More special than Corgis

[Michael Romanos]

Of course there are stacks of other breeds that require more special attention/treatment than do Corgis. In fact Corgis are pretty easy going. We just like to think they have to have specialist handling.

One of my nieces, Johanne got a 12 week old Bloodhound earlier this week - a really wrinkled, loose skinned, cutey girl. But boy-oh-boy is Johanne and her family in for hard times.
First there's feeding. At three months, Bloodhounds need three pounds of meat and two pints of milk daily. Now get this, no beef or lamb (together with white rice, these are not considered good for Bloodhounds). It's going to have to be poultry, brown rice and wheat. No water until two hours after a meal. And as for exercise.- the only good Bloodhound puppy is a tired one! Bloodhounds require special feeding because if they don't get what's good for them they easily develope external and internal problems. Now one cannot relate any of this to our Corgis.
Bloodhounds love being inside a home and close to their families. But do they drool. Their slobber is like a stream. You can't let them off a leash outside the fenced property, because it willl probably be goodbye forever. Like Huskies and Beagles but even more so, their noses guide their movements - and their horizons are unlimited.
So it is obvious that Bloodhounds are not easy to train. They are a high maintenance dog - lots of time and patience and they are not satisfied with an hour a day walk- more like double that.

Johanne's dog is called Zara and is she friendly and door greeting after just three days in her new environment. No way. She didn't want to know me. I even offered her a treat - but it was not accepted from my hand. she'd rather climb the wall than be anywhere near me. Someone else knocked at the door, but Zara was no where to be seen. But give her time and space. Generally they are gentle and loving and as well as being big and bumbling. Like Corgis, they are also sensitive and so one would never hit or scold them harshly.

If anyone knows about feeding a Bloodhound pup, let me know and I'll pass it on. With the dry food portion of her meals, she will need poultry/chicken based kibble.

[Chip's Mom]

Michael:

That statement is so true. My husband scolded Chip for pottying on the floor after he just returned from outside and when I came home from work, Chip was so mopey, I thought he was sick. I had to baby him for an hour before he returned to normal. Naturally, no more scolding only praise.

[Cardiguy]

Three pounds of meat daily, wow that sounds like a heck of a lot of meat. Now if it has to be filet mignon or some other prime cut one might have to take out a second mortage (lol). Hope cheap old chuck is ok for blood hounds.

[Jane Austen]

Michael,
This is an interesting bit on bloodhounds. A real eye opener for any one contemplating taking on such a dog. They are great dogs though and provide a valuable service in the search and rescue field. Jane

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Jane
Johanne has intentions of getting Zara trained for search and rescue. And would you know it - but in our city of Upper Hutt there is the national police trainign centre for police dogs, dogs for locating drugs and dogs for locating illegal food. So she plans to make use of that facility. There are very few search and rescue dogs in NZ but there should be lots because we are earthquake prone islands and also a target for tsanamis and volcanic erruptions. So one day, Zara will be of enormous value as Bloodhounds are the best dog in the world for tracking. Going back to earthquakes - we experiemnce around 15,000 per year here - though almost all of them one never feels or knows about. It's those teutonic plates =grinding away..

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Jane
Johanne has intentions of getting Zara trained for search and rescue. And would you know it - but in our city of Upper Hutt there is the national police training centre for police dogs, dogs for locating drugs and dogs for locating illegal food. So she plans to make use of that facility. There are very few search and rescue dogs in NZ but there should be lots because we are earthquake prone islands and also a target for tsunamis and volcanic erruptions. So one day, Zara will be of enormous value as Bloodhounds are the best dog in the world for tracking. Going back to earthquakes - we experience around 15,000 per year here - though almost all of them one never feels or knows about. It's those teutonic plates grinding away..

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Johanne's dog is called Zara and is she friendly and door greeting after just three days in her new environment. No way. She didn't want to know me. I even offered her a treat - but it was not accepted from my hand. she'd rather climb the wall than be anywhere near me. Someone else knocked at the door, but Zara was no where to be seen. But give her time and space. Generally they are gentle and loving and as well as being big and bumbling. Like Corgis, they are also sensitive and so one would never hit or scold them harshly.

If anyone knows about feeding a Bloodhound pup, let me know and I'll pass it on. With the dry food portion of her meals, she will need poultry/chicken based kibble.

I would be a bit concerned about possible temperament problems. While shy and sensitive is a part of the breed's temperament description as an adult, a puppy that young not being more outgoing and curious I'd find a bit worrisome. I'd say a lot of socialization would be in order. Think what you might of the "Rules of Seven" some (I didn't say all, nor did I imply this was the only way to rear puppies) breeders use, a puppy that has been raised under this method is pretty darn near bomb proof when it comes to meeting new things, people and takes life mostly in stride. One doesn't see Zara's behavior as you described it. IF this were a corgi puppy, I'd definitely be alarmed on the temperament issue.

As far as diet, the link Darci's mom sent from the Great Dane breeder I believe has a lot of pertinent information. Waiting two hours to give water after eating would be to try to avoid bloat and she had some enzyme type supplements that were recommended to aid in trying to prevent it. There were other great tips for large breed dogs that Zara's family might find useful.

Debbie

[darci]

Debbie
Regarding the link for nzymes on the great dane lady's website, I found that very interesting. Darci has mild hip dysplasia, I think I may order it and give it a try.

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Debbie - what's the Great Dane link that Darci's Mom advised?
Will let you know how Zara is progressing if at all.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Hi Debbie - what's the Great Dane link that Darci's Mom advised?
Will let you know how Zara is progressing if at all.

A website I wanted to share
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a website that I came across that I wanted to share with you guys.
I dont agree with everything in it, but you can read and form your own opinions.

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles.htm
__________________
Cindy ( darci's mom )

[Michael Romanos]

I'm pleased to report that Zada was not anywhere near as shy on my second visit. She did scout around a bit but she allowed me to stroke her, examine her teeth and she gave me several kisses on my hand. But she was still pretty much aloof - but more of what her nature will be rather than acting like a scared rabbit.

However a proper feeding regime is a long way off. Her mom is a sloppy housewife and I have a theory that this negative is transported to the kind of attention one pays to a dog's upbringing or at least in giving appropriate care and attention to detail. When I last visited it was around 10am and their was a large soup bowl full of a most unappetising mixture of dried-out porridge)any milk would have disappeared long ago) mixed with meat and God knows what. Not the sort of breakfast for a Bloodhound pup. A cereal for a dog is not porridge. And if the pup doesn't eat her meal straight away something is not right. Bloodhounds eat like crazy. Though I must say that Zara is more weightier now than she was a week ago.

Hey, Zara reinforces my idea that an all- premium kibble diet is preferable to what most people dish up their dogs - especially pups with their sensitive tummies and urgency for the correct supplements and norishments to become healthy adults.