Bloodhound

The St. Hubert's Hound is a breed of dog originating in Belgium and bred to hunt animals by tracking their scent. They have a distinctive appearance, with a wrinkled face, droopy ears and a long, pendulous nose that makes them ideal for scent tracking. They are gentle and affectionate dogs, but can also be stubborn.

General details

The St. Hubert is a large breed of dog that normally weighs between 40 and 54 kilos, and measures between 58 and 72 centimeters at shoulder height. Their life expectancy is 10 to 12 years. According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, they belong to group 6, hound type dogs, tracking dogs and similar breeds.

Breed history in brief

According to legends, the St. Hubert's Hound was first bred in the year 1000 AD, by the monks of the monastery of St. Hubert, in Belgium. Even so, its ancestors were probably French, from where most of the hounds originate. Unfortunately, it is thought that the original breed of St. Hubert became extinct in the 19th century and the dog so called today comes from the English hound, of which there is record of its presence in England in the mid-1400s. This in turn came from Normandy, a region that at that time used hounds. At the end of the 19th century, it was imported to France by enthusiasts who regretted the disappearance of the St. Hubert's Hound. The origin of the current St. Hubert Hound has been the subject of numerous debates and discussions within the community. Subsequently, it was exported to the USA, where its use gained strength in the search for lost persons and escaped prisoners.

Breed characteristics

The St. Hubert's dog has a distinctive appearance, with a wrinkled face, droopy ears and a long, pendulous nose that makes it ideal for scent tracking. They have a muscular build with a deep chest and strong legs. The coat is short and dense in black and tan, brown and tan or red. The coat is easy to care for and requires only minimal brushing. The St. Hubert dog is known for its gentle and affectionate nature, but can also be stubborn and requires constant training and socialization. They have a strong desire to follow scents, which can sometimes make them difficult to control. Once a scent has captured their attention, they are tireless in following it. However, they are also known to be calm and gentle dogs that get along well with children and other pets.

Common health problems

Like all dog breeds, the St. Hubert's dog is susceptible to certain health problems. Some of the most common health problems in the breed include volvulus-gastric dilatation, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. In addition to the aforementioned conditions, the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends a cardiac and eye screening examination, as well as a series of tests to assess the following conditions: patellar luxation and degenerative myelopathy.