhound possesses. I have therefore confined Mr. Baker's attention to this feature alone, and have selected that of Mr. Bay's St. Hubert as the type of the male, while his Baroness is an excellent example of the female, the contrast between the two being, as usual in this breed, very great. St. Hubert is a son of Roswell, and presents the most wonderful head I have ever seen, but, having deformed legs, from a bad attack of distemper, he has never been exhibited. Mr. Baker's sketch is a wonderfully careful copy of this dog's head; and I think bloodhound breeders generally will admit that the choice I have made is fully deserved. Baroness is good throughout, and has taken two prizes.

The following are the pedigrees of this fine couple of bloodhounds - that of Roswell is given in the Kennel Club Stud Book as by the Duke of Beaufort's Warrior out of sister to Field's Rufus; but I believe this pedigree is not very reliable, and, therefore, I have not included it in that of either: