Doggie Diva

Knotty—Bloodhound/breed profile

July 29, 2005

By Kyra Kirkwood

Ever since I saw the drawling Trusty in "Lady and the Tramp," I've been smitten by wrinkly, sad-eyed, velvet-eared, ground-sniffing Bloodhounds.

Big, rather dopey looking yet regal at the same time, they epitomize puppy love. I was thrilled when one of these hounds not only earned the title of 2005 AKC/Eukanuba National Champion, but also won the Hound Group at the famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. And he is from Southern California. Topanga to be exact.

So of course, I went on a quest to find this loveable, loping giant and see what makes this breed tick.

Meet Ch. Heathers Knock on Wood. Or, to his friends, Knotty. This 125-pound lump of love is a liver-and-tan Bloodhound, a rare and stunning russet color, so perfect he's like a dog prototype. Then meet Lyn Sherman, Knotty' mom and Bloodhound expert; she's been involved with the breed since 1963 and currently has three Bloodhound boys at home.

"They're noble and dignified, yet sensitive and loyal," said Sherman of the breed.

And they're characters. Well, Knotty is for sure. He adores being the center of attention and is thus the consummate showman. The more people clap and cheer for him, the more he throws out his chest and struts around the ring, waving his tail like a flag, said Sherman. But Knotty enjoys his downtime, too. During one hot July day, he decided to cool down by sleeping in an empty bathtub. On his back. That brought a whole new meaning to the term "dog day afternoon."

Knotty, unlike his brothers, also chances the house rules by sleeping on the couch. His toys bring him joy, since food isn't what floats his boat. A bit of a diva he is, but why not? In addition to his titles, this five-year-old is ranked the No. 1 Bloodhound in the country, the No. 1 hound in the country and the No. 5 dog of all breeds in the country. Don’t forget about being honored by the Los Angeles County Commissioners with a proclamation "in proud recognition of his outstanding accomplishments," which have brought positive recognition to the county, said Sherman.

That's some resume, and all he wants is a decent nap on the sofa. Or a Greenie chew treat to throw in the air, hide in his huge lips and munch on in private.

Yet like all divas, Knotty has a sensitive side so typical of Bloodhounds. They may be stubborn, highly intelligent and independent by nature, but so too are they thirsty for love.

"Knotty will be brokenhearted if I reprimand him harshly," said Sherman.

Of course, if that solid mass of wrinkles so much as blinked at me, I'd be at his mercy. As I'm sure he'd soon discover, just as my two dogs have long since known. I am puppy putty.

In a nutshell, Bloodhounds are the largest of the scent hounds, measuring anywhere from 24 inches to 28 inches at the shoulder and topping the scales at up to 125 pounds. The three standard colors are black/tan, liver/tan (like Knotty) and red, according to the American Bloodhound Club. A deep chest, low-hanging ears and a long neck are also trademarks of the breed. And, of course, lots of skin. (So why aren't they called Wrinklehounds or Skinhounds?) A favorite story of Sherman's involves a young schoolboy gently pulling at the mass of folds under Knotty's jaw. He gazed up at Sherman with eyes as big as Knotty's paws and exclaimed, "Boy, is he going to be big when he grows up!"

Sherman began showing dogs about 10 years ago with her champion, Munch (which is probably the best name for a Bloodhound I've ever heard). When Sherman got Knotty at six months, she knew he possessed that "it" factor.

"If it's not there, you can't make it," she said.

In just three months of showing, Knotty finished his championship (in a very complex point-awarding system that all dog-show people understand, and is nothing but Greek to us pedestrians. But trust me—this is a huge deal). Winning the AKC/Eukanuba Invitational National Championship—where 2,451 top dogs in every AKC-recognized breed and variety, including dogs from 16 different countries, compete—is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement and brings Sherman a rush of pride.

"He always had special star quality," she said. "I'm a proud mama."

Not to mention a loving one. While waiting for the Best In Show category at Westminster, the pressure from the crowd and press became overwhelming. Sherman, dressed in a long beaded evening dress, curled up with Knotty in his crate for 30 minutes of quality "down time" before Knotty went back into the ring to show off his stuff.

So where can I get one of these championship offspring? Knotty, being certified as extremely healthy and free from many of the breed's common ailments like dysplasia and eye problems, has had his sperm collected and frozen. Healthy pups have resulted, too. And the price? About $1,000-$1,800 per dog. Even for Knotty's prime DNA? Yup. The tough part is finding a pup, said Sherman, who is very selective about who gets Knotty's sperm—only three litters so far. No backyard breeders for her.

"We're not breeding dogs to fit a current fashion," she said, noting her desire to remain true to the breed standards, maintain the Bloodhounds' man-trailing abilities and to improve their current health status.

Bloodhound wrinkles are what attracted me to the breed, but those creases have a function, Sherman explained. Knotty's rolls cascade over his face when he's walking down stairs, causing him to stop and, in true diva fashion, flip his skin like Cindy Crawford tosses back her hair. But these ginormous ears and taffy-like flesh have a purpose: the folds trap scent, helping the dogs track it.

"Bloodhound are obsessed with their nose," Sherman said.

This fact sentences them to a life of fences. Because once a Blood catches whiff of something interesting, he's off. One time, Sherman's gate was accidentally left open, and her Bloodhound decided a passing biker might be fun to investigate. For 32 miles. Oblivious, he stuck his nose to the ground and didn't come up for air, so to speak, until he was in the biker's garage. A call to Sherman let her know her dog was safe and sound, and in need of a drive home.

Don't forget about the Bloodhound's size. They get huge. Sherman, who is 5'9", often enjoys face-to-face chats with her Bloodhounds, their paws to her shoulders. That cute, wrinkled-up pup that weighs 20 pounds will very shortly top the scales in triple digits, with an independent spirit to boot, said Sherman.

Bloodhounds from a puppy mill (which too often wind up in pet stores) can have exacerbated health problems: dysplasia, eye ailments, thyroid issues. In addition, backyard breeding can produce off-kilter and even aggressive Bloods. The best bet if you want one? Research the breed on such websites as the American Kennel Club and the American Bloodhound Club (http://www.bloodhounds.org/) where you can find a qualified breeder.

As for me, I'm still in love with the breed, and enamored with Knotty. Perhaps one day I'll open up my household for one of these big, slobbering lugs with an independent streak. Until then, I'll be in the cheering section, rooting for the Topanga Bloodhound to bring home the gold. Or Greenies. Whatever serves as reward for being top dog. Which, in Knotty's case, is probably his own sofa cushion or an extra-long bathtub.