These dogs are also believed to be the descendants of hounds that were kept at Saint-Hubert in Belgium, which is why it is commonly known as ‘le chien de Saint-Hubert’ among French speakers.

The Best Wet Food for Senior Dogs for 2022

The 4 Best Dog Food for Allergies (Adult, Puppy, Senior)

The 5 Best Dog Water Fountains, We Checked

See all of our expert product reviews.

These dogs are very intelligent and have an extremely well sense of smell which has also helped these dogs earn in the search and rescue department of the law and enforcement arena. They are also known to be highly active and have a unique appearance. Other than that, they are also known to be very kind and affectionate. These dogs are usually purebred and can often be found in adoption shelters and rescue groups.

button.pulse {
transform: scale(1); animation: pulse 2s infinite;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 1);
}

@keyframes pulse {
0% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0.5); }
60% { transform: scale(1); box-shadow: 0 0 0 15px rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
100% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
}

Initially, there was confusion over whether bloodhounds and sleuth hounds were the same. However, while bloodhounds are known to be swift, sleuth hounds are known to be slow and lazy. Sleuth hounds were known to be the Scottish counterparts of bloodhounds.

Three Pros and Cons of Owning a Bloodhound

For anyone that is considering adopting a this breed, you should know that these animals come with a range of pros and cons — much like any other animal. Some of them are:

Bloodhound Size and Weight

Bloodhounds are large and sturdy dogs and were originally bred for hunting deer and wild boar. They can also very keenly sense of smells and are often also used to track people.

Health and Entertainment for your Bloodhound

See all of our expert product reviews.

The female of the species are usually 23 to 25 inches in height while the males are 25 to 27 inches. Females weigh about 36 to 45 kgs while the males weigh 41 to 50 kgs.

Bloodhound Common Health Issues

Bloodhounds are generally known to be a very healthy breed of dogs. They usually have a lifespan of around 10 to 12 years. However, like any other living creature, they are not completely safe from diseases.

These dogs usually suffer from hip dysplasia which is an abnormal formation of the hip muscles, elbow dysplasia which is the abnormal formation of the elbow bones, and bloating which might lead to stomach-related conditions and could be due to indigestion and/or other underlying conditions.

Other than that, there are other problems like heart conditions and eye conditions like patellar luxation, cataracts, and persistent pupillary membranes that the bloodhounds suffer from.

Therefore, the common health problems that bloodhounds suffer from include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Bloating
• Heart conditions
• Eye conditions

Bloodhound Temperament

Bloodhounds are gentle and patient and are known to be noble dogs. These dogs are also known to be especially great with children and are also patient enough to let young children get all over them.

Even though the bloodhounds are very well mannered, they are independent and very determined. These dogs are also known to make individual decisions – free of anybody else – which usually happens when they sense a particular scent.

They are also known to make melodious music noises like howling and whining noises and are known to be one of the most melodious dog breeds.

How to Take Care of a Bloodhound

To be able to own a pet, it is important to know how to take care of them. Here are a few things you should take care of Bloodhounds.

The Best Dog Food for Bloodhounds

The adult bloodhounds usually need about 18 percent of protein and five percent of fat. The common foods that you can feed to your bloodhound can include chicken, salmon, vegetables, fish, and brown rice.

However, bloodhound puppies should usually be fed dry dog food, chicken, sweet potato, and other large breed puppy foods which ultimately help in their overall growth and development.

Since this breed can struggle with heart conditions, steer clear of the legumes like peas in many dog foods that have been linked to heart failure.

To address their dietary needs, A-Z Animals believes the best dog food for Bloodhounds is Wellness CORE Digestive Health Dry Dog Food with Wholesome Grains, Real Meat & Brown Rice, Sensitive Stomach Dog Food, Easily Digestible, Natural.

This formula is designed for smooth digestion, so the kibble is coated in probiotics for the microbiomes of dogs like Bloodhounds prone to bloat. On top of digestive enzymes, the real fish is a natural source of omega 3s which behave like antioxidants. The taurine has the dual benefits of aiding in both heart and eye health.

Grab some Wellness CORE Natural Digestive Health Dog Food on amazon.

Sale

Wellness CORE Digestive Health Dry Dog Food with Wholesome Grains, Highly Digestible, for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs, Made in USA with Real Protein (Whitefish & Brown Rice, 4-Pound Bag)

• Digestive Health Dog Food: This highly digestible, probiotic coated dog kibble is made with digestive enzymes, a blend of prebiotic fibers, and guaranteed levels of probiotics to support gut health for overall wellbeing
• Wellbeing From Within: With Omega 3 Fatty Acids, superfood pumpkin, papaya, and essential vitamins, CORE Digestive Health dog food supports overall immunity, vitality, a shiny coat, and healthy skin
• Find The Right Food: We offer a full range of foods to support your dog’s needs, including grained and grain free options, high protein dog foods and limited ingredient selections for food sensitivities
• A Lifetime Of Wellbeing: Each of our recipes is designed to support your pet through all life stages; Crafted to support strong immune systems, optimal energy and help maintain a healthy weight
• Wellness Nutrition: Created by nutritionists, veterinarians, and animal lovers, our recipes provide an ideal balance of nature’s finest ingredients, carefully selected to nourish and sustain your pet’s wellbeing

Buy on Amazon

Bloodhound Maintenance and Grooming

Bloodhounds usually do not require much maintenance and grooming except regular uptake of their ears and coat. They have been bathed only three to four times a year. However, whenever that is done, it is always advisable that the bathing is done outside as there is a chance that they can slip and hurt themselves indoors.

However, their ears need regular grooming It is always better to clean your bloodhound’s ears once a week as it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other infections. Other than that, you should also brush your bloodhound’s fur once a week to remove the dead coat.

Bloodhound Training

Even though bloodhounds are known to be tracker dogs and engage in a lot of physical exercises, they are often testing while training.

They are intelligent and therefore one would often think that they are easy to train. However, it requires a lot of time and patience to get them to start doing it because of their stubborn nature.

However, once they start following their owner’s lead, they just need gentle reminding until the behaviors become commonplace.

Bloodhound Exercise

Bloodhounds require a good amount of exercise. These dogs need about two hours of physical activity every day to keep them fit and satisfied. However, sometimes this alone cannot be enough.

Sometimes, for the sake of the bloodhound’s mental peace, they require to be taken outside for walks which helps them keep destructive and aggressive behaviors at bay.

Bloodhound Puppies

Bloodhound puppies should be taken extra care of since they are fragile and delicate during their initial days and/or months. However, as they grow up, a more relaxed care routine can be put in place.

Bloodhound puppies usually need to be fed chicken, sweet potatoes, and other large breed puppy food that helps in their growth and development.

Bloodhound and Children

Bloodhounds are known to be very affectionate and loving and are especially great with children. They are also very patient and often allow young children to climb and get all over them.

Dogs Similar to Bloodhounds

Several dogs are like Bloodhounds. Some of them are:

1. Greyhound: While the Greyhound has a much slimmer body, they both can reach an average of two feet tall. Both are excellent companions for children and families, and they are even good with friendly strangers.

2. Beagle: Beagles have about the same lifespan as a beagle, and both are gentle enough to be around children. While the bloodhound requires a little more attention and care during grooming, the beagle is much easier to groom. Both are incredibly vocal, acting as an alarm system with their bark to protect the home.

3. American Foxhound: These dogs are used for hunting foxes based on their scent, using their skills of heightened smelling sense to get the job done – much like bloodhounds.

Famous Bloodhounds

There are many famous bloodhound dogs. Disney has integrated the floppy-eared dog as some of their most popular characters like Pluto, Trusty (from Lady and the Tramp), Bruno (from Cinderella), and Copper (from The Fox and the Hound). Disney even has used the bloodhound as the character Bumpus Hounds in their holiday film The Christmas Story.

On television, the bloodhound found its way onto the set of “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Duke, the dog of character Jed Clampett, was played by a bloodhound named Stretch.

Thanks to the bloodhound’s ability to track scents, the bloodhound’s most important roles have been that of a police dog, which they are commonly used as in France. Nick Carter, owned and handled by Captain G. V. Mullikin, is commonly considered to be the epitome of trailing for these dogs, and he is credited for 650 finds. One of these discoveries occurred after following a 12-day old trail.

Popular Names for Bloodhounds

Here are some of the common names for bloodhounds:

• Magnum
• Sumo
• Tex
• Burly
• Thunder

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

View all 192 animals that start with B