77 Bloodhound Facts That Are Paw-fect

If you've never seen one, bloodhounds are large dog breeds who may look scary at first glance, but the bloodhound temperament is actually gentle and affectionate.

Here you will find everything you need to know about bloodhounds. We've rounded up facts about bloodhound size, bloodhound colors and even facts about breeding bloodhounds.

We hope these amazing bloodhound facts will make you will love this breed even more

If you like our list on bloodhound information and want more fun animal facts, check out our list on calico cat facts or our list on mantis shrimp facts.
 

So... what is a bloodhound? Here are some interesting facts that are all about the bloodhound's looks and physical appearance!

1. The bloodhound is a large sized breed. Male bloodhounds are usually 64-72 cm (25-28 inches) in height and can weigh around 46-54 kg (101-119 pounds). Female bloodhounds, on the other hand, are more short and span 58-66 cm (23-26 inches) in height and can weigh around 40–48 kg (88–106 pounds).

2. The bloodhound has a short haired dense coat, loose skin, and their coat is usually black, tan or red. If you've seen a black and tan bloodhound it's because often the skin colour and coat is a combination of colours such as black and tan, or liver and tan or red.

3. Some bloodhounds actually grow white fur on certain specific body parts such as their chest, feet, and tail.

4. The bloodhound is known for its droopy eyes, loose skin and floppy ears. But did you know that these actually serve an important purpose and help with its strong tracking instinct and ability to follow interesting scent trails?

5. The bloodhound is a pet breed that requires 20-40 minutes of exercise a day. Long walks and other types of exercise with bloodhound dogs are highly encouraged.

6. Do bloodhounds shed? The answer is yes. Some shed once a year, others twice a year, while some others shed all year round. Don't forget to groom them frequently as needed!

7. The bloodhound is a medium maintenance breed. The dogs have a moderate-to-high amount of shedding once or twice a year, especially during spring or fall. Bloodhound owners should also watch out for the dogs drooling and snoring.

A dog's temperament is extremely important, especially for bloodhounds who qualify as working dogs and can be used for public service. Here are some interesting bloodhound facts that are centred on their personality and temperament.

8. Bloodhounds love to cuddle. The bloodhound is known to be gentle and mild mannered among dog breeds. It is a common misconception that they are an aggressive breed, mainly because of their large, full build.

9. Thinking of getting a pet? The bloodhound may just be perfect for you. They are known to be a breed that is good with children. The bloodhound can tolerate toddlers who will try to climb on their backs and can even play along with them.

10. The bloodhound personality is generally good natured and they can easily get along with other animals.

11. Don't let the mild temperament of the bloodhound fool you! Their gentle exterior belies a stubbornness deep down.

12. As much as bloodhounds are gentle creatures, they also like to be independent, alone, and can be single minded.

13. The bloodhound bark is distinct and this family of dogs are known for making interesting sounds. They can make melodious tunes when baying, howling, and whining! This is one of the many unique bloodhound characteristics.

14. While they do enjoy some barking and howling sessions outside every now and then when trailing, a bloodhound will often use its nose and ears to search in silence.

15. Bloodhounds have a keen sense of smell and an unmatched tracking instinct. It has 300 million scent receptors on its nose and its strong tracking ability is often used by law enforcement to track escaped prisoners and missing people and pets.

16. Finding missing people and escaped prisoners using these dogs is very useful, but, once they have locked on an interesting scent, bloodhounds often refuse to give up the search. This can make training hounds difficult.

17. The bloodhound is a social breed and can be depressed if left alone by its owners for a long period of time. They need exercise and lots of love in their life.

18. According to the American Kennel Club, the bloodhound is a friendly, independent and inquisitive breed.

19. The bloodhound is notorious for drooling and snoring. Owners should take these traits into consideration when caring for a bloodhound.

What makes this breed so special is that they are a pet with a long, full and noble back story. Here are some important and really cool facts about the bloodhound and the roles the dogs played throughout history, particularly in Britain.

20. The bloodhound is said to have originated from Great Britain around the year 1300. Its ancestors are said to have come from France and Belgium, specifically in the Abbey of St. Hubert, Belgium. They were called St. Hubert Hounds.

21. Francis Hubert made it an aim in his life to breed hounds who could be used to track a scent trail. When he passed away, he was made the patron St Hubert of hunters, which is why you can still hear people from France call their bloodhound a St Hubert Hound today.

22. The St Hubert Hound was used to track people during medieval times. In Scotland, they were called 'sleuth hounds' and were trained to follow the trail of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.

23. In the 17th century, the chemist Robert Boyle was known to be the first to show the breed's trailing abilities. He described the way a bloodhound followed a trail of a man for seven miles and in the search, ended up tracing him in the upstairs room of a house.

24. Bloodhounds are quite popular in fiction. In literature, they have been mentioned in the works of Sir Walter Scott. A 'Sleeping Bloodhound' has also been the subject of one of Sir Edwin Landseer's paintings.

25. The bloodhound breed almost went on the brink of extinction in Britain during World War II. The breed was largely exported to North America and Europe. Fortunately, the exported bloodlines have revived the breed's dying population.

26. In England, Great Britain, bloodhounds were still used for hunting and sniffing out thieves and poachers until around 1805.

Here are more bloodhound facts you probably didn't know.

27. Did you know that bloodhounds did not get their name for their tracking abilities? Their name originated from the fact that the earliest breeders painstakingly traced the bloodhound's ancestry and went through great lengths to preserve the purity of the bloodline.

28. A bloodhound's nose work is considered 'admissible' evidence in courts of law in the United States. As long as a bloodhound is trained to follow the tracks of human beings and its trailing accuracy has been tested on a few instances, its trail can be used as a testimony in court. No wonder the breed is a popular choice for law enforcement companions!

29. The average cost of a bloodhound puppy is $700, but you should budget to spend anything up to double that amount.

29. The Bloodhound resting heart rate ranges from 70-120 beats per minute. The average resting heart rate of a human is only 70-80 beats per minute.

30. The Bloodhound can actually follow a scent trail as far as 130 miles, that's why they make good detectives but make sure you keep them on a leash when testing this ability.

31. The bloodhound sense of smell is so strong they can track a scent that is 300 hours old or so. The hound's long nose is really something else, huh?

32. The bloodhound's sound is a distinctive chest sound which is called a 'bay'.

33. They are generally not barkers, but will make a sound similar to "roo" when they track a scent, or when something in the air peaks their attention.

34. The dog's coat is really made for being out in the wild, which is exactly why this hound's coat usually has a more distinct smell compared to other dog breeds.

35. If you have one as a pet, you might notice that their coat tends to get a lot of grease. This is because having a greasy exterior helped them to survive in the wild by trapping different smells. You can never turn down a bloodhound for their impeccable scenting skills.

36. Bloodhounds carry most of their weight on their bones which makes them look large, full and thick in their body frame.

37. A female bloodhound will be pregnant for a short time of approximately 63 days, although this may vary by several days depending on the individual.

38. Bloodhounds are protective of their families. They are loyal and can make good watchdogs.

39. During the Victorian era, the bloodhounds rose to be popular as dog shows were on the rise and became popular. From then to now, dogs are now seen as companions. It is from the Victorian era that modern-day bloodhounds were developed.

40. Their lifespan can be as long as 11 to 15 human years. They rarely have health issues, and they are generally a healthy breed.

41. They generally like to dig around, and have a tendency to wander and roam around.

Thee bloodhound facts are especially helpful to those who have one at home or those who are deciding whether to adopt a bloodhound as a house pet.

42. Baby bloodhound dogs can be rowdy, excited, hyper and rambunctious! This means they tend to be loud barkers.

43. However, Bloodhound puppies are still gentle and kind with their humans.

44. They are excellent, smart and gentle, but the blooded hound dogs can be a bit difficult to train.

45. It's recommended that a puppy bloodhound needs early obedience training. It gets harder to teach a dog over the years, so that's why the bloodhound needs early intervention.

46. It is important to bring the puppies outside everyday to exercise so they can use up their energy on long walks or other physical activities. This is to prevent them from chewing, digging and other problems that may arise due to boredom. Remember, this breed's puppies have very high energy levels and always want to play around!

49. A bloodhound puppy shouldn't do overly difficult exercises outside either, even though they have a lot of energy. Keep it to around 15 minutes a day when they are young. Walks may be longer.

50. Always provide water and enough food for your bloodhound puppy. Don't overfeed them though. Just make sure they have the complete essentials that they need, as our little canine friends might be lost and a bit clueless on how to handle themselves without a human.

51. Bloodhound dogs are known to be really great with humans, so there is no doubt that they would make a great family member and can take part in everyday activities such as hiking, travelling and a lot of walking.

52. Bloodhounds are best homed in large houses with big backyards, rather than small spaces because they grow big and will shed fur over the years.

53. These dogs will enjoy a place in your home where they can run, follow scent, dig around and play.

54. As they are very friendly yet independent dogs, they have the tendency to escape because of their keenness for following scent. Make sure your place is tightly secured, and your backyard is highly fenced (at least six feet), especially when you let them roam around your home.

55. They love children and are very affectionate, but the hound dog can be dangerous around young children because of their size. Though they don't mean to be, they can knock toddlers and little children over with just one swipe of their tail. Early on, it is important to train both the dog and the child to be gentle around each other so no one gets hurt or put the dog on a leash when lots of children are around.

56. Bloodhounds are great chewers, so they may chew just about anything around the house. You will need to teach them what they can chew and what is not allowed inside the home.

57. As they are also a large breed, they are also the perfect height to reach tables and counters. They might wipe off things that are placed on the counter, while their excitedly wagging long tail is also at the perfect height to clear a coffee table! Always be mindful of your household items, and keep an eye on them when your bloodhound is around!

58. Bloodhounds are known to drool and slobber. You will need to keep some wipes available all the time in the house. If you choose this dog as your new family companion, you need to be prepared for lots of dribble over the years!

59. Our furry friends need to be exposed to a lot of different things especially when they are young. Exposing them to different people, sights, sounds, and experiences help them grow to be more disciplined and socialized when older. Make sure to put them on a leash when you're out and about.

60. When you train and expose bloodhounds early, they will grow to be well rounded companions.

61. You are unlikely to have any problems with your bloodhound interacting with anyone, even cats. But just be careful who they might drool on!

62. Always reward them with a treat after good behaviour and control, after all, everyone likes a little thanks for a job well done!

Generally a low maintenance dog, you don't have to worry too much about their health and immunity. But the following bloodhound facts can help to prevent issues or be helpful in identifying a health concern when it arises.

63. Adult bloodhounds may need around four to eight cups of dog food a day, divided into two meals.

64. Always make sure to engage them in a good exercise routine so they do not become overweight.

65. They can be messy eaters and are prone to bloating. Monitor your bloodhound if you find that they are feeling some kind of discomfort.

66. Because of their long and droopy ears, our bloodhound friends can also be troubled by some ear problems such as ear mites and too much cerumen. Regularly clean their ears and bring them to the veterinarian if you notice a scent or anything unusual.

67. Bloodhounds are more likely to have problems with their teeth over the years compared to other dogs. There might be some dirt built up on their teeth which may cause gum and other tooth diseases. This will be very uncomfortable for your pet, and will create a foul scent so keep in mind to regularly brush their teeth to keep them healthy and strong.

Here are more bloodhound dog facts you probably didn't know yet. Like these famous cartoon characters over the years that are bloodhounds! Can you name a few? If not, worry not! We'll introduce them to you.

68. Droopy Dog from 'The Droopy Dog Show'.

69. Trust from 'The Lady And The Tramp'.

70. Napoleon and Layafette from 'The Aristocats'.

71. Copper from 'The Fox And The Hound'.

72. Towser from '101 Dalmatians'.

73. Stella from 'The Princess And The Frog'.

74. Toby from 'The Great Mouse Detective'.

75. Hunter from 'Southern Bloodhound Detective'.

76. Wimper from 'Clue Club'.

77. Huckleberry Hound from 'The Huckleberry Hound Show'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for bloodhound facts then why not take a look at these Bulldogs facts, or Chihuahua facts?