Bloodhound Dog Breed Information - Purina

Skip to main content

1. Home
2. Find a Pet
3. Dog Breed Library
4. Bloodhound

Bloodhound

Easily recognisable because of their noble, wrinkly heads, droopy lower eyelids and long, pendulous ears, Bloodhound’s have powerful bodies and limbs, and are truly big dogs!

Lifespan 10–12 years Weight 41–50kg Height 58–69cm Colours Their short, smooth coat comes in black and tan, liver and tan, and red Size Large Kennel Club group Hound Everything you need to know about Bloodhound

• Dogs suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Potential health risks
• Enjoys vigorous walks
• Enjoys more than two hours of walking a day

• Large dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual

• Generally friendly with other dogs
• May need additional training to live with other pets
• May need additional supervision to live with children
• Needs a large garden
• Can live in semi-rural areas

• Cannot be left alone
This breed has a higher risk of heath issues

Bloodhounds are prone to: - Skin infections, as they have a large amount of skin compared to their body size. This results in skin folds where infection can develop.- Hip dysplasia - Elbow dysplasia - Gastric dilatation volvulus - Ear infections Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing: - Hips dysplasia screening scheme - Elbow dysplasia screening scheme - Eye screening scheme

Previous Next
1 of 1

Bloodhound Personality

These are gentle-natured, affectionate dogs who usually get on well with children and can live in harmony with other dogs and household pets. They are friendly dogs who will welcome both wanted and unwanted visitors. Although quiet in the house, they can be very vocal outdoors. They are family dogs and do not like to be left alone.

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	5/5
Exercise needs:	5/5
Easy to train:	3/5
Tolerates being alone:	2/5
Likes other pets:	5/5
Energy level:	5/5
Grooming needs:	3/5
Shedding:	4/5

History and Origins

The ancestry of modern Bloodhound dog breeds can be traced back to the monastery of St. Huberts where dogs called St. Hubert’s Hounds were originally used to track wolves, big cats or deer, or to follow the trail of wounded game. The pale white versions of the breeds went on to be known as the Talbot Hound whereas the black and tans were called Bloodhounds.

The Bloodhound was brought to Britain by William the Conqueror and it was used for stag-hunting - following a wounded animal sometimes for amazingly long distances.

The scenting ability of the Bloodhound is extraordinary and they can easily track a human over long distances even after several days – and so while their original role was to help with hunting, they have found also work in law enforcement and in search and rescue.

Ideal Owner

You’ll need to be impervious to drool, understand scenthounds and have prior experience, and ideally own several other scenthounds, preferably Bloodhounds. The Bloodhound generally can’t be left alone and so suits someone working with scenthounds full-time. They require hours of steady exercise, in almost any weather and live to follow a scent to the ends of the earth.

Exercise Needs

As adults, the Bloodhound has phenomenal stamina and needs two-plus hours daily - but this needs to be sniffing exercise and not just mindless walking. Primarily tracking dogs, once on the trail of an enticing smell, they will be desperate to find its source!

Because of their size and growth rate, they must not be over-exercised as puppies. Care must be taken in the first year to ensure their bones and joints are given a proper chance to grow.

Space Requirements

This is a big dog who needs a lot of countryside to sniff in! They will appreciate a big garden too - and you can use this for scent games at home.

Nutrition and Feeding

Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. The Bloodhound is prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk.

Grooming Bloodhounds

There is little grooming needed for this breed, as the coat is short and smooth. A brush over once in a while will suffice to remove loose and dead hairs. However, regular checks should be made of their ears and eyes to ensure early diagnosis of any infections.

Training Bloodhounds

The Bloodhound has little to no interest in any form of training that doesn’t involve using their nose! While they should be trained to walk (run!) on a harness and lead, finding a class where you can learn scentwork and sniffing games can give your Bloodhound an outlet for using their extraordinary nose and will keep them healthy and happy.

Suitability for Family Life

The Bloodhound makes a great dog for families as they are gentle and patient. They may be too big and slightly clumsy for smaller children however.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

Previous Next
1 of 1

Bloodhound Fun Facts

• When James Earl Ray, the murderer of Martin Luther King, escaped from prison in 1977, he was only recaptured thanks to a pack of Bloodhounds who tracked him down several days later in the mountains of Tennessee.
• One of the most successful Bloodhounds who was responsible for tracking escaped criminals in Kentucky recaptured over 600 fugitives. In one notable case, the trail ran for 138 miles and was 104 hours old.
• Such is the regard for their scenting abilities, in many states of the US, a Bloodhound’s evidence in court cannot be challenged.

Similar breeds to Bloodhound:

English Foxhound Beagle Otterhound All Dog breeds

Oops!

It looks like something is wrong. Please try again or come back a little later.

Try again Maybe later

Thinking about getting a puppy?

Join Growing Pup for help from our Purina experts on how to find the right puppy & prepare for your new arrival. And when you find your new pup, tell us a bit more about them to get a discount off one of our puppy ranges and regular personalised puppy advice.

Thank you!

Thanks for joining Growing Pup. You'll receive your first expert tips on getting a puppy within the next day, so keep a look out in your inbox!

First Name Last Name Email Address

By registering you consent for Nestlé Purina Petcare UK&I and its Affiliates to process your personal data. You will receive communications from Purina® UK&I. You are over 18 years old and can update your communication preferences or unsubscribe at any time. View our Privacy Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Find the Pawfect Name Try our new dog name generator to find a great name, from the UK's most popular ones, names for small dogs, big dogs, or something unusual - we've got the one for you! Let's go!

Found your perfect breed?

Have a read through these articles selected by our in-house vet. 1 Puppy Buying Guide: Finding the Right Breeder 13 min read 2 How Much Does a Puppy Cost? All You Need to Know 8 min read 3 Big Life Changes to Expect and the Benefits of Having a Dog 6 min read 4 Getting a New Dog: 13 Questions To Choosing the Right Dog 10 min read 5 My Kids Want a Dog: Is Getting a Dog a Good Idea? 2 min read 6 Adopting a Dog or Puppy 8 min read All puppy articles dog

Personalised pet advice straight to your inbox

Join 8,780 owners subscribed to our free newsletters

Sign up

Quizzes, competitions & games

Exclusive discounts and offers

Tailored advice for your pet

Sign up

Personalised puppy advice straight to your inbox

Our free newsletter programme, written by a behavourist.

Sign up

Quizzes, competitions & games

Exclusive discounts and offers

Tailored advice for your pet

Sign up

Personalised kitten advice straight to your inbox

Our free newsletter programme, written by a behavourist.

Sign up

Quizzes, competitions & games

Exclusive discounts and offers

Tailored advice for your pet

Sign up