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Bloodhound

independent / friendly / inquisitive
Hound Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

25-27 inches (male)

23-25 inches (female)

Weight

90-110 pounds (male)

80-100 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

10-12 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    100% 100%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    40% 40%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    100% 100%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    100% 100%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    40% 40%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    100% 100%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The renowned “Sleuth Hound” is known for doing one thing better than any other animal on earth: finding individuals who are missing or hiding. One of the most obedient dogs in the canine kingdom when not on duty, the Bloodhound is persistent and hard-headed while tracking down a scent.

The height at the shoulder of a bloodhound ranges from 23 to 27 inches, and they can weigh up to 110 pounds. Their long, wrinkly face with loose skin, enormous, drooping ears, and warm, deep-set eyes that complete a look of solemn majesty are their most recognizable features. The hue of the coat can be red, liver, or black and tan. Bloodhounds can scent over miles of difficult terrain thanks to their powerful legs. Bloodhounds enjoy company, especially that of other dogs, kids, and other pack members. They are laid-back, although occasionally their nose can get them into trouble. It’s advised to take them on long walks with a sturdy leash in areas where they can enjoy exploring on their own. Because bloodhounds slobber a lot, teaching them to be obedient can be difficult.

What To Expect When Caring For a Bloodhound

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Bloodhounds are susceptible to bloat, just like other big, deep-chested canines. Owners of Bloodhounds should educate themselves so they can identify the signs of this potentially fatal ailment and know what to do in such a situation. Bloodhounds are known for consuming anything and everything, which frequently results in appointments to the veterinarian. The low-hanging ears of the Bloodhound should be examined daily for any indication of an infection. Additionally, check the Bloodhound's wrinkled skin every day for odor or irritation; if necessary, wipe such areas with a warm, moist cloth and then completely dry them. A Bloodhound's teeth should be brushed frequently, as with all breeds.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Hip Evaluation
  • Elbow Evaluation
  • Cardiac Exam
 

Grooming

The short, dense coat of the Bloodhound is shed once or twice a year. The dead hair can be removed weekly by brushing it off with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming tool or mitt, or a hound glove. Additionally, brushing encourages the growth of new hair and helps to maintain a healthy coat by dispersing skin oils throughout. Bloodhounds should be bathed frequently to prevent the development of a canine smell. The Bloodhound's nails should be frequently clipped, as with all breeds.  

Exercise

It's a common myth that Bloodhounds lounge on the porch all day. The Bloodhound, which was developed to track a scent for extended periods of time, is actually an active dog that needs regular exercise. Long daily walks with a leash are in his best interest because, once he discovers a smell to follow, he might not listen to directions. The backyard can be used for additional exercise, but it must be completely fenced in because Bloodhounds are excellent escape artists and wonderful diggers.

Training

Puppy training sessions and early socialization are advised for all breeds. It's essential to start obedience training early with a Bloodhound because they have a tendency to develop lifelong habits. It's better if the habits they adopt are the ones their owner wants them to have. Because bloodhounds like to be in command, their owners must be firm yet kind. Positive reinforcement in the form of treats and praise is frequently useful during training. The Bloodhound takes patience, consistency, and expertise during training because he is affectionate and dedicated but also independent and stubborn.

Nutrition

The Bloodhound should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog's calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog's weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

History

Little is known about the Bloodhound’s ancestry, however, some authorities claim that the breed was prevalent in the ancient Mediterranean. The third-century philosopher Aelian describes a hound with unmatched scenting abilities in his “Historia Animalium,” noting that he was so obsessively committed to his task that no one could sway him from it until his prey was located. The Bloodhound, therefore, is said to be the earliest existing canine that hunts by scent, and it helped shape later hound breeds like the Black and Tan Coonhound and other coonhound variants.

Western Europe is where bloodhounds were developed into what we know today. Leaders in the pre-Reformation church deserve praise for the breed’s careful development. Many notable lords of the church kept packs of hounds on the grounds of the well-funded monasteries of England and France throughout the Middle Ages when even bishops rode to hounds. The monks tasked with carrying out the bishop’s breeding program were so meticulous that their hounds earned the moniker “blooded hounds”—”blooded” denoting “aristocratic blood.”

Since then, the aristocratic Bloodhound has gained a reputation as an unrivaled man-trailer. These powerful, unwavering hounds have been utilized by police forces around the world to track down people who may be criminals, children who have gone missing, or elderly people who are disoriented. Even if a task requires working across hills and marshes all day and night, bloodhounds won’t give up until they have followed the track to its conclusion. No scenting instrument has yet been created that is as accurate as the Bloodhound nose, even in these high-tech times.