Hunting hound → search and family dog
A nose on a big body
Bloodhounds are large, strong dogs. Once on a scent, they pull hard and hear very little else.
Meet the parents and see their size, how they walk on a lead and how calmly they settle.
Bloodhound · Hound
Bloodhound: temperament, training & trailing and lead manners
The Bloodhound is a large, wrinkled scent hound famous for following a person’s trail over long distances. Most are gentle, friendly and very persistent, with a deep voice and a lot of drool. Life goes well with trailing and scent games, a strong harness and long line, kitchen management and patient food-based training.
- Job: Tracking hound that follows a person's trail.
- Energy: Moderate to high; long sniffing walks and trailing.
- Home: Best with patient owners who have space.
First, the point
A Bloodhound is a gentle tracking hound that needs a strong harness, trailing games and kitchen management
Public breed histories link the breed to medieval St. Hubert hounds and later English trailing hounds.
Most Bloodhounds are kind with people. Typical struggles are strong pulling, no recall on scent, food stealing and chewing.
In the first months I teach loose-lead basics, leave it, trades and a simple trailing game.
- Height
- 23–27 in (58–69 cm)
- Weight
- 80–110 lb (36–50 kg)
- Energy
- Moderate to high (trail then rest)
- Coat / shed
- Short coat with loose skin — sheds; wipe face folds and ears
- Job
- Tracking hound bred to follow a scent trail for hours
Breed history
The great tracking hound
The Bloodhound is linked in breed histories to the St. Hubert hounds of medieval Belgium and later to English hunting hounds. It was bred to follow a cold scent trail slowly and steadily, for hours, until it found its quarry. Today it is best known for trailing missing people. That job made a gentle, persistent, very strong dog with a famous nose, deep voice and lots of drool.
Medieval Europe → tracking hound
Following the scent of people
Public breed histories describe monks and nobles keeping slow, deep-voiced scent hounds. Later, Bloodhounds were used to trail people.
In trials, hounds follow the trail of a person who walked the route hours earlier.
What the breed was bred for
Gentle, persistent and strong
In plain trainer language: Bloodhounds are friendly, patient dogs with one great passion: following scent.
The hard parts are strong pulling, no recall on a scent, food stealing, drool, baying, chewing and a long, clumsy puppyhood. Trailing games, a good harness, kitchen management and patient training help most.
- Trailing and scent games
- A strong harness and long line
- Kitchen management
- Patient, food-based training
Public references: FCI 84, AKC Bloodhound, RKC.
Life together
A Bloodhound’s day is a long trail and a big nap
Bloodhounds need daily walks with plenty of sniffing, and ideally a trail to follow. At home most are gentle and sleepy.
Trial · field
On the trail
Bloodhounds track for miles. A long line keeps them safe.
See long-line recall.
Trial · handler
Handler follows hound
A trailing harness tells the hound when it is time to work.
See loose-leash walking.
Trial · running
Steady and determined
Trailing is the best outlet for this nose. Start with short, easy trails.
See scavenging on walks.
Garden · standing
A gentle giant
A tall Bloodhound reaches the kitchen counter easily.
See counter surfing.
Close-up · face
Wrinkles and drool
Keep a towel by the door; Bloodhounds drool and shake.
See puppy handling.
Care and health themes
Monthly checks: ears, eyes, skin folds and belly
A trainer’s checklist, not veterinary advice. See a vet for ear smell, eye redness, limping or a swollen belly after eating. For urgent signs, see when to call the vet.
Ears
Clean and dry the long ears weekly.
Eyes
Watch for redness or discharge.
Skin folds
Wipe face folds and lips daily.
Feeding
Feed on a steady routine and rest after meals.
Health screening (not a diagnosis)
Ask the breeder which screenings the national breed club recommends, including hip and elbow scores, and see results for both parents.
Toxins
I do not publish toxin amounts. Call a vet or poison-control line if the dog eats something dangerous.
Lines and types
Working or show Bloodhound
Some Bloodhounds are bred for trailing and search work, others mainly for the show ring and family life.
Working and trailing lines
- Often lighter.
- Very keen on scent.
- Need regular trailing.
- Great for search work.
Best with an active, outdoor owner.
Show and family lines
- Heavier, more wrinkles.
- Still a strong nose.
- Still need sniffing walks.
- Often calmer at home.
Still a big, strong hound.
Socialization windows
What to introduce — and what not to overload — by age
AVSAB-aligned in spirit: short, clean exposures at a distance the puppy can still eat, with hygiene while vaccines finish. See the puppy socialization schedule.
Wrinkly baby
Introduce: handling, ear and face care, name games, toilet routine.
Do not overload: rough play and jumping.
Nose and lead
Introduce: harness walking, leave it, simple trails.
Do not overload: pulling on a collar.
Big, clumsy teenager
Introduce: trading, settle, longer trails.
Do not overload: free access to the kitchen.
Adult trailing
Introduce: mantrailing, tracking classes, hikes.
Do not overload: long runs before growth ends without vet advice.
Steady adult
Introduce: refreshed manners and trailing.
Do not overload: too little sniffing.
Before you buy
Who a Bloodhound usually fits
A Bloodhound suits patient, strong, outdoor people who want a gentle giant and enjoy giving it a nose job.
Good match
More likely a good fit if you…
- Enjoy long, slow walks
- Want to try trailing or search work
- Have space for a big dog
- Do not mind drool and noise
- Are patient with a slow-maturing dog
Mismatch risk
A Bloodhound may be a poor choice if…
- You want off-lead walks
- Drool and mess bother you
- You live in a small flat
- You want fast obedience
- Noise bothers your neighbours
If you are torn between breeds
Bloodhound vs Basset Hound and Beagle
Bloodhounds are compared with Basset Hounds and Beagles, two other scent hounds.
Size
Bloodhound Large and tall.
Basset Hound Low and medium.
Job
Bloodhound Trailing people and game.
Basset Hound Pack hunting rabbits and hares.
Size
Bloodhound Large.
Beagle Small to medium.
Drool
Bloodhound A lot.
Beagle Very little.
Nose
Bloodhound Exceptional.
Both compares All follow scent first.
Ownership without surprises
What a Bloodhound costs to keep
Prices vary by country. These are the spending themes, not figures.
Food
A big dog eats a lot.
Health checks
Ask which screenings the national breed club recommends.
Trailing harness and long line
Safe scent work.
Towels and cleaning
Drool and muddy ears.
Mantrailing classes
The best outlet.
Insurance
Consider it early.
With a Bloodhound, food and size-related costs are the biggest regular spend.
Before day one at home
What to prepare for a Bloodhound puppy
A Bloodhound puppy is wrinkly and clumsy and grows very fast. Start harness walking, trades and face care early.
Harness walking
See puppy leash training.
Trades
See drop it.
Face and ear care
See puppy handling.
Chew toys
Toilet routine
Follow potty training.
Short walks
See walk length by age.
If the dog is already yours
Training a Bloodhound starts with the nose
Bloodhounds learn well for food, but scent always wins outside. Give the nose a job you control.
My core list: harness walking, leave it, trades and a calm settle.
Mantrailing and tracking are the ideal outlets.
Load balance
Trail, then rest
A trailing session and a long rest suit most Bloodhounds.
Trail Sniff Chew Settle Sleep
Trailing, sniffing walks, chews and long rests suit most Bloodhounds.
A Bloodhound that trails a few times a week is a calm, gentle house dog.
Trailing
How to start a trailing game with a Bloodhound
A helper walks a short path and hides with food; the hound follows on a harness.
- 01
Trailing harness on
Only for this game.
- 02
Helper shows food
Then walks off.
- 03
Short, straight trail
A few metres.
- 04
Hound follows
You follow the hound.
- 05
Big reward at the end
Food and praise.
One scene close-up
Why your Bloodhound pulls so hard
Bloodhounds were bred to follow a scent for hours without stopping.
Use a separate harness for trailing so the hound knows when it may pull.
On normal walks, reward a loose lead and stop when it goes tight.
Typical household scenes
Where Bloodhound owners most often need help
A breed page is only a starting point; the fix depends on health, environment, and the dog in front of you. Each row opens a step-by-step guide.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Strong pulling
Big and nose-led.
No recall on scent
Follows the trail.
Food stealing
Tall and food-keen.
Chewing
Big puppy, big mouth.
Baying
A deep, loud voice.
Jumping up
Big, friendly greetings.
Alone time
Howls when left.
Sudden change
A swollen belly, limping or eye changes — vet first.
Practical view
“With a Bloodhound, I give the nose a proper job. We build harness walking, trades and simple trailing games — because a hound that trails is easier on the lead.”
Sessions cover real scenes: strong pulling, no recall on scent, food stealing, and chewing. I am a trainer, not a veterinarian. No invented reviews.
Andrew Darov Professional dog trainer and instructor
WhatsApp consult Talk through your Bloodhound
Describe age, living setup, and where the dog breaks first — strong pulling, no recall on scent, food stealing, or chewing. Opens WhatsApp to Andrew.
Short answers
FAQ
Is a Bloodhound a good first dog?
Usually not; they suit patient, strong, experienced owners.
Are Bloodhounds good with children?
Usually gentle, but big and clumsy; supervise.
Do Bloodhounds drool?
Yes, a lot.
How much exercise does an adult need?
Long daily walks with sniffing, plus trailing.
Can Bloodhounds be off lead?
Only in fully fenced areas.
Are Bloodhounds loud?
They have a deep, carrying bay.
Can a Bloodhound live in a flat?
Hard; they are big, loud and need space.
When do Bloodhounds calm down?
Often around two to three years.
What about health?
Ask which screenings the national breed club recommends and see the parents' results.
What is the typical lifespan of a Bloodhound?
Public breed references often give about 10 to 12 years. Individual dogs vary.
What is mantrailing?
A sport where a dog follows the scent trail of a specific person.
If a Bloodhound is too much dog
If you want a big, friendly dog that is easier to walk and train, consider this one.
Basset Hound
A gentle, sociable scent hound with long ears and a deep voice that needs sniffing walks, patient training and careful portions.
Beagle
A friendly scent hound that follows its nose and needs patient recall training, sniffing walks and a secure garden.
English Cocker Spaniel
A merry, busy British spaniel that needs scent games, retrieve and trade practice, ear care and a taught settle.
Labrador Retriever
Friendly, trainable family retriever that loves food and people.
More Hound group breeds
Other guides from the same group in the breed library. Same group does not mean same dog: read the fit and the failure modes, not only the outline.
Borzoi
A giant Russian coursing hound — calm and quiet indoors, fast and independent outdoors. Space, secure running, and gentle handling come first.
Dachshund
A bold, long-bodied German hunting dog that needs back-friendly habits, help with barking and patient house training.
Greyhound
A gentle, quiet sighthound, often a retired racer, that needs safe sprints, a lead in open areas, a soft bed and slow introductions.
Irish Wolfhound
A calm, gentle giant sighthound from Ireland that needs early lead manners, careful puppy exercise and lots of space.
Norwegian Elkhound
A Nordic moose-hunting spitz with a bay bark and a strong nose — shape the voice into useful alerts and give it a daily outdoor job.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
A loyal, independent hound from southern Africa that needs early calm socialising, fair training and daily running.
Need a read on your exact situation?
Describe your Bloodhound’s age and the scene that repeats most: strong pulling, no recall on scent, food stealing, or chewing. We check safety first, then pick the first skill.
Written by Andrew Darov, professional dog trainer. Not veterinary advice and not a diagnosis.
Not a kennel club. No invented reviews. No vaccine schedules or toxin doses. Photo credits in
/images/breeds/bloodhound-guide/credits.md.