60 THE BLOODHOUND 



There should be no stop or depression below the 

 eyes. The peak should be clearly defined, the skull 

 narrow, and the foreface should be free from any 

 snipiness. The lips, or flews as we call them, are 

 deep through, meeting nearly squarely ; the eyes have 

 a kindly expression and are deep set, showing the 

 haw. The ears are very long, falling in graceful 

 folds, and are set on very low. An ear hanging 

 flat to the cheek is objectionable, and the skin on 

 the head should be of very fine texture, folding in 

 heavy wrinkles. The dewlap is very pronounced. 

 As regards the other properties, they should be what 

 we look for in any hound. The bone should be 

 heavy, the front legs perfectly straight, with feet well 

 knuckled up, the ribs deep and well sprung, loins 

 and thighs muscular, and behind there should be no 

 tendency to cow hocks. The usual colours are black - 

 and -tan, chocolate or red -and -tan, and occasionally 

 we see a marking once much esteemed, i.e., the 

 black saddle being flecked with white.- 



The Bloodhound is apt to be a bit headstrong 

 unless well disciplined when young ; he is then as 

 tractable as we could wish, but his habit of using 

 his nose for finding his way about in preference to 

 his vision makes him a bit awkward in traffic. Un- 

 fortunately, owing to great in-breeding, he is liable 

 to contract distemper in a very virulent form, and 

 losses are heavy in consequence. Once over this 

 dread disease, he is as hardy as other dogs provided 

 reasonable care is taken not to kennel him up when 

 he is wet. As a show dog, he has the advantage of 

 needing no faking of any description, the only thing 

 required being to put him down hard and fit, carrying 

 as much muscle as possible, and with a coat rendered 



