Bloodhound: temperament, size, care and health

About the Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is a big, heavy-boned scent hound with a wrinkled brow, long drooping ears, deep-set eyes and loose skin around the neck, known as the dewlap. Males stand around twenty-five to twenty-seven inches tall, and the body is deep, strong and slightly longer than it is tall. The coat is short and comes in black and tan, liver and tan, or red.

The breed is known above all for its nose. No other dog has more scent receptors packed into a head so well suited to following a ground trail. Bloodhounds follow a track that is many hours or even days old and can follow it for long distances. Police and search-and-rescue teams still use them to find missing people, and the evidence of a trail has been accepted in some courts. At home the Bloodhound is a mild, affectionate dog with a deep and far-carrying voice.

Temperament and family life

Bloodhounds are gentle, sociable and sometimes comical. They are patient with children, but their size and clumsy enthusiasm mean small children can be knocked over. They typically welcome strangers and make poor guard dogs. They get along with other dogs and are often at their best in a pack.

The breed can be sensitive to harsh handling and may sulk or ignore a person who raises a voice. It is also stubborn, and when its nose finds a trail, nothing else matters. Some Bloodhounds are bothered by being left alone and will bay or become destructive. Cats are usually tolerated if the dog grew up with them.

Exercise and training

A Bloodhound needs a good daily walk, but the pace is set by the nose. Long walks on a leash with plenty of sniffing please the dog far more than a short jog. A secure fence is essential, with a high top and a solid base, since the dog will follow a scent for miles and ignore a recall. Scent trials, tracking and trailing give the breed a real job and tire it out in a way that exercise alone does not.

Training takes patience and a sense of humor. The dog is smart but independent, and it learns best through food rewards and short, varied lessons. Recall can never be fully trusted. Young dogs are slow to mature and may remain puppyish for two or three years. Without activity the Bloodhound becomes overweight and loud.

Grooming and shedding

The coat is simple to keep, with a weekly brushing and an occasional bath. Shedding is moderate and constant. The real work lies in the face and ears: the skin folds need wiping and drying, because dirt and moisture collect there and can lead to sores. The long ears drag in food and water and need frequent cleaning.

Drool is a fact of life, flung from the jowls when the dog shakes its head. Keep a towel handy. Nails should be trimmed regularly, and the dog's skin and eyes checked for irritation.

Health

The Bloodhound is a large, deep-chested breed with a shorter lifespan than most dogs, often seven to ten years. Bloat, a sudden and dangerous swelling and twisting of the stomach, is a significant risk and an emergency. Other concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, ear and skin fold infections, droopy eyelids that irritate the eye, and certain cancers. Breeders usually test hips and elbows and may screen eyes and hearts. Treat this as general information on the Bloodhound, and take questions about an individual dog to a veterinarian.

History

The Bloodhound is generally traced to medieval Europe; legend credits the monks of the Saint-Hubert monastery in Belgium with first breeding the St. Hubert hound around the year 1000, though whether the Bloodhound is British or Belgian in origin cannot be proved. The breed was long regarded as English. Better-bred Bloodhounds were imported to the United States from Britain in the later nineteenth century, and the breed has been used in American law enforcement since.

Is the Bloodhound right for you?

A Bloodhound suits a patient owner with a large, well-fenced property, tolerance for drool and noise, and an interest in tracking. It is a poor match for apartment dwellers, for anyone wanting a quick learner, or for a house-proud person.

If you want a smaller scent hound with a similar face, compare the Basset Hound. Coonhounds such as the Black and Tan Coonhound share the nose with a less wrinkled look.