Anyone have a Bloodhound?

[wakecrashin]

I currently have a 4 yr old great dane, Clyde, and he needs a new friend to keep him young. I dont want a small dog or another giant dog, but Large is fine. Ive researched and a Bloodhound seems like a great fit considering there not small (approx 100lbs), short hair, and quite lazy like a Dane. Let me know your experinece with them. Thanks!!!

[jjackkrash]

Pure bread dogs are bread for very specific purposes. Blood hounds are bread for hunting specific animals. From what I understand, they are not bread to be simple pets or friends of Great Danes. Not that they aren't good dogs, but they will only be happy tracking prey on a regular basis. With that said, my family has owned most breeds of dogs (but not blood hounds). So I can't say from personal experience that this breed won't meet your specific needs, but I doubt that it will. I will say, that if you want a family dog, one that will get along with other dogs, and that will try to protect your family and be a friend to other dogs, look at Boxers. We will likely never own another breed of dog. We don't hunt anymore, and we feel that the Boxer is the perfect breed for our needs. Friendly, loyal, active, smart, and nobel. And very protective of our child. Good luck in your search, but please research the specific breed traites before you commit to any particular breed of dog.

Dogs are family, so choose well,

Just my 2 cents,

Jack

[wakecrashin]

Boxers are waaaayyyyyyy too hyper for me. Couple of my friends have them and they are all out of control. Alot of dogs are bred for specific things so that really doesnt mean they dont make good pets i.e. German sheprds, Belgium Malinois, Labs, German shorthairs.....

Thanks for your input!

[WakeSlayer]

Hounds are exactly that. I have a Walker Treeing Coon Hound. She chases everything and goes at bay all the time. She is mellower now that she is about 7 or so, but man..... she will chase stuff that isn't even there. She still sticks her nose upa skunks butt 2-3 times per year. It is fine as I live on a hobby farm, and have had coon problems, but a hounddog is a hounddog. I must say that I rarely, if ever have a raccoon problem anymore though. She is good with other dogs, and even with cats, but if somethine besides that is anywhere close; "down goes the nose, and the ears go closed"

[NCH2oSki]

Out neighbor has a Bluetick hound, its not a bad dog, but its not a lab. If you want a great family pet check out a lab, golden retrievor, or a labradoodle, (full size poodle lab mix, limited shedding). You could get a shetland pony, it might be smaller then your dane! You should also hurry, I'm told danes usually dont have long lifespans. Good luck and I dont envy anyone with a puppy, especially if it is inside.

[NHcrossfan]

Alternative

Out neighbor has a Bluetick hound, its not a bad dog, but its not a lab. If you want a great family pet check out a lab, golden retrievor, or a labradoodle, (full size poodle lab mix, limited shedding). You could get a shetland pony, it might be smaller then your dane! You should also hurry, I'm told danes usually dont have long lifespans. Good luck and I dont envy anyone with a puppy, especially if it is inside.

I'd have to put in a good word for Portuguesse Water dogs. They are rugged despite their appearance, great around water (shocker), don't shed, don't smell, dries quickly, rarely barks, smart, great family dog. Males are around 60 pounds, female 50.

[wakecrashin]

RE: Alternative

Unfortuantely I cant seem to get her to lock onto a Bloodhound. She is moving towards a Puggle (pug/ beagle). Im a dude and want a real dog but she want a designer dog so..... they are actually kind of cool for a small dog I guess

[NCH2oSki]

RE: Alternative

You might also want to consider looking at the various rescue shelters. My wife has a rescued jack russel mix, that is quite the lap dog, loves other dogs but not so great with kids. We have friends that have a rescued whippit, great with kids, and other dogs, its a very interesting dog. There are also border collie, lab, greyhound, jack russel, rescue centers and the various other municipal pounds and non lethal shelters. Just a thought.

[jjackkrash]

Boxers are waaaayyyyyyy too hyper for me. Couple of my friends have them and they are all out of control. Alot of dogs are bred for specific things so that really doesnt mean they dont make good pets i.e. German sheprds, Belgium Malinois, Labs, German shorthairs.....

Thanks for your input!

Yes, Boxers can be very hyper. But their hyperness can be tempered and harnessed with some work and training. I would not recomend a Boxer to anyone who doesn't want to put in the time with them. I am not saying this to be critical at all. There are much better dogs for someone without the time or will to train them. I spent alot of time with my first Boxer, and she wouldn't cross the sidewalk in the front yard, even if left unattended, and even if other dogs tempted her, because that's the way I trained her. I could point at her and she would immediately sit or leave the room, or do whatever. She could basically read my mind an responded immediately to my every command. Best dog I have ever owned. We got a little lazy with our third boxer, however, and she is a handful. Still a great dog, but I feel like we did her a disservice by not working with her more when she was a puppy. To sum, there is the perfect dog for every owner, some take more work than others, but its important to find the breed that meets your specific needs.

Happy dog hunting!