Things to Know About Bloodhounds

Strong, sturdy and saggy, bloodhounds are the oldest breed of scent-hound around, dating back more than 1,000 years. They're best known for their scent-trailing ability, which is used by law enforcement and search-and-rescue teams to locate fleeing criminals and lost children. For the right owner, bloodhounds also make gentle, affectionate pets.

  1. Physical Characteristics

    • Bloodhounds have heavy, loose folds of skin around the face and neck.

      Bloodhounds are massive, powerful dogs. They weigh about 100 pounds and are heavily muscled. They have strong backs that enable them to hold their heads low to the ground for hours while tracking. The eyes are deep set and diamond-shaped due to the heavy upper lips that pull down and partially invert the lower eyelids. The coat can be black and tan, red or liver colored.

    Scent Trailing

    • Bloodhound tracking results are admissible in every U.S. court system.

      Bloodhounds are built for scent work. A bloodhound can follow a scent that is 100 hours old for 100 miles. They have long, low ears that drag on the ground and excessive, loose folds of skin around the head and neck. These features stir up scent particles from the ground and trap them near the dog's face. The dog's large black nose with open nostrils acts as a potent scent-particle vacuum, inhaling microscopic pieces of skin and hair shed by the person being trailed.

    Care

    • Bloodhounds require one to two hours of exercise per day to stay healthy and prevent behavior problems due to boredom and excess energy. Daily training is required if the dog will be doing scent work. Bloodhounds have short, smooth coats that are easy to groom. Bloodhounds are prone to bloat, a life-threatening condition that causes the stomach to twist and fill with gas. If not treated immediately, the dog will suffocate and die. Feeding twice per day and limiting exercise after meals helps prevent bloat. Bloodhounds are also prone to ear infections and hip dysplasia.

    Bloodhounds as Pets

    • Bloodhounds make wonderful pets for the right owner. Bloodhounds are gentle but stubborn dogs that require strong leadership. They're difficult to obedience train and are very distracted by scent. Once a bloodhound is on a scent trail, it's difficult to call it off. These dogs tend to drag their owners along on walks, following wherever their noses lead them. They also drool, howl and snore. According to the Dog Breed Info Center website, bloodhounds are suited to apartment-living because they tend to be inactive indoors; however, they need a yard and should be exercised often.