Breed Profile: Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is well known throughout the world as a great scent and tracking dog. It is a member of the hound group and is considered a large dog. They have deep set eyes and droopy skin giving this breed an almost mournful look. We associate these dogs with Scotland Yard, or search and rescue groups. This profile will give you better insight and understanding of Bloodhounds.

Physical Description of the Bloodhound:

Height: 24-26 inches

Weight: 85-105 pounds

Life Expectancy: between 10 and 12 years

The Bloodhound is a very powerful breed with an extraordinarily strong back. They are perfectly comfortable working long hours with heavy loads. Bloodhounds have a very short coat and it is easy to care for. They need to be brushed once per day to get rid of loose hairs and keep their coat healthy! The color of a Bloodhound’s coat can be any of the following: black & tan, liver & tan, or tawny & red.

Personality of the Bloodhound:

They are very affectionate and loving dogs and enjoy the company of people. You can trust your Bloodhound around small children as this breed generally just lie still while the children crawl all over them. They become very close with their families and, depending on the individual dog’s personality, will greet familiar and unfamiliar guests happily. Bloodhounds tend to howl, snore, and drool - so be aware of this! When outdoors, this breed is incredibly energetic and will often follow his nose on interesting scent trails.

Exercising Your Bloodhound:

Bloodhounds need to be taken on long daily walks. Be warned, if they find a scent that is interesting, they will follow it and may completely ignore you. They are able to walk for hours on end, so be prepared when you take your Bloodhound out for a walk! If you live in the mountains or in the country, I recommend taking your Bloodhound hiking with you - just remember he will investigate any and all scents that are interesting to him so be patient!!

Living Requirements for Your Bloodhound:

I advise against owning a Bloodhound if you have an apartment. This is a large dog and can quickly run out of room. Also, keep in mind Bloodhounds may howl and your neighbors may not appreciate it. It is much better to have a house with a medium-large sized back yard. This gives him plenty of room to investigate scents on his own.

Common Health Issues of Bloodhounds:

As with all large dogs, Bloodhounds are prone to bloat and you should avoid overfeeding and exercising after meals to decrease the risk. Ear infections are also somewhat common in this breed due to the long ears. You should clean his ears out daily and have your vet check them during your regular visits. Another issues common to Bloodhounds is entropion which is a condition in where the eyelids turn inward.

If you have cute Bloodhound pictures you would like to see added to this post, please send them to: dsheffler@petstrong.com

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!