John was at the Bloomsburg Fair, September 2001 and decided to walk through the dog show building. In here is where dog breeders from around the area setup stands and have their dogs on hand for your inspection. John’s cousin whom he hadn’t seen in 20 years was there with a couple of his bloodhounds and some pups. After some catching up, John told him he was in the market for another dog and to let him know when he would be breeding again.
In the spring of 2002 John got a call from his cousin to let him know that he had a litter of pups and he should come out for a visit and pick out one of the pups.
They were about 6 weeks old and adorable! He had seen cute puppies before but never as cute as these puppies. John wanted a female and of the two available Sophie was the one that came right up to him. He picked her up about 5 weeks later, she was 11 weeks old, all ears and feet.
At this point he had no thoughts of working her and thought it would just be neat to have a cool hound dog for a pet…a guy thing I would say.
Unfortunately, John didn’t do his homework before deciding on this breed. They don’t just lie on the porch and sleep like they do in the movies. Bloodhounds can never be off lead as they will wander away following their nose from scent to scent unable to find their way back home. Their stubbornness makes obedience training nearly impossible. They just don’t care much about what you want them to do especially if it goes against what they want at the moment.
By the time she was 9 months old, it was painfully obvious to John she needed a job. She was getting into everything and her nose never stopped. It was as if the only reason she had legs was to move her nose around!
He contacted a local search and rescue group and offered him membership. John loves being out outdoors so he thought this would be a good fit for him and a good job for her.
They trained every week for years and Sophie never missed a find, she loved the game. They spent a week in Virginia, along with a hundred other bloodhounds and handlers, training at a seminar specifically for bloodhounds.
The trainers put Them through amazing search scenarios. John was not aware of what the breed’s nose was capable of; it was a learning experience he will never forget.
Part of our search and rescue obligations included PR events. Sophie loved these particular events, because she got all the attention she could handle. Her understanding of what to do when a camera is pointed her way is just as amazing as her nose.
During a parade she saw a woman with a camera and actually stopped, sat down and struck a pose for her. The crowd around her was as dumbstruck as I was at this behavior.
In 2006 we got out of the SAR business to concentrate on other activities. Now she enjoys a life of leisure and regular activities of hiking, backpacking (she even has her own backpack) ……
and just hanging on the porch with her best bud Cooper.
Bloodhound Facts
- The Bloodhound breed is over 1000 years old.
- Bloodhounds originated in Belgium and were developed by the monks of St. Hubert to have superior scenting abilities.
- Their long ears prevent the wind from blowing scent cells away from their nose.
- The Bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in American courts.
- The breed is not only stubborn but an independent thinker. Traits specifically bred into the dog that make it a superb trailing dog, but quite challenging as a household pet.
- Bloodhounds are sensitive dogs, and their feelings can easily be hurt, so a gentle but firm hand is required.
- These dogs have a VERY strong hound odor to them. Not to mention the drool, or what we affectionately refer to as “gak”.
