Bloodhound Trials
The first Bloodhound Trials (known then as Field Trials) were held in 1898 in Yorkshire. At Trials, Bloodhounds hunt/track the human scent. This is known as hunting the Clean Boot.
The Kennel Club approves four Championship Bloodhound Trials a year, two in the Spring and two in the Autumn. These are run by the two Bloodhound Societies, the Association of Bloodhound Breeders and the Bloodhound Club. Trials are held in all parts of the United Kingdom.
The procedure is that a Runner leaves an article with his/her scent on it, known as the Smeller, attached to a flag at the start. He/she then walks the Line on a route predetermined on a map. The hound is then required to follow the Line and find and identify the runner who waits at the end of the Line.
There are four Stakes, starting with Novice (the Line is 1 mile long and is laid half an hour before the dog works) progressing to Senior (3 miles long, 2 hours cold).
Hounds must be hunted on a lead until they have passed a test to ensure that they do not chase farm livestock, after which they can be hunted free. It is advisable for the owner of the hound to train the hound to respect both livestock and game from an early age and to apply for a stock test early on in the life of the hound. A hound has to be 12 months old before an official stock test can take place. No hound can be hunted in the Senior Stake on a restricted permit. Stock tests need to be arranged through the breed club. Hounds are encouraged to speak to the Line.
The ground used for a Bloodhound Trial may be agricultural land, moorland or open hill country. Hounds need to be able to negotiate a variety of terrain and to be able to deal with fences, hedges, ditches, water and stone walls. Hazards encountered can include farm workers, tractors, crop spray, muck spreading and livestock, and of course natural hazards, such as game, deer, foxes and hares.
On occasions you may come across a group of ramblers who may have crossed the hunted Line - a good hound will ignore all other scents and not change from the scent of the Runner. For a successful Bloodhound Trial approximately ten thousand acres of land is required.
For further information and details of training clubs please contact the Kennel Club on 0870 606 6750, extension 212 or email clubsandtraining@thekennelclub.org.uk
Useful contacts:
• The Association of Bloodhound Breeders
Miss J Corner, Woodside, 6 Front Street, Kelloe, Durham DH6 4PD.
Tel: 01913 770073
• The Bloodhound Club
Ms F McKenzie
Tel: 01458 241080
