Mountain Crest Bloodhounds

  

 Here are a few

 of our own experiences and a couple of stories

To maybe help you understand the Breed

better...

and give you an idea about our practices

of the choice breeding we do here at

Mountain Crest....

The term Bloodhound means Royalty

      Bloodhounds are gifted with the most sensitive nose in the Animal Kingdom...

They are the only dog that can be use as evidence in a Court of Law as a witness...

They will catalog and retrieve scents for future reference..

Their long ears pick up scent as they are dragged along the ground..

the wrinkled skin....small amount of drool....the large nose....all become factors to help the Bloodhound Track.....

Lost Animals......People.....Find Cadavers...Convicts escaped from Prisons or Jails...or Criminals on the loose..and articles stolen or lost....

This makes the Bloodhound truly unique...

and the more wrinkles and skin make them better Trackers...

Cold trackers as well as Hot...Air borne scents, Rain, lakes, streams or swamps doesn't seem to stop them...

 

They can detect a human Cell 14 microns in size shed three days ago in the pouring rain at a Mall

They can track a person who left a train Station three days ago in the pouring rain

and pick him out of a lineup.

 

They are the most unbelievable animals you will ever encounter in the Dog Breeds..

Bloodhound males generally take 3 years to completely mature both in size and stature...

Females usually take 2 years

TRUE STORY

Chicago News Paper report tells a story of a person missing who later was found  buried under a collapsed building for 12 years at approximately 6 to 10 ft deep.  After trying other types of Dog Breeds it took a Bloodhound to find and retrieve the body. Once the body was recovered Police discovered  evidence of  foul play.  Remarkably the Dog was able to scent the killer on the body of the dead woman...When brought to a  lineup of several men he went straight to the killer by scent....therefore using the dog as witness to the murder and suspect of the crime......Later that day the police found traced evidence in the man's apartment that proved he truly was the assailant of the victim..along with the ability of the Bloodhound the police were able to bring the criminal to trial which further led to his conviction of first degree murder...and life time sentence...

Blood hounds are (DOGS) do not make the mistake thinking you are buying a person...

Far from the truth...

Dogs are not people nor do they think like people...We become a member of their Pack the Alpha Leaders...

These dogs are sensitive, loyal and very intelligent, quick to learn..

We recommend Choke chains for collars...on Bloodhounds

This may or may not be what you desire for you dog...But we use them on all our dogs with great success

Don't hesitate to enroll them in obedience classes they'll love it and so will you...

Bloodhounds are like any other dog breed and will sometimes get him or herself into trouble if allowed to do so...

Keep your dog on a leash  they will follow their nose if given the chance...

.

Because of their nature they are easily trained.... Teach them by repetition and kindness...

We try never to raise our voices to our dogs in anger

or blame them for not understanding something in a hurry...

The best teaching is by gentle.. but firm.. persuasion...

This may sound like an old clich'e...but,,,,, we are adamant at what we say"

This will get you a lot further with any type of Dog.............Patience....

Especially a Hound

 

A Little something about us and our practices

on feeding and maintaining our dogs

 

 

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

We feed our dogs with automatic feeders and waters....

 

We find...

If we start our dogs out this way as puppies... our feed bill maintains itself all year long...

All dogs have the tendency to gorge themselves when it comes to eating...but if they know there is constant food......

They go to the feeders various times a day and nibble...

Somehow knowing there is always food and fresh water available.....they eat less....

Also Bloodhounds can be aggressive at the food dish

Our practice seems to stop this kind of behavior

We have never experienced bloat with our dogs...

We believe with bloodhounds (Less is More) 

In other words-----Expensive dog foods aren't necessarily the best for a hound....

Be careful with too much protein... and lamb and rice....

Test your choice of food with the water test...

Spray with a hose and see how long it takes to disintegrate...

This will tell you how much the dog is getting from the food with digestion....  

At Mountain Crest  we do not believe in Kennels or Fenced runs....

Our dogs are fortunate to have free rein of 6 acres to play... run... swim... and nose around...

Because Bloodhounds are a typical laid back breed they

Do not require large areas 

The size area needed depends on how many dogs you own...

Our puppies are born in our (New birthing facilities) and never put on the ground until they have had Several Series of puppy shots....

Starting at 5 days they are wormed and continued until purchase...

At 4 weeks of age they receive their first puppy shots..... they are weaned and given constant Puppy food and water...

At 4 to 6 weeks they are allowed to go outside transferred to a 100 ft x 100 ft outdoor area....

This is where they can run and play and earn their pecking order naturally...

   Bloodhounds make wonderful house pets

They quiet down find their own spot when in the house or traveling

It is such a pleasure to have them join us at the end of the day... we all just lie around and become lazy hounds.......

If you are looking for a fast, quick or rowdy dog these are not for you...

They are Gentle Giants

They love to walk on a leash (try a harness) for taking a quiet stroll around town....

What makes a Bloodhound unique... is the ability to endure all kinds of terrain...

We breed our dogs selectively....

It is important to us to keep the large bone and good height and weight

to conquer the mountains, boulders, swamps, thick woods, brush..          

Our dogs work for us..we had special harnesses made for them and.........

They carry in our tree stands....drag broken downed trees out of the way....

help carry fire wood...

We tag tie 4 to 5 dogs to pull out a 600 lb Black Bear (put them on a game cart or sled).....they love to pull.... it's in their nature...

One adult dog can drag out any size Michigan Deer by his or her self...

3 to 4 to drag out an elk....1 to 2 for a mule deer .....4 to 5 for a moose.....etc...etc....etc...

At home they have the freedom to run and play

It builds an Athletic Body... Agility...Stamina....

It creates Character they need to become a part of their pack.

They learn to rely on each other and know their rank within the group.

As household pets they also know the rank they hold with us..(subordinate)..

It's a good rule to train your dog as early as possible

                                                                   (unruly pets make everyone miserable).

BELLS

We recommend bells on collars for safety when hunting.....

Why Bells????With these Bells our dogs are easily heard while tracking...

If for some reason we did become separated we could tell what direction they were in...

When we track with our dogs

(Our standard equipment is  choke Chain....Leash...Whistle... and Bell)

Each Bell has a different tone for each different dog....

this way we know exactly what dog is where at all times....

Although our dogs have been trained to stay by us..... we still carry a leash in the woods...

We have experienced coming up on a CO or the DNR and you will get a dirty look when all the dogs try to tackle the officer...

Always remember the Western USA Hunting can be dangerous.....as well as the unforgiving Canadian Bush..

Bells have become important equipment for us keeping...  Rattle Snakes and Predators....

like Mountain Lions...Wolf packs...and Coyotes away.......

                                             For us.... our Dogs safety comes first.... before the hunt.....

When you travel with your dogs as we do very often across the US or Different Countries..such as Canada

Make sure your dogs have their Rabies shots and records with you...

We experienced in Sept 2009 a Rabid Squirrel while baiting for Black Bear...in Michigan

At first we thought it was funny until it came after us with a vengeance.

There was 120 reported cases of rabies in Osceola County Michigan in one month just this year.....

People ask us how are you able to take so many dogs with you when you hunt or camp....

Here's our secret

Electric Fence....This keeps the varmints out and the dogs in.... 

String up 3 strands of fence low to the ground and high enough not to jump....

Buy a Cow or Horse fencer at your local feed store get the push in rods and posts and there you have it...

It works great and you have Safe and practical fencing for your dogs...

Why do we remove Dew Claws?

Simple......It's not easy to take a Vet with you while tracking...

Last thing you want is a bloody foot caught in a fence or bush by a dew claw 200 + miles away from the nearest Vet Clinic...

Annoying!!!!! When a dog jumps on you accidentally or intentional.... that Dew Claw can become a lethal weapon

 Bloodhounds love water...every chance.....we take them to the rivers or the beach in the hot summer...

They spend hours swimming and playing....be ready to get wet ....

They would much rather you be in the water with them... than just an observer on the shore....

Several of our Dogs enjoy the game of fetch

And they have their special toys they like to play with...

No rawhide's for bloodhounds...Bones strengthen and clean teeth....gives them extra calcium too....

                                              Pork Bones are great for our Dogs...easy to chew and fit around the lips

Lately we have been asked the question (How do we deal with our puppy when we first get him)  He cries all night?

So here is an old trick that has worked for us for years.....Go to a local Dollar store and buy one of the cheapest wind up clock

that makes a loud ticking  one you could never stand in your bed room...

                                                                              (Sometimes the battery operated ones are very loud too)

Take this clock and put it in a towel...or ....plush toy with a pouch in it and wind it up.....

Place it in the box or kennel with the new pup and he or she will sleep like a baby..

You could try warming up the towel a little in the dryer for a few minutes and set back

and enjoy your evening...

This has never failed us yet.

 

Administering Medicines

Sometimes it is very hard to give powder meds to Bloodhounds..They can smell through the best of temptations...So try this enclose your meds in a hot dog...etc..If this still doesn't work try putting it into milk or cottage cheese..

Better yet.... avoid any type of meds that require mixing...pills and liquids are much easier

 

 

 

Ladies have you ever lost an earring?   How about that diamond ring....can't find it......Try a bloodhound....

Guys loose a knife hunting?.....misplace your Hunting equipment?......  try your Bloodhound...

Can't tell ya how many times we have lost glasses, hunting things as small as a gun shell....and our dogs have helped retrieve it...

If your scent is on it..... they can find it...

Harve Pullen from Southern Michigan lost a 338 rifle .....Where was it?

For a week it laid out in the swamps of Ontario....His sling broke while quartering and dragging out his Moose....

No one realized he'd lost the gun till they all  got back to camp.

Four of his buddies helped looked a whole week before coming over to our camp (Quite defeated)....

Cold as it was... snow covering most of the trail.....

By that time it had snowed and thawed a couple of times....

Moxy found it in twenty minutes...the gun laid in an inch of frozen water....

Moxy got the biggest Moose steak that night....

      Bloodhounds are a unique and remarkable animal....

And if raised properly, and treated right

They will become your very best friend....

Thanks for reading about our pets ...

Hope you had fun and gained some helpful information...