Bloodhound
A large, gentle scent hound with a legendary nose, loose skin and a patient, affectionate nature.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 64–72 cm · Females 58–66 cm
- Weight
- Males 41–50 kg · Females 36–45 kg
- Life expectancy
- 9–12 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Black and tan, Liver, Red
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Rescue work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Belgium
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 84 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want to try mantrailing or tracking
- like gentle, affectionate big dogs
- can cope with drool and baying
Think twice if you …
- want a tidy, quiet house
- need a dog that is safe off lead
- cannot handle a heavy, strong puller
Care
Temperament
Gentle, affectionate and patient with people, independent and absorbed when trailing scent.
Exercise
Needs about an hour or two of daily walking; mantrailing is the ideal sport.
Grooming
A weekly brush plus regular cleaning of ears, wrinkles and jowls; expect drool.
Training
Kind but stubborn; motivational, food-based training and mantrailing work best, with lots of patience.
Health
Bloodhounds are prone to bloat (gastric torsion), eyelid problems such as entropion and ectropion, hip and elbow dysplasia, and ear and skin-fold infections. Breeding dogs are usually hip, elbow and eye checked, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Bloodhound descends from hounds kept by the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hubert in the Ardennes, which is why the breed is under Belgian patronage and called Chien de Saint-Hubert in French. It was later developed further in Britain, and today it is famous for trailing people as well as game.
It is a big, loose-skinned dog with long ears and a mournful expression. At home it is affectionate and gentle, though clumsy as a youngster. It drools, bays and follows its nose wherever it leads, so it needs a secure garden, a lead on walks and owners who do not mind some mess.
Did you know?
In French the breed is called Chien de Saint-Hubert, after the Belgian abbey where its ancestors were bred.