Bloodhound, Large Dog Breeds

The bloodhound (St. Hubert hound and Sleuth Hound) is a large dog breed that was bred originally to hunt deer and wild boar, later specifically to track human beings by scent. It is famed for its ability to follow scents hours or even days old over great distances. Its extraordinarily keen nose is combined with a strong and tenacious tracking instinct, producing the ideal scenthound, and it is used by police and law enforcement the world over to track escaped prisoners, missing persons, and even missing animals.

Bloodhound Appearance

Bloodhounds weigh from 33 to 50 kg (80 to 110 lb), although some individuals can weigh as much as 72 kg (160 lb). They stand 58 to 69 cm (23 to 27 inches) high at the withers. According to the AKC standard of the breed, larger dogs are to be preferred by conformation judges. The acceptable colors for bloodhounds are black and tan, liver and tan, or red. Bloodhounds possess an unusually large skeletal structure with most of their weight concentrated in their bones, which are very thick for their length. The coat is typical for a scenthound: hard and composed of fur alone, with no admixture of hair.

Bloodhound Temperament

This dog breed is a gentle dog which is nonetheless tireless in following a scent. Because of its strong tracking instinct, bloodhound can be willful and somewhat difficult to obedience train. Bloodhounds have an affectionate, gentle, and even-tempered nature, so they make excellent family pets. However, like any large dog breed, they require supervision when around small children because they can knock them over with their bulk. Bloodhounds are also characterized by a stubborn "what's-in-it-for-me?" attitude, a likely cause (in conjunction with their size and propensity for excessive drooling) for the high rate, in comparison with other dog breeds, of bloodhounds given up for adoption once full-grown.

Bloodhound Illnesses

Compared to other purebred dogs, bloodhounds have an unusually high rate of gastrointestinal ailments, with bloat being the most common type of gastrointestinal problem. The dog breed also suffers an unusually high incidence of eye, skin, and ear ailments; thus these areas should be inspected frequently for signs of developing problems. Owners should be especially aware of the signs of bloat, which is both the most common illness and the leading cause of death of bloodhounds. The thick coat gives the dog breed the tendency to overheat quickly.

Bloodhound Lifespan and mortality

Bloodhounds in a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey had a median longevity of 6.75 years, which makes them one of the shortest-lived of dog breeds. The oldest of the 82 deceased dogs in the survey died at the age of 12.1 years. Bloat took 34% of the animals, making it the most common cause of death and the bloodhound the breed to lose the most to the condition. The second leading cause of death in the study was cancer, at 27%; this percentage is similar to other dog breeds, but the median age of death was unusually young (median of about 8 years).