Quote:
Originally Posted by winnieb
Does anyone have a bloodhound? How are they as pets, with kids, with cats? Everything I have read says they are great.
I think they are adorable and I miss having bigger dogs around since my Peaches died a couple of months ago.
I have a large fenced yard so I am okay in that regard.
Any thoughts, suggestions, etc.
Thanks!
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When I was a kid, we had a bloodhound. We found out the hard way that they're outdoor dogs. Although we had a big house with a big yard, they don't enjoy being in the house. Since you have a large fenced in yard, you may be OK. But, I never understood the point of a dog if you're not going to keep him/her inside?
I can only tell you that ours was a big problem. She would chew-- infact she chewed a huge hole through our wall to wall carpet, she chewed the drywall, she chewed a sofa cushion... she literally caused thousands of dollars of damage. And... she would bite kids. She's the only dog we ever had that was a problem. We ended up bringing her back-- and she was used for breeding other bloodhounds for showdogs.
Being such a big dog, when I walked her (I was about 10 at the time), and she saw a squirrel, she would bolt. I literally couldn't hold her, she was so strong. So, I don't think this is a good choice if you have children.
They have a lot of ear problems and eye problems due to the long droopy ears and the wrinkled skin around the eyes. We were forever swabbing out her ears because they would get infected.
I would really suggest you look at rescuing a greyhound. They make marvelous pets... they're named "velcro dogs" because they push up against you all the time wanting to be pet and scratched. And... you'll be saving a life.
Most of them don't bark, they don't shed, and they are just total bundles of love. They're laidback, and total couch potatoes.
If you go to an adoption agency, make sure you tell them you have cats. They test the greyhounds to make sure they are "cat safe."
Another choice might be a labrador retriever or a golden.. but now you're talking massive shedding problems (hair everywhere!). They're really smoochy dogs that just crave love. And.. they tend to have hip dysplasia problems as they grow older.
Why not check out the pound and see who needs a home? Unless you're going to breed or show your dog, why not find a lovable mutt? They can make the best pets.
Good luck!