Xmas puppy ***Picture Update***

Crowe wrote:
At the risk of being negative, Christmas puppies aren't always a good idea. With young children (and I don't know how old your daughter is) sometimes the newness wears quickly. It's also a very chaotic time of year to bring a new pup into a household. If she's older that may be a moot point.

RESEARCH breeds THOROUGHLY. Do you know anything about bloodhounds? They are slimey, drooley, big, VERY stubborn, difficult, and often stupid. If it doesn't have anything to do with their nose, they aren't interested. They wheedle their way into your heart then only live an average of 6 years or so (although with some newer breeding they have increased longevity). Bloodhounds are not lazy. They are moderate-to-high activity dogs depending on breeding and require a lot of exercise. They LOVE to eat! A lot! They are prone to doing stupid things, illness, and conditions like bloat. We had one for 9 years (got lucky on the lifespan), loved him more than you can imagine, but it's a breed I wouldn't recommend to very many people.

I agree with the above completely! A bloodhound needs a job; hence their work in tracking. Also, they STINK!! My niece had one for awhile, and she complained that even after a thorough bath, the dog had a bad odor - the hound factor. It was so bad, that she and her husband rehomed the dog to someone who needed it for tracking.

I might suggest an adult (2-3 years old) lab from a rescue. Once an adult (lab puppies are evil, IMO - been there, done that!) labs make amazing family pets!! :) We've had two (RIP Bluto and Chipper) when our children were still at home - loved them both!!