Specials Today is Monday, May 12, 2008

Specials Coming Soon!

M & M Hounds a family owned and operated bloodhound breeder situated on 2 ½ acres in the lovely town of Orange in Central Southern Virginia. We got into this for the love of the breed. We are a hound loving family that manages breeding and would NEVER puppy mill our dam.

The bloodhound is a unique and intriguing breed. You and your bloodhound can track, trail, participate in the obedience and agility ring and try the show or conformation ring. The bloodhound is not a breed that wants to please you as much as it wants to be pleased.

We are proud of our Dam and Sire and their quality blood line.  Their gorgeous red coloring stands out among the best. We have developed a reputation for quality puppies given we properly space any breeding activity and we are very selective on whom we release our pups to.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to educate and place the bloodhound breed in a family setting.  Our climate controlled kennel with heating and air-conditioning, covered porch, sand beach and 60-feet of run space ensures the puppy you take home is accustomed to the good life. 

Our Kennel manages:

• Holding
  
• Whelping
  
• Puppies

We are more than happy to answer questions related to the purchase of one of our Bloodhound puppies but we are just as concerned about the type of person/household we release one of our Bloodhound puppies to.

Remember: It is up to both the Bloodhound buyer and the Bloodhound breeder to be comfortable with one another and to ensure that the Bloodhound puppy will be treated properly.

How Do I Care for My New Puppy?

Select and visit a veterinarian with your new puppy.  Your vet will provide a general well-dog check up and establish an immunization schedule.  The smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom. Groom with a hound glove, and bathe only when necessary. A rub with a rough towel or chamois will leave the coat gleaming. Clean the long, floppy ears regularly. Bloodhounds have a distinctive doggy odor, which is offensive to some people. This breed is an average shedder.

Your dog’s health will benefit from your attention to some specific areas:

• Eyes should be cleaned daily
  
• Ears should be cleaned weekly
  
• Coats need brushing every week
  
• Nails should be cut every two weeks

What must I do for my new buddy?

Socialization – Socialize your new puppy as much as possible.  Puppies need to enjoy many new sights and sounds and make lots of new canine and human friends.  This is an absolute MUST for the bloodhound. 

Obedience – When the puppy is older, attend basic obedience or agility classes. This is a large breed and will benefit greatly from being a well behaved companion. 

You won’t be the star, as bloodhounds can invent their own version of “obedience” but with lots of treats and plenty of praise, you can enjoy all sorts of activities with these goofy canines!

Crate training - You will need a large crate that will accommodate your bloodhound once he is fully grown.  He will be much easier to housetrain since he won’t want to make mistakes in his bed. He will wait for you to take him out – which should be often! The crate will keep him safe and your home in one piece when you are not there to supervise. You can not leave a bloodhound puppy unattended. If you do, you are asking for a damaged home and or deathly ill dog.  Either way, it spelsl disaster.

Fencing – A fenced yard is a must. NEVER allow your dog to roam free as you will have a lost or stolen dog. 

• AKC Bloodhounds
  
• Pure Breed
  
• AKC Show Dogs
  
• Scent Hounds
  
• Search & Rescue
  
• Companion Pets
  
• Family Pet
  
• 90-Day Health Warranty

Description

Bloodhounds are the largest and most powerful of the hound family. They can weigh up to 110 pounds and stand as much as 27 inches at the shoulders. They have an expressively wrinkled face giving them a most solemn look. The coat is hard, thin and short. Colors are black and tan, tawny, or red and tan ("liver" is sometimes used instead of "tan"). The eyes are neither sunken nor prominent, although the excess skin may pull the lower eyelids down. The ears hang low and are long and soft. They can have that pouty look that will steal your heart.

Temperament

Bloodhounds are friendly and often very good with children. When they find someone at the end of the trail, they are likely to lunge at them planting wet slobbery kisses (their specialty) all over them. Criminals often turn themselves in on the spot rather than face Bloodhounds, whether to escape the kisses or in the mistaken belief of their ferocity, it is sometimes hard to tell! This is a truly good natured companion

They are energetic and boisterous when young and can be determined and independent. They need firm, but gentle training. The new owner of a Bloodhound will need to have plenty of patience for training to succeed. The most important consideration is to be consistent. These dogs know full well how successfully they can get around with a pathetic look and make use of it to get their own way. Do not expect too much by way of obedience from this dog - they are naturally gentle animals but they do have minds of their own and will often make their own decisions rather than following your orders.

Males go through puberty in-between 1 & 2 years of age. They can be quite a handful at that time; but after age 2, with the proper training, stimulation, and consistency, they are wonderful dogs. Some Bloodhounds can be timid, sensitive, gentle and shy.  A Bloodhound becomes devoted to its master and gets along well with people. It is rarely vicious, although they can be aggressive with dogs of the same sex. They can be protective of their domain if no one is home, but out on a trail they will welcome anyone. Some will bark and let you know when strangers are around. They can live in harmony with other dogs and household pets. Bloodhounds have a tendency to howl, snore, and drool…. a lot. They may sniff inappropriately or wander off on the trail of an interesting scent if not managed or leashed.

Bloodhound Scent

Bloodhounds posses a rare ability in a dog by being able to follow any scent, even human. The Bloodhound is such a sure tracker that the breed is used worldwide for rescue and rescue and criminal searches. Bloodhounds can never be kept in an unfenced yard. Instinct will always get them wandering off on some trail.

Height, Weight

Height: Dogs 25-27 inches (63-69cm) Bitches 23-25 inches (58-63cm)
Weight: Dogs 90-110 pounds (41-50kg) Bitches 80-100 pounds (36-45kg)

Health Problems

This breed is prone to bloat. You should feed two or three small meals a day instead of one large one. Avoid exercise after meals. Some suffer from stomach cramps. Prone to hip dysplasia and ear infections. A padded bed is recommended to avoid calluses on the joints. Some tend to get entropion, where the eyelids turn inward and require surgery.

Exercise

Bloodhounds love a good run and need a lot of exercise. They should be taken for a long daily walk. However, if it picks up an interesting scent, you may find it difficult to get its attention. They have an incredible level of stamina and can walk for hours on end. They would greatly enjoy hiking with you, but keep in mind their urge to investigate any interesting scent. Do not overtire them with walks until they are fully grown. The Bloodhound is a big dog that grows rapidly and needs all its energy for developing strong bones, joints and muscles. 

Longevity

As a rule, Bloodhounds do not live as long as their smaller counterparts. The typical lifespan for a Bloodhound is about 9-11 years of age, with noticeable aging occurring as early as 8 years of age.

Litter Size

Average 8 - 10 - Some have been known to have up to 15 pups in one litter

M & M Hounds LLC - Terms of Adoption

When adopting a hound from M & M Hounds, the purchaser agrees that the puppy will never be used in any cruel or inhumane endeavor. It will never be surrendered to a shelter or used in any type of research laboratory or similar facility. All sales are final, however in the event you are unable to provide a good home for this puppy, feel free to contact M & M Hounds LLC and we will assist you in finding a good home or the puppy can be returned to us (no refunds).

There is a 90-day health guarantee on the puppy. This covers any genetic defects that may arise in the puppy. For this to be warranted, the ill puppy must be destroyed for a full refund to be granted. A puppy of the same quality may be granted from a future litter. The breeder has full choice of granting a full refund or replacement from a future litter. Failure to continue your puppy’s vaccination schedule or regular vet checkups will render this guarantee void.

If in the event this puppy is sold prior to 6 weeks old/ or prior to vet and first shots. The Buyer accepts AS IS.  For any warranty to be placed on said puppy, the buyer has 3 business days to have it vet checked and authorized. A copy of vet records needs to be forwarded to breeder. All warranties are void beyond 3 days of certified veterinarian approval.

Foster Care Program

Do you want a bloodhound and do you have the means to care and love one but not the up front cost to purchase one?  We may have a solution for you.  Any litter puppy at 6 months that is not adopted can be slated for our adoption program.  We will co-own…you will love, feed, train and ensure a healthy environment of the dog. Assuming all goes well for our agreed period, you ultimately keep the dog.    Just look at the simple requirements:

You would be held accountable and agree to be obligated complete to the following terms.

1. Dog will not be bred under any circumstances by the new CO-Owners until the term ends. Breeding can take place by breeders M&M Hounds LLC during this time. At breeders expense.
2. New Co-Owners must care for and protect the dog at all times. Which means, providing proper nutrition, exercise, medical treatment and keeping shot up to date.  The records are to be presented to M&M Hounds LLC as requested.
3. New co-owners agree that the puppy will never be used in any cruel or inhumane endeavor. The puppy will never be surrendered to a shelter or used in any type of research laboratory or similar facility.
4. If unable to provide a good home to the puppy new co-owner agrees to return at their expense this said puppy to the breeders M&M Hounds LLC.
5. When the contract ends Full ownership will be given and full rights to registration of this puppy will be granted to adopting family.