Bloodhound

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Bloodhound

Bloodhound Characteristics

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Good With Dogs:
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Bloodhound Breed Information

Breed Group: Hound

Weight: Male: 90-110; Female: 80-100 lbs

Height: Male: 25-27; Female: 23-25 inches

Color(s): black and tan, liver and tan, and red

APRI Bloodhound Puppy for Adoption

Bloodhound

$500.00

Knight'n'Troll's Sleuthhounds

Bloodhound

$750.00

CH French Imported (Lillith) Ch Ar Brightons

Bloodhound

$800.00

Overview

The Bloodhound is one of the oldest breeds to date. Where this breed originated is unknown, however it was perfected by monks in Belgium. This breed was then brought by the Normans into England and into the United States. The Bloodhound is a hunter, however loves tracking most. This is a scent hound and loses interest in whatever he is doing quickly. This breed is commonly used as both companion and tracker, tracking down game, criminals, and lost children.

Character

The Bloodhound is shy, placid, however can be sociable if given the time to warm up. This breed can be wary of strangers, but should never show aggressive tendencies. The Bloodhound can be very sensitive to the tone of ones voice making him rather difficult to train, however he is very eager to please his master and does extremely well. This breed tends to wail at the scent of something strange, however does not bark as many other hounds do.

Temperament

Bloodhounds are very gentle, loving, and have a very sweet disposition. However, he can be very shy and reserved so proper socialization at puppyhood is definitely necessary. This breed should not be trusted around small animals, however can do very well with other dogs if trained and socialized properly. The Bloodhound does remarkably well around children and can be very tolerant, however the ears of this breed are sensitive so supervision is necessary.

Care

The Bloodhound doesn't require much grooming coat wise, however under the folds of skin should be cleaned regularly to avoid itchy or dry skin. A quick and regular brushing should be performed to remove any dead or loose hair, as this breed can seasonally be a very heavy shedder. The Bloodhound has very long and droopy ears, which should be cleaned regularly to avoid any painful and/or infected ears.

Coat

The Bloodhound has a very short, and hard coat that should cover the entire body and should be close lying. The hair should be softer on the head and ears while the remaining hair should be harsh and coarse. This breed requires little grooming, however the ears should be cleaned regularly to prevent any problems that could arise.

Training

The Bloodhound is extremely intelligent and eager to please his owner however can be very stubborn making training a definite task. Gentle handling and speaking is a must as this breed can be very sensitive, but consistency is also necessary if this breed is to thrive and learn. Bloodhounds can be very slow to house train and train period, however if proper training exercises are followed on a regular basis, this breed should excel and become a wonderful family and/or hunting companion.

Activity

The Bloodhound needs regular opportunities to romp and play, preferably in a large fenced in area. The Bloodhound has the tendency to overeat so regular exercise is a must if this breed is to stay healthy and active. At least 90 minutes per day is required to keep this dog healthy, happy, and in shape. Bloodhounds do best with acreage and a large area to roam in however can do well if they have an owner that has a regular exercise regimen.

Ask a Question Bloodhound Questions & Answers

QUESTION: My 5 month old bloodhound (Female) weighs about 40lbs. i feel that she is a bit skinny for her age. Or is this a normal weight for a 5 mo old? i feed her iams large breed puppy food, 4 cups daily (2 morning, 2 in the evening). Should i switch her food to bulk her up?

Anonymous - 1/29/2012 11:40:25 AM

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QUESTION: We just bought our kids a Bloodhound puppy for Christmas, my question is are they really bad chewers like most other puppies?

Anonymous - 12/14/2011 12:06:57 PM

Respond to Question

My Bloodhound's ate two couches as well!!

Anonymous - 1/19/2012 7:37:28 PM

Bloodhound's are probably worse than most puppies. A blood hound will try to eat almost anything and everything. It is very important that you establish boundaries for your new pup and keep plenty of chews and chew toys around.

Anonymous - 1/18/2012 4:54:01 PM

Bloodhound's love to chew - be prepared to buy plenty of rawhide---mine is over a year and loves to chew and eat--bottomless pit!!!

Anonymous - 1/18/2012 4:36:47 PM

My bloodhound ate the couch...twice.

Anonymous - 12/28/2011 11:38:15 AM

QUESTION: Can purebred Bloodhounds have any white markings on them?

Anonymous - 12/14/2011 1:38:54 AM

Respond to Question

White on the chest and feet are acceptable by AKC standard.

Anonymous - 1/18/2012 4:54:57 PM

All my pure bred bloodhounds have a white patch on their chest.

Anonymous - 1/6/2012 2:59:17 PM

QUESTION: I just adopted a 1 yr old Bloodhound and am having a problem with him jumping a 4ft fenced in yard. There are 3 other dogs on the property so he has plenty to do---I am going to get him neutered will this stop him from wanting to wander? Thank You

Anonymous - 12/9/2011 7:38:32 AM

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I disagree with the other answer. NO this will not keep him from wandering. No other dog has a sense of smell like the bloodhound and he was bred to use it. I have three and two of them are classic escape artists. I would stronly suggest a taller fence, mine is 5.5' and this seems to do the trick.

Anonymous - 1/18/2012 4:59:18 PM

Yes, your Bloodhound will stay home when you get him neutered.

Anonymous - 12/30/2011 12:50:35 AM

QUESTION: I have a 7yr old hound she hurt her neck got that fixed the vet put her on anti inflamatorys i gave her one last night and one today now shes having trouble with back legs they were fine befor meds {help} shes my baby girl

Anonymous - 12/8/2011 11:19:24 PM

Respond to Question

had to put her down today it was torn tissue or collaspe disk thanks anyway

Anonymous - 12/10/2011 3:04:40 AM

QUESTION: I'm going to buy a bloodhound puppy. He is full breed and registered but the owner has 8 puppies. My question is what's the best markings to look for when buying a bloodhound. The markings that make it more rare or valuable.

Anonymous - 10/28/2011 12:12:49 PM

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Look for deep color or a good mix of color if you want the best looking dogs but general look at how big the paws are that how we pick mine

Anonymous - 11/1/2011 11:58:39 AM

QUESTION: My male bloodhound had a bump under his neck I thought was a tick but when I touch it exploded like a zit what was it

Anonymous - 9/13/2011 6:56:50 PM

Respond to Question

Our bloodhound gets those sometimes around the bottom of her mouth. Since their noses are always to the ground and there's so much extra skin you should try and clean it regularly.. probably was a zit!

Anonymous - 12/21/2011 2:53:14 PM

my bloodhound had one on his foot and it burst had to get it closed back up it was a calcium depostie

Anonymous - 11/1/2011 12:05:44 PM

QUESTION: If you raise a bloodhound from a puppy with cats do you think they can be trusted with them alone???

Anonymous - 9/9/2011 10:38:47 PM

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I know my answer is a little late, but we raise bloodhounds, and I also have 4 cats, and they are always home alone together, and they love each other.

Anonymous - 1/5/2012 11:01:29 AM

Cats smell very similar to raccoons, so keep in mind that a Bloodhound is a hunting dog. I have Redbone's and they have been raised with cats. As they get older though, they tend to get pretty rough.

Anonymous - 12/15/2011 1:49:05 PM

yes. I had a boxer once and he and the cat would sleep with each other. bloodhounds are alot calmer dogs than a boxer so i would think it would be fine

Anonymous - 10/6/2011 10:05:40 PM

QUESTION: I am moving into an apartment on my own and have always had at least one dog in my life. I'm a great pet owner and i'm athletic... biking, jogging daily 2 to 3 times. My question is if I am very active and take a bloodhound on runs and bike rides with me (give him a lot of exercise and activity), will it still be a bad living situation in an average size apartment? I want a bloodhound so much! However, i won't get one if it won't be happy due to the space it would be living in.

Anonymous - 9/1/2011 4:09:27 AM

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I have a two bedroom apartment with a smaller yard and I have a bloodhound and a plott hound. They get taken for a nice long walk about 4 times a week and they are happy loving dogs. My bloodhound is 2 and once she gets her walk she's knocked out for the rest of the day! As long as they get something a bloodhound will be fine.. good luck!

Anonymous - 12/21/2011 2:55:40 PM

Unless you have a big yard I wouldnt get a bloodhound, its not fair to the dog.

Anonymous - 11/16/2011 8:56:44 PM

The bloodhound is happy normally as long as it thinks it is making its owner happy. just take it running everyday and DONT let it off its leash. because if its let of it will get on a scent and it will be gone in the blink of an eye

Anonymous - 10/6/2011 10:07:45 PM

QUESTION: Before you buy a puppy, please make sure they are an American Bloodhound Club member and they adhere to the ethics... http://www.bloodhounds.org/page3/page16/referral.html Please feel free to contact the referral advisors as they have a nice packet of information and also a breeder listed of those who do adhere to protective the breed.

Anonymous - 8/16/2011 5:39:52 PM

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QUESTION: are blooodhounds aggressive?

Anonymous - 8/5/2011 2:55:06 PM

Respond to Question

booldhounds are not aggressive

Anonymous - 12/7/2011 10:39:28 AM

NO blooodhounds are very gentle! they just look big and tough. They are very strong though.

Anonymous - 11/16/2011 5:12:06 PM

QUESTION: how much do blood hounds eat???

Anonymous - 6/27/2011 12:26:10 PM

Respond to Question

Bloodhounds should eat 2-3 small meals a day.

Anonymous - 7/18/2011 3:38:42 PM

QUESTION: Can you train a bloodhound to be quiet and not bark while hunting game like Elk?

Anonymous - 6/14/2011 3:33:19 AM

Respond to Question

Here's a tip. Every time your bloodhounds are quiet, reward them with their favorite treat. Eventually, they will understand that they will get treats when they're quiet and they will be quiet.

Anonymous - 7/18/2011 3:40:24 PM

Of course! You can train any dog to do that!

Anonymous - 7/18/2011 3:39:28 PM

QUESTION: how big do Bloodhound's get?

Anonymous - 6/10/2011 1:03:54 AM

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My 2 year old female bloodhound weighs 90 lbs.

Anonymous - 6/20/2011 10:09:39 PM

MY BLOODHOUND IS A LITTLE OVER WEIGHT, WEIGHING 130 LBS. THE VET SAID SHE SHOULD LOOSE 10 LBS.

Anonymous - 6/15/2011 12:07:09 PM

QUESTION: About how many years can a Bloodhound jump in and out of the bed of a regualr pick-up? Thanks

Anonymous - 6/3/2011 11:26:40 PM

Respond to Question

Around 10-12 yrs.

Anonymous - 7/18/2011 3:40:49 PM

QUESTION: I have an 8 week old male Bloodhound pup and was wondering if anyone had any tips for house training. We're struggling with figuring out to pee outside and not for lack of trips outside lol...

Anonymous - 5/26/2011 5:10:25 AM

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thanks for the help, my now 13 week old bloodhound is potty trained. At about 9 weeks he seemed to figure things out on his own as if the light went on lol

Anonymous - 7/4/2011 2:58:20 PM

I KEPT MY BLOODHOUND IN A KENNEL WHEN I WASN'T WATCHING HER LIKE A HAWK, THEN EVERY TIME I TOOK HER OUT OF THE KENNEL,I TOOK HER OUTSIDE. THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND NOW SHE IS FIVE AND HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE HOUSE. THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD, OR SHOULD I SAY DAUGHTER.

Anonymous - 6/15/2011 12:05:05 PM

We were very successful in training our bloodhound pup. By 16 wks he had it down. We placed a bell at the door and would ring it and take him outside to do his business. We would return inside when he was done. Keeping potty time separate from play time. We would go out first thing in the morning and repeat every few hours. He just turned 1 year, rings the bell on his own and hasn't had any accidents. Good luck!

Anonymous - 5/29/2011 5:39:01 PM

I'm still trying to get my 5 month old bloodhound housebroken. I have to take him out at least every 30 minutes. I'm thinking maybe he doesn't completely empty his bladder when he goes because everytime I take him out, he pees. He pees in his bed too. I've stopped putting a blanket or towel in the bed - that helps a little. Someone told me that once he gets neutered he won't pee as much. I sure hope so! This is our first bloodhound and other than this one little problem this is the most AWESOME dog!!!

Anonymous - 5/27/2011 2:09:16 PM

QUESTION: We bred our black and tan bloodhound with a red bloodhound. We got some brindle looking puppies ( red with black stripes). Is this normal. Do the marking change and become saddlebacks?

Anonymous - 5/4/2011 9:54:20 AM

Respond to Question

That's normal!

Anonymous - 7/18/2011 3:41:10 PM

QUESTION: I wanna get a bloodhound but when I get the dog I wanna do some tracking and hunting with it - what animals are they meant to hunt and track ???

Anonymous - 4/21/2011 9:52:45 PM

Respond to Question

Bloodhounds can be trained to track anything. Because of their size, they don't have the speed to be great hunters, but they are exceptional recoverers. It is not common for them to tree, but they can. My hounds have been used mostly to recover deer. As with any hound, if you want them to hunt specific, you need to spend the time to train him on THAT scent and correct him if he gets off scent. Never never never hit or beat your bloodhound, they are extremely sensitive.

Anonymous - 4/25/2011 9:24:24 AM

Bloodhound's only track not hunt but they can track anything.

Anonymous - 4/22/2011 4:42:18 PM

QUESTION: We have a 5 mo. old Bloodhound who will NOT stop barking (baying) !! We (and the neighbors) are about ready to lose it !! What can be done ?

Anonymous - 3/31/2011 2:11:12 PM

Respond to Question

The person who said you need to get your Bloodhound a buddy is right. My bloodhound she barked all the time as a pup so i just brought her in at first then that got old taking her out to use the bathroom so i finally just went and bought me another lil girl and they are close to the same age. they only bark now when they see something that interest them

Anonymous - 7/7/2011 10:40:08 PM

we have a bloodhound that is almost a year and does the same thing. we have paid a fortune on training and we also have 4 other dogs. he just seems to be very needy. we never got him fixed because we wanted to stud him out and his testosterone levels are driving him crazy on top of it. we are told we have to wait another year before we do it. we have to get another hip xray done first and another heart test. he is akc and has mountaineering in his bloodlines. i dont know how he can possibly be lonely with all the other animals in the house and my 4 children as well but he never stops baying. I have tried everything and he is so strong-willed or shall i say stuborn that he doesnt care for discipline. he is very smart but likes to play dumb and when told not to do something he does it again as if to yell back at you!

Anonymous - 6/13/2011 12:47:32 AM

I have bred and owned "Hounds" for many year manly Bassets .. what you describe is a calling for companionship. This breed Craves it. If they are left alone they will cry (bay) for ever. Get a companion pet for him/her. S/he is so lonley

Anonymous - 4/17/2011 11:08:03 PM

QUESTION: My Bloodhound is 4 months old and he is sick today. He started falling down all over the place and lost some control of his bladder and started peeing all over the house. Any ideas out there as to what may be wrong with him.

Anonymous - 3/15/2011 9:21:41 PM

Respond to Question

Take your Bloodhound to the vet ASAP. do not wait!!!!

Anonymous - 11/16/2011 9:04:31 PM

BY CHANCE, COULD YOUR BLOODHOUND PUPPY GOTTEN AHOLD OF A CIGARETTE BUTT? OURS HAD TO BE NURSED BACK. ONLY THING WE COULD KEEP DOWN HER WAS BABY CEREAL, THAT WE SPOON FED TO HER.

Anonymous - 3/20/2011 10:19:56 AM

QUESTION: Is the bloodhound aggressive?

Anonymous - 3/10/2011 11:17:24 AM

Respond to Question

NO, the Bloodhounds are calm dogs unless they are on a scent.

Anonymous - 12/30/2011 12:55:25 AM

the bloodhound has very low temperament mine are around all kinds of kids cause of my big family and the neighborhood kids. they are also around lots of other teacup dogs and do just fine. my two dames are just big fat babys

Anonymous - 7/7/2011 10:42:55 PM

We have a 8 month old Red Bloodhound and I would say that there in on an aggressive bone in her body. I have a 3 and 5 year old and trust me I think I would have nippped them by now if I where her.

Anonymous - 4/14/2011 1:56:20 PM

My bloodhound is very food aggressive otherwise kids crawl all over her. She loves to run and play and loves attention

Anonymous - 4/10/2011 6:39:02 PM

QUESTION: How long does the average bloodhound sleep per day?

Anonymous - 2/16/2011 10:34:03 PM

Respond to Question

It really depends on the age of the dog. I have bloodhounds and when they are young puppies they will sleep about half the day, when they are older puppies/young dogs (1 -3) they are VERY active. Once they hit 4 to 5 they will start to calm down a bit in the house, but will still require daily exercise outdoors. If you are thinking about getting a bloodhound know that they are very large and very high energy, they need a very active owner that can dedicate a minimum of an hour a day to walking and exercising them. If you can't do that they can get bored and destructive - as can any large/high energy dog without proper exercise.

Anonymous - 3/6/2011 1:14:43 PM

QUESTION: I ran across a Bloodhound breeder who mated a female dam of a litter to its parent sire (daughter to father). He said this is acceptable if done only once (to capture a specific trait). Is this a blue blood problem or acceptable in the dog breeding world? I'm new to this whole thing and this seems odd!

Anonymous - 2/8/2011 9:03:12 PM

Respond to Question

If that breeder does that i wouldnt recommend him because 9 times out of 10 those are the one with medical problems

Anonymous - 10/6/2011 10:17:16 PM

I have been told by many different breeders that when you do that sort of thing it is acceptable, but those are the dogs that normally inherit the medical problems

Anonymous - 7/7/2011 10:44:40 PM

If it is an experienced breeder this practice is perfectly acceptable. I know it sounds odd but there's actually a term for it - linebreeding. It is a way to fix good characteristics and is usually done when there are two high quality dogs and the goal is to enhance a particular attribute such as a good head or strong feet.

Anonymous - 3/6/2011 1:12:01 PM

QUESTION: Looking for a shop dog for an indoor gun range... would the noise and smell be too much for a Bloodhound? Our lab/shepherd mix is terrified of guns so there's no way she can go hang out at the shop with dad and the guys..

Anonymous - 1/23/2011 9:56:24 PM

Respond to Question

you just got to work with them and show that the noise isnt going to hurt them it just takes time. just put any young pup on a leash and shoot like a 22 and work your way up the calibers until nothing scares him or her. also when you shoot each time let your dog smell the gun and pet him or her to show everything is ok

Anonymous - 7/7/2011 10:46:52 PM

QUESTION: Can Bloodhounds stand hot weather, because I live in Florida so I want to know.

Anonymous - 1/14/2011 5:12:39 PM

Respond to Question

I live on the MS Gulf Coast and have 2 male bloodhounds and they do ok in the heat of the summer as long as they have plenty of shade and water to drink. You may have to bathe them more often during the summer months due to them sweating.

Anonymous - 2/14/2011 6:55:56 PM

QUESTION: Is there such a thing as a dry mouth bloodhound?

Anonymous - 1/12/2011 1:22:52 PM

Respond to Question

Yes, some bloodhounds drool ALL the time, but some don't seem to drool at all.

Anonymous - 10/10/2011 9:50:20 PM

I have a female that slobbers more than any one of my bloodhounds...Gender does not make a difference.

Anonymous - 5/7/2011 12:43:41 AM

No! But female bloodhounds slobber less than males usually.

caroljmcdowell - 4/13/2011 8:59:51 PM

QUESTION: Is there anything you can do to prevent eye problems in Bloodhounds?

Anonymous - 12/31/2010 9:52:57 AM

Respond to Question

Make sure to buy a bloodhound from a good breeder that does not have entropic eye problems. If yours does surgery is really the only remedy. Can cost 150 to 500 per eye depending on the Vet.

harleythemacaw - 1/4/2011 4:36:18 PM

QUESTION: How many puppies can a Bloodhound have?

Anonymous - 12/30/2010 2:10:48 PM

Respond to Question

Bloodhounds can have 8 -10 puppies, some can have 15 puppies.

Anonymous - 1/20/2011 11:37:09 AM

Our bloodhound delivered 18 one time

Anonymous - 1/11/2011 7:41:37 PM

My bloodhound just had 5 on 12/18/2010

Anonymous - 1/6/2011 9:46:50 AM

QUESTION: What should a person look for in a good breeder. How much should you expect to pay for a good bloodhound? I have a redbone coonhound that is trained on an invisible fence. It took a lot of hard work to train her. Can a bloodhound typically be trained to stay in a 3 acre yard by invisible fencing?

Anonymous - 12/2/2010 10:59:15 PM

Respond to Question

As far as your breeder you want to make sure that he or she does not breed their sires to their daughters because that can cause med problems. Also do a little research on the dogs appearence and over look the dame and sire and pup to see that they look and are full blooded.

Anonymous - 10/6/2011 10:24:08 PM

depending on if the dog is akc or ckc or not registered will depend on the price. most Bloodhounds ive seen that are akc run from 300-1500$. i have a ckc female and an akc female with a ckc/akc sure. my akc run 250-600 and my ckc run 150-400.

Anonymous - 7/7/2011 10:52:37 PM

Ask the bloodhound breeder if the parents have had health clearances such as OFA hip and elbow xrays, cardiac, etc...Caridac problems are rising in this breed and breeders can give a health guarantee on their puppies all day long but if they do not know what they are breeding in the adults then what good is a health guarantee on the puppies !?!

Anonymous - 5/7/2011 12:47:02 AM

Yes I believe you should go to the breeders home if possible, also ask for references, talk to the people who have gotten pups from them and not just one but several. One thing one person commented on here that is not true, a good breeder can have more than one breed, for Pete sake look at AKC judges and their history and how many breeds they breed and are we to say they are not good, no. As long as the breeder has the right environment for their dogs, and shows their dogs and sells to you with a contract and gives the pup a health guarantee in writing before you get the pup then you should be ok.

caroljmcdowell - 4/13/2011 9:03:45 PM

QUESTION: is the blood hound used for finding explosives?

Anonymous - 11/18/2010 12:52:22 AM

Respond to Question

Yes, the bloodhound has been used in a variety of field work because of the breeds highly sensitive nose. They are also used as cadaver dogs.

harleythemacaw - 1/4/2011 4:39:34 PM

If you are looking for Bloodhound puppies for sale from reputable Bloodhound breeders or to adopt a Bloodhound from a Bloodhound rescue then make sure you understand as much about the dog breeds you are interested in as you can. Every puppy breed is different. Begin your research by reading the breed information about the Bloodhound puppy above. Search our dog breeds section to find Bloodhound puppies, dogs and puppies that make great pets.

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