The Rectory’s Bishop, one of the greats in the breed
Flexibility and strength while trailing
Strong neck; skin on head and neck slides forward freely when head is lowered
Bloodhounds are pack hounds and should be easy-going. They can, how- ever, be reserved with strangers. It is not uncommon for a dog to pull its head back a little when first approached. Often this is just to move the skin away from their eyes, as their field of vision can be limit- ed. But do not reward the growly or reac- tive dog. Temperaments have drastically improved over the past 25 years and we want to keep it that way. Aside from forward fronts and too- short upper arms, common to many breeds, the problems we are struggling with these days include wide back- skulls, lack of body depth, soft toplines, and poor feet. Lately we are also seeing undershot bites as well. The American Bloodhound Club asks that judges remember the pur- pose of this breed when evaluating an entry of Bloodhounds. Faults that are more serious are those which might negatively affect the ability to last on a long trail or to be safely handled. Our club-approved breed mentors welcome your questions. Please refer to the mentor list on the American Kennel Club website. BIO Dr. Camille McArdle has been an American Bloodhound Club member for close to 30 years and a judge of the breed for over a decade. She is an ABC past-President and now serves as the Judges Education Coordinator. She had the honor of judging the 2017 National Specialty. She can be reached at camillemca@earthlink.net.
Correct shoulder and good feet for shock absorption
Ears sweep scent particles toward nose
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