You rarely hear about bloodhound packs, because they are entirely uncontroversial. It's also a relatively new sport - there are barely a dozen packs in the UK. So this is something of a scoop!

Every Sunday, volunteer "quarries" pull on their trainers and run around 5km or so, following a route that has been pre-agreed with the landowners. Their mission is to outrun and outwit the bloodhounds, zig-zagging across the Hampshire countryside in order to throw them off the scent. It's rare that that they succeed. 

Bloodhounds are the undisputed kings of the scenting world. Their scenting abilities are so superior that they can distinguish between the scent of individual humans.

in this month's Dogs with Jobs, Kate Fairweather meets Jeremy Whaley, who is both senior joint Master and Huntsman of the South Downs Bloodhounds. He gives a rarely heard and remarkable insight into the working lives of his pack, which he started almost a decade ago.  

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Please get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you would be interested in being on the podcast at team@shineradio.uk or find us on facebook or instagram.  

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2022