Bloodhounds were often given as gifts among royalty and nobility. For almost seven
hundred years, the St. Hubert Monastery sent a pair of black and tan Bloodhounds to the King of France each year. These hounds and the  white Talbot hounds are considered the ancestors of modern-day Bloodhounds. The former died out by the French Revolution after their popularity plummeted when Charles IX favored the white hounds. Modern Bloodhounds are descended from the hounds that William the Conqueror brought to Britain. It was not until about the 16th century that the Bloodhound was used to track man. They were regarded as large game hunters before then: deer, etc. Their testimony was so highly regarded that they had the legal right to follow a trail anywhere, including into homes.
        
     As need grew for smaller, faster hound dogs, the Bloodhound was crossed with a variety of breeds to produce Harriers, Beagles and others, all of which owe their nose to the Bloodhounds. The use of Bloodhounds declined due to increasing population and decreasing game area in Britain until there were very few left. The introduction of dog shows in 1859 revitalized the breed. More companionable animals, suitable for showing, resulted.

   In 1898, Bloodhound breeders began to promote manhunting trials as sport. The only animals available for this were those who had been bred for show and companion for many years; yet their noses were as keen as ever. 
   Foxhounds have been crossbred into Bloodhounds several times, especially after WWII, when the stock was severely depleted in Britain. This ancestry sometimes shows up as white markings on Bloodhounds although the markings may also be throwbacks to the white Talbot hounds. Such markings do not disqualify from showing so long as they are confined to the chest, toes, and base of tail.

Contrary to popular wisdom, Bloodhounds were not actually used to trail runaway slaves in the US. Those dogs were usually mongrel crosses and of vicious temperament, which the Bloodhound does not posess. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, the book and the movie, in particular gives an exceedingly inaccurate depiction of Bloodhounds.

Mantrailing has enjoyed a steady, athough by no means explosive, increase in modern day law enforcement and search and rescue. Trails performed by Bloodhounds are permissible evidence in court.

Bloodhounds are friendly, often very good with children. When they find someone at the end of the trail, they are likely to lunge at them -- to plant wet slobbery kisses (their specialty) all over them. Criminals often turn themselves in on the spot rather than face Bloodhounds, whether to escape the kisses or in the mistaken belief of their ferocity is sometimes hard to tell! Bloodhounds are very determined. They are aggressive in the sense that they will want to finish trails, and that they can be hard to call off once on a track. They can be difficult to train off-leash for this reason. However, they are not generally aggressive toward other dogs or people. The pendulous skin over their ears and eyes will fall down over their eyes when they lower their head to trail, effectively blinding them. Because of this and their determination, Bloodhounds are usually run on leash for their own safety. Bloodhounds can make an amazing variety of sounds. They can bay expressively, howl and whine, all in melodious tones. The neighbors may not appreciate this, however. 

Writted by Cindy Tittle Moore