The Tragic Role of Bloodhounds in Catching Runaway Slaves

Slavery has been a part of human history for millennia, with Africans enslaving English and other Europeans well before the transatlantic slave trade. One of the prominent methods of controlling and dominating African American slaves was the use of highly trained 'negro dogs' such as bloodhounds, foxhounds, bulldogs, Scotch staghounds, and curs or mongrels, to track runaway slaves.

Evolution of Bloodhounds

The only existing breed that descends significantly from these slave-catching dogs is the Fila Brasileiro. However, there is a hesitance to focus on a recognized breed that has been modified for dog shows, even though their ancestors did hunt slaves in Brazil. The dogs used for catching runaway slaves were collectively called 'bloodhounds,' and this term was used before the current 'Bloodhound' breed existed, which is totally unrelated. Back then, these dogs were called St Huberts hounds of Belgium and France, and it was only later that St Huberts Hound took on the 'Bloodhound' title.

Bloodhounds: Man-Hunting Dogs

The Bloodhound was a notorious type of man-hunting dog that was employed in the colonial empires for managing slaves and natives. It was a large, intimidating, and dangerous dog very similar to a boar hound but was blooded to target human beings instead. These dogs were found everywhere the Europeans colonized, with mentions of bloodhounds in the Deep South of the USA, throughout the Caribbean, and the Americas and South Asia. There were references to a 'Manila bloodhound' in 19th century literature, which further illustrates their widespread use.

Historical Breeding Practices

These bloodhounds were created by crossing bulldogs with large sighthounds, and in some cases, scent hounds as well. This breeding was similar to that of boarhounds historically. Sometimes, boar hounds and bloodhounds could come from the same litters, depending on how they were raised and what they were bred for to determine their classification.

Cultural Impact and Misconceptions

During the antebellum period in the southern United States, slave-hunting dogs were sometimes known as "old southern boarhounds," despite being slave hounds. The popularity of the anti-slavery play "Uncle Tom's Cabin" played a significant role in shaping public perception, fostering the civil war by showcasing slavery in a negative light. Crucial to the story was the most gripping scene where a slave named Eliza escaped from bloodhounds across the frozen Ohio River with a baby in her arms.

To maintain the mystique and excitement of the play, enterprising individuals imported Great Danes from Europe and called them "Siberian bloodhounds." This choice was not entirely boneheaded, as European boarhounds were bred similarly to bloodhounds and were a similar animal. Later, depictions began to depict bloodhounds as the new 'Bloodhound' that we know today, which were actually St Huberts Hounds. This portrayal did not do justice to the harrowing experience of being hunted by bloodhounds in the antebellum south, leading to a negative reputation for the St Huberts hound due to its association with the bloodhounds of the past.

The historical accounts of bloodhounds, slave catching dogs, and their impact on the lives of enslaved individuals are crucial to understanding the broader historical context of slavery and the colonial empires that imposed it. These dogs were not only tools of control but also carriers of the brutal legacy of systemic violence and oppression that defined the era.