Training your Bloodhound puppies can be very challenging at first but also very rewarding later. Although the Bloodhound has a mind of his own and once the nose takes over, it won't matter what you do to get his attention, the ears and the eyes stop working and the nose is working the brain to the fullest.

Once you have read up on the behavior of the Bloodhound, and you have decided to get one as a pet, a working, or show dog, remember this...the earlier you start training them the better. I recommend getting the puppy between six and eight weeks old and start training them immediately. Sit and stay are easy commands but being a puppy, they are still rambunctious and their nose is a working machine so you want to use that to your advantage.

While training your puppy, start out slowly and don't reward or feed them until the training session is done. This is how you can get them to maintain the focus on their training session. There have been trainers with dogs that have gone up to four days without eating because they did not want to train that day. Yes, the Bloodhound is a stubborn animal but once you understand their behavior, training sessions become easier and easier. A morsel during training is fine but you will want them to look forward to the big meal afterward.

Crate training is a must. They will learn that this is their bed and they will appreciate the safe feeling they get in there. Although puppies are darn cute, you never want them to sleep with you in your bed or within a few months you will have a one-hundred plus pound dog sleeping in your bed and soon they think it is all theirs and won't budge an inch when you need your rest. Funny but true, so teach them at an early age what a crate is and why they must be in one. I always reward them with a doggie biscuit once inside. This makes them look forward to going in their crate.

Train your Bloodhound Puppies to do simple things first then work into a routine so they can use their senses for what it was intended. You can train your puppy to track or trail, use them as a search and rescue dog to find missing children or people, or to use them as a hunting dog to track certain game.

Whatever you decide you are going to use your Bloodhound puppy for, reward them when they are good and discipline when they are wrong. Don't ever hit them or scold them loudly as they are a very sensitive animal and they get their feelings hurt very easily but show them what you want them to do. They are a very smart animal. Spend a great deal of time with them and let them be around people as much as possible. Be sure to have a good vet on hand who understands Bloodhounds. Love them and take good care of them and they will be a very good companion for years to come.