Bloodhound

Temperament

The Bloodhound is a gentle, good-natured giant that rarely shows aggression. It likes people, usually gets along well with children and other dogs, and greets strangers with curious sniffing rather than barking. Once it catches a scent, though, the rest of the world ceases to exist: it can follow a trail for miles without responding to calls. This independence and stubbornness mean that training takes patience and good motivation, ideally food or scent work. The Bloodhound has a loud, deep voice and may bay out of boredom or loneliness. It stays a puppy for a long time: young dogs are clumsy, curious and will eat almost anything they find on the floor. Guarding the house is not in its nature; it may bark, but then it will welcome the intruder with a wagging tail.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Bloodhound for?

The Bloodhound suits active people with a house and yard who want to do mantrailing or long hikes with their dog and do not mind drool on the walls or their pants. It does well in a family with older children. Do not choose it for an apartment if you value peace, quiet and tidiness, do not have time for long daily walks, or expect an obedient dog and a guardian.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Bloodhound needs plenty of exercise: the Kennel Club recommends more than two hours a day, ideally as long walks with time to sniff. The perfect activity is mantrailing, tracking a specific person, which satisfies its natural needs. In open country a Bloodhound should be on a long line, because once it picks up a trail it can disappear. The yard must be securely fenced. The short coat only needs a weekly once-over with a grooming mitt, but caring for the head takes time: the long ears and facial folds need regular wiping and drying, and drool has to be toweled off several times a day. Feed several smaller meals a day, slow down gulping and avoid exercise before and after meals. Also make sure socks, children's toys and stones are never within the dog's reach.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Bloodhound lives shorter than most dogs its size: the AKC gives 10–12 years, and in a British study the median was only 9.3 years. The US breed club warns in particular about bloat and stomach torsion, which need immediate help, and about swallowing objects, from stones to socks. Recommended tests for breeding dogs are hip and elbow X-rays and a heart exam. The UK Kennel Club highlights problems caused by conformation: loose skin on the head and heavy eyelids predispose to eyelid defects and eye irritation, so it recommends eye exams. The FCI standard, however, calls for a soundly built dog and warns against exaggeration. Choose a breeder who favors dogs with a moderate amount of skin.

• bloat (GDV)The breed club stresses that Bloodhounds are prone to bloat and stomach torsion, a life-threatening emergency.
• swallowing foreign objectsBloodhounds are notorious for swallowing stones, socks and other objects, which risks intestinal blockage.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaThe breed club recommends hip and elbow X-rays for breeding dogs.
• eyelid and eye problemsLoose skin on the head predisposes to eyelid defects; the Kennel Club recommends eye exams and flags conformation concerns.
• ear and skin-fold infectionsThe long ears and facial folds need regular checking and cleaning.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, the breed descends from hounds kept by the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hubert in the Belgian Ardennes. Their ancestors are said to have been the black or black-and-tan hounds that Hubert, a monk who later became a bishop and the patron saint of hunters, hunted with in the 7th century. St. Hubert hounds were famous for their stamina and were used to hunt wild boar. In the 11th century William the Conqueror brought them to England, where they gave rise to the Bloodhound. The name does not refer to the blood of game but to "pure blood", meaning purity of breeding. The breed was later developed in the United States as well, where Bloodhounds still track people for police and rescue services.

Fun facts

• The name "bloodhound" means a dog of "pure blood", not a dog that tracks blood.
• According to the FCI standard, a male may stand 68 cm tall, give or take 4 cm.
• The Talbots, all-white hounds brought to England, date from the same era as the first Bloodhounds.
• The AKC gives the Bloodhound top ratings for both drooling and barking.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Hunting dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 84 – Bloodhound / Chien de Saint-Hubert (PDF)fci.be
2. 2AKC – Bloodhoundakc.org
3. 3Royal Kennel Club – Bloodhoundroyalkennelclub.com
4. 4McMillan et al. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds (Scientific Reports)nature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.