HoundBelgium

Bloodhound

A detective wearing too much skin.

Weight: 80–110 lbs
Height: 23–27 in
Lifespan: 8–10 yrs

In short

The Bloodhound is a large scent hound descended from the St. Hubert hounds of medieval Belgium and refined in England to trail people and game, weighing 80–110 lbs and living about 8–10 years. Once on a scent it tunes out everything else, so walk it on leash or keep it behind a secure fence.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a gentle, affectionate giant
love long walks and want to try mantrailing
don't mind drool on walls and clothes

Think twice if you…

want reliable off-leash recall
have close neighbors who'd mind baying
want a long-lived dog

The daily plan

Exercise: 60–90 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 165–210 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityQuick study9.0/10

EnergyModerate5.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors9.5/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Long ears, loose skin
The ears and wrinkles are part of the scent machine, but they trap moisture and need regular cleaning.
02
Nose-first focus
A Bloodhound on a trail can follow it for miles and won't hear you call.
03
Drool and bay
Expect slobber on walls and a loud, deep bay that carries through neighborhoods.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	90–110 lbs	80–100 lbs
Height	25–27 in	23–25 in
Lifespan	8–10 yrs
Coat	Short, dense coat over loose, wrinkled skin

Side profile 23–27 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Bloodhounds are gentle, affectionate and remarkably stubborn. Indoors they are slow-moving and happy to lean on you. Outdoors their nose makes every decision.

With kids

Patient and gentle, though a clumsy puppy can knock over small kids.

With other pets

Generally easygoing with other dogs; usually fine with cats raised alongside them.

With strangers

Friendly or politely indifferent. They are not guard dogs, though the bay sounds fierce.

Alone time

Handle moderate alone time but howl and chew when bored or lonely.

Training

Bloodhounds are smart but independent, bred to make their own decisions on a trail. They learn best when training feels like a scent game.

How often

2–3 short sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Between 8 and 16 weeks, focus on handling of ears, mouth and feet, plus calm leash walking past interesting smells.
Self-control

Teach a strong 'leave it' and loose-leash walking early, before they are 100 lbs. Use a long line for outdoor practice, since off-leash recall is never reliable.
What it works for

Food drives them, so use small, high-value pieces and keep treats within 10% of daily calories. The best reward of all is a chance to trail a scent.

Exercise

Long, sniffy walks and tracking games suit them far better than running. They need steady daily activity to stay lean and calm.

Exercise a day 60–90 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Long leash walks with sniff time
Hiking on a long line
Mantrailing practice

Brain work

Mantrailing or tracking
Scent work with hidden treats
Snuffle mats and food puzzles

Best home

A house with a secure fence; apartments are hard because of size, drool and baying.

Watch for They are prone to bloat, so avoid hard exercise for an hour before and after meals and keep growing puppies off long runs.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Bloodhound (80–110 lbs) lands around 1,650–2,100 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 2,075–2,625 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 210–265 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 10–13 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 1,650–2,100 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 165–210 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 8–11 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 2,275–2,900 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 230–290 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 11–15 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 1,450–1,850 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 145–185 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 7–9 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	2,075–2,625 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	210–265 kcal	10–13 pieces
Adult Maintenance	1,650–2,100 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	165–210 kcal	8–11 pieces
Active / Working	2,275–2,900 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	230–290 kcal	11–15 pieces
Senior	1,450–1,850 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	145–185 kcal	7–9 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Bloodhounds have a short lifespan, with bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, eyelid problems and ear infections as the main issues. Learn the signs of bloat and ask your vet about a preventive gastropexy.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Elbow dysplasia	OFA elbow evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Eyelid problems (entropion, ectropion)	CAER eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist	Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Heart disease	Cardiac exam by a vet or cardiologist	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Bloodhound breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Hip evaluation
Elbow evaluation
Heart exam

Also recommended

Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Kneecap (patella) check
Hip evaluation (PennHIP)
Degenerative Myelopathy

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Moderate year-round with seasonal increases

Brush weekly with a rubber curry or hound mitt. Clean ears weekly and wipe wrinkles and lips daily to prevent infection. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks, brush teeth several times a week and keep a drool towel handy.

History

Middle Ages

St. Hubert's hounds

Monks at the abbey of St. Hubert in the Ardennes bred scent hounds that became the ancestors of the Bloodhound.
1300s–1800s

English development

The breed was refined in England, where it became known as the Bloodhound, meaning a hound of pure breeding.
1900s–today

Search and rescue

Bloodhounds became the classic trailing dog for police and search teams, and their trailing has been used as evidence in US courts.

Questions owners ask

Are Bloodhounds easy to train?

Not really. They are smart but stubborn and easily distracted by smells. Short, food-based sessions and scent games work best.

Are Bloodhounds good with kids and other pets?

Usually. They are gentle and tolerant, but their size and clumsiness can knock over small children. Most get along with other dogs.

How much exercise does a Bloodhound need?

Plan on 60–90 minutes a day, mostly long leash walks and scent work. Keep them on leash, because they follow their nose.

Do Bloodhounds shed?

Yes, moderately. Weekly brushing handles the coat, but ears, wrinkles and drool need daily attention.

What health problems do Bloodhounds have, and how long do they live?

They typically live 8–10 years. Bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, eyelid problems and ear infections are the main concerns.

Is a Bloodhound good for apartments or first-time owners?

No. Their size, drool, baying and stubbornness are a lot for apartments and new owners. They do best with a fenced yard and a patient owner.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Bloodhound needs only 8–11 pieces a day, well inside the 165–210 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Bloodhound ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.