To get the blood out of the fur I always soaked the hide in water and washed it out either before I salted it or right before I tanned it. I don't think you should soak the hide before tanning if you are using the saddle soap meathod since the oils must permeate the hide and a water soaked hide would make the oils harder to work in.

Make sure you don't use iodized salt when salting, the iodine will make the hair shed off the hide.