Bloodhound: Your Complete Guide
Bloodhounds are excellent canine companions that have been around for centuries. Despite their scary name, bloodhounds make great companies and working dogs. They excel at hunting, tracking, and keeping their companions safe. Plus, they have a calm temperament and adapt well to family life, strangers, and even other animals.
However, bloodhounds do have a prey drive and may require specific training for the best handling, so it’s important to learn everything you can about this famous breed before you consider adopting.
The good news is that you’re in the right place. If you want to learn everything you can about bloodhounds, we have you covered. Read on to discover their history, temperament, care requirements, grooming needs, and much more.
Quick Look at the Bloodhound
Below is a quick glance at the bloodhound breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 23-27 inches, 80-110 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short, soft, wrinkly |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Loyal, alert, friendly, calm |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
What Is the History of Bloodhounds?
Bloodhounds have been around for centuries. According to most sources, the bloodhound likely originated from the St. Hubert Hound that came to be in the year 1,000. These dogs came from a monastery in Belgium, and they were the ancestors of many modern bloodhounds and hounds that you see today. That said, you can trade their bloodline back even further as the St. Hubert Hound likely came from early hounds like the Norman hound, Artois Normande, and other now-extinct dog breeds.
As for when the first bloodhounds came to be, historians seem to start referencing them in the 14th century. However, the breed seems to have been established and owned by many people by then, so it’s likely that they came to be during the 12th and 13th centuries. These dogs became popular due to their ability to track and hunt based on scent, hence the name bloodhound. In fact, bloodhounds had a good enough nose to track people and were often used for this.
In more recent history, the bloodhound was brought to America for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show by Edwin Brough. Once Americans caught a glimpse of this breed, they quickly became popular, and their numbers started to grow due to their usefulness. In the US, bloodhounds are frequently used to track people who have gone missing, criminals, and even escaped convicts. In fact, bloodhound numbers are greatest in the United States, so if you’re an American, there’s a great chance you can find one for adoption.
What Do Bloodhounds Look Like?
Bloodhounds have a unique appearance compared to most dog breeds due to their droopy features; it almost seems like their face is sagging at all times. This includes their long, floppy ears, jowls, and even the wrinkles around their eyes. Despite their droopy faces, the hair on the rest of their body is short, firm, and even soft. Bloodhounds tend to be a mix of brown and black, but fawn, red, and other colors can also appear in their coats.
When it comes to their size, bloodhounds are medium-sized dogs. They’re muscular, strong, and look fierce when they’re running at full speeds. They have thin tails, long legs, and sometimes even a stocky body.
What Size Is a Bloodhound?
Bloodhounds are medium to large dogs. While they’re not as tall as some larger breeds, they tend to have stocky builds and can weigh more than 100 pounds. The average male bloodhound can be 25-27 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 90-110 pounds.
On the other hand, the average female bloodhound can weigh close to 100 pounds and stand at 23-25 inches at the shoulder. Therefore, there is a slight variation in size between male and female bloodhounds.
What Is a Bloodhound’s Coat Type and Length?
Bloodhounds have a short and dense coat. It hugs their body and functions as a protective layer for their skin. Their coat tends to consist of fur instead of hair, and it’s thick and soft. While they might not look friendly, their soft coat and calm demeanor makes them great snugglers. When it comes to how their fur sits, it’s usually straight without any curls.
What Is a Bloodhound’s Temperament?
Bloodhounds have a calm temperament in most situations. While they have a lot of energy, they’re not rebellious, spiteful, or overbearing. Instead, you’ll find that bloodhounds are relaxed unless they’re playing, working, or looking for something. Bloodhounds are also affectionate and will be kind and gentle with members of the family.
That said, it’s important to note that bloodhounds can sometimes be stubborn. If you don’t engage with them often or focus on the right training, bloodhounds can become reluctant to listen or engage with you. Thankfully, this behavior can be corrected.
Are Bloodhounds Good With Kids?
Bloodhounds are great with children. They have enough energy to play with kids and tire them out, so bloodhounds can help you get some sleep at night. Additionally, bloodhounds are massive, so it’s unlikely that your child can harm them. Bloodhounds are also calm and unlikely to lash out or get aggressive with members of the family. Still, you should always monitor your child if they’re playing with a bloodhound due to their size because accidents can happen.
Are Bloodhounds Good With Other Animals?
Bloodhounds are great with other animals. Once they’re adapted to the family, they won’t have any problems with other animals. That said, socialization from a young age is important because bloodhounds can have a prey drive. This can result in bloodhounds chasing smaller animals or barking at other animals outside. Thankfully, training and socializing your bloodhound can resolve this problem.
Are Bloodhounds Aggressive?
Bloodhounds aren’t aggressive dogs. Most bloodhounds tend to relax and remain calm in most situations. The only time they’ll get aggressive is if they feel threatened. Otherwise, bloodhounds are pretty tame dogs.
Do Bloodhounds Bark?
Bloodhounds do love to do some barking. Their bark is loud and more like a howl, so this is something you’ll have to get used to if you plan on adopting one. Bloodhounds will bark to communicate with you, other dogs, and even other animals.
Additionally, bloodhounds might bark at strangers and other animals, which can alert you to danger or prey if you’re hunting. Due to the loudness of their bark, if you live in shared housing, a bloodhound probably isn’t the best choice. If you’re ever worried about bloodhounds barking too much, you can always train them to end excessive barking.
Are Bloodhounds Affectionate?
Bloodhounds can be affectionate dogs. However, they’re not the most affectionate dogs around and may show their affection in ways you’re not used to. For example, they may prefer bonding through training, hunting, and playing. That said, some bloodhounds may feel like giant lap dogs, and they may try to sit in your lap or jump into your bed.
Are Bloodhounds Intelligent?
Bloodhounds are one of the more intelligent breeds that you’ll come across. Their intelligence is above average compared to most dogs, and they can learn dozens of complex commands. This makes bloodhounds suitable for most types of working roles, including service dog work. Their high intelligence is also why you’ll see them working alongside the police or military during tracking missions.
Are Bloodhounds Energetic?
Many big dogs are known for being lazy, but this isn’t the case with bloodhounds. These dogs were bred to track scents for many hours per day and even for consecutive days. Therefore, if they’re not going on walks often or getting enough stimulation, it may seem like they’re limitless balls of energy.
For this reason, it’s important to take your dog on long walks, runs, or hikes to tire them out. If you have a lot of space, you can also tire them out by playing games like fetch. Training for more active roles can also help you expend some of their energy.
Are Bloodhounds Easy to Train?
Bloodhounds are easy dogs to train. They’re one of the more trainable breeds out there, and they have the mental capacity to handle most complex tasks. This is why you’ll see many bloodhounds working alongside police forces in investigations.
Bloodhounds are also easy to train if you have them as a family pet. Make sure you start by building a foundation through basic obedience training with positive reinforcement. Then, you can train them to learn complex commands or even for agility events.
Bloodhounds also benefit from mental stimulation due to their high energy reserves. Therefore, training them throughout their life is important. Off-leash, tracking, and other work-related training routines can help in these areas.
Are Bloodhounds Good Watchdogs?
Bloodhounds can be good watchdogs. They tend not to bark unless they’re in danger, and their bark is loud enough to get your attention if something is wrong. Due to their high intelligence, you can also train them to protect or patrol certain areas. Bloodhounds are also loyal and brave, so they have no problem protecting families if something bad is happening.
While they’re not known for being the best guard dogs, they will keep your home safe, and their bark is loud and deep enough to deter intruders. Plus, they’re big enough to do some damage and scare people away.
Are Bloodhounds Good Service Dogs?
Bloodhounds can be good service dogs, but this isn’t something that they’re often trained to do. Also, the type of service these dogs can help with may not be what you’re thinking when considering a service dog. For example, bloodhounds are usually used as guide dogs or alongside police forces and militaries due to their ability to track scents. In fact, they have 40 times more scent receptors than humans, so it’s easy for them to track down just about anything.
While they’re often used for military or police work, that doesn’t mean bloodhounds can’t be trained for other types of service dog work. Due to their above-average intelligence and calm temperament, they have no problem going through other types of service dog training, such as training to help them detect allergens. Their large size also makes them great for people who have physical disabilities. For example, they can pull wheelchairs, open doors, and guide people through crowds.
Psychiatric service dog work isn’t off the table, but it’s not their strong suit. However, they’re smart enough to be trained to apply deep pressure therapy if it’s necessary. Bloodhounds can also be emotional support dogs and therapy dogs, but only if there is enough space for them to get around. For example, you don’t want a bloodhound emotional support dog cooped up in a tiny apartment.
How to Care for a Bloodhound?
It’s not hard to care for a bloodhound, at least not harder than other dog breeds. The only challenge you’ll face is their daily grooming needs, which include cleaning up drool and wiping their eyes if they have persistent mucus in that area. Otherwise, weekly brushing, exercise, and a healthy diet are all you have to worry about – aside from their annual veterinary checkup.
Do You Need to Groom a Bloodhound?
Bloodhounds aren’t the most high-maintenance dogs around, but you still have to groom them. You need to brush their teeth weekly, brush their coat a few times per week with a bristle brush, and make sure their nails remain at an appropriate length. Bloodhounds also have a lot of skin folds, so check them weekly for rashes, irritation, or infections.
Bloodhounds also need some daily care as well due to their jowls and sensitive eyes. You may have to wipe their eyes and mouth if there is excessive buildup in these areas and brush their coat if you notice knotting. We recommend seeing a professional groomer monthly if you can’t keep up with their grooming needs.
Do Bloodhounds Shed?
Bloodhounds shed about as much as your average dog. That said, their coat is short and dense, so you may not notice until the hair starts to accumulate around your home. Their shedding can be managed with brushing during seasonal changes to reduce the amount of hair around your home; a bristle brush is your best friend during shedding seasons.
What Health Problems Do Bloodhounds Have?
Unfortunately, all purebred dogs are at risk of developing health problems. The good news is that bloodhounds are only susceptible to a few genetic conditions. Conditions you have to worry about include elbow and hip dysplasia, heart problems, eye problems, and weight issues as they get older.
Hip and elbow dysplasia start at a young age, so it’s something you’ll know once they’re a puppy. Always consult with your breeder or adoption agency to ensure that the bloodhound you’re adopting doesn’t have this condition. If you have a bloodhound that has this condition, make sure you consult with a vet about how to properly care for them.
When it comes to obesity and heart issues, these tend to develop later in life and are common in larger dog breeds. Adjust their diet and exercise later in life to avoid these health problems. Eye problems like persistent pupillary membranes and cataracts can also develop throughout their lives, but they’re not fatal, so consult with a vet about how to manage them.
How Long Do Bloodhounds Live?
While we wish that all of our canine companions could stay with us forever, unfortunately, that’s not the case. Thankfully, bloodhounds live longer than most large dog breeds, so they can join you for 10-12 years.
While they might only be a piece of your life, you’re their whole life, so make sure you care for them properly. In fact, making sure they stay happy and healthy can prolong their life well beyond the average.
What Should a Bloodhound Eat?
Bloodhounds can eat just about anything, including home-cooked, dog-friendly meals, wet food, and most types of kibble. If you go the kibble and wet food route, make sure you choose high-quality food options that are formulated for large dogs; it will say this on the bag or can. However, if you go the home-cooked route, you’ll want to make sure you include proteins like lamb, duck, beef, and chicken in addition to getting a diet approved by your veterinarian.
Is a Bloodhound the Right Dog for Me?
Bloodhounds are excellent companions that don’t usually have health problems. While they’re loyal and affectionate dogs, it’s important that you have to have the space and funds to care for them properly.
These dogs don’t do well in small apartments and tend to eat a lot of food, which should be high-quality, so keep this in mind before you adopt. That said, if you do meet these requirements, bloodhounds are exceptional family pets. They tolerate children, other animals, and even most types of training.