Scent hound Large size 36-50 kg

Bloodhound

The ultimate tracking nose in a gentle giant - loving with family, but drooly, stubborn, prone to bloat and one of the shorter-lived large breeds.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
36-50 kg, 58-69 cm tall
High
Activity
Needs long walks and space to track
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Fairly tolerant but may howl when bored
Low
Trainability
Famously stubborn once on a scent
Low
Coat care
Short coat; wrinkles and ears need cleaning
Good
Fit with kids
Gentle and patient with children
Moderate
Other pets
Generally social; prey drive on scent
Heavy
Health burden
Bloat risk, short lifespan, ear issues

The Bloodhound typically weighs 36-50 kg, stands 58-69 cm, and lives 8-10 years.

Consider this breed if…

you have a house with a securely fenced yard and tolerance for drool,
you enjoy long, slow, sniff-heavy walks rather than fast sport,
you want a gentle, patient dog around children,
you are drawn to tracking or nosework as a shared hobby.

Do not consider this breed if…

you live in an apartment or need an off-leash hiking companion,
drool on walls, furniture, and clothes would drive you crazy,
you expect quick, reliable obedience - the nose outranks you,
an 8-10 year lifespan with heavy senior vet bills is a dealbreaker.

A typical day with a Bloodhound

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    45-60 min leashed walk with plenty of sniffing time
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Naps deeply; a worked nose is a tired dog
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk; wipe wrinkles, check ears
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Trailing game or scent work, 20-30 minutes
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Longer walk on a long line - never fully off leash
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Sprawls near the family; may snore and howl at sirens

Temperament and training

Trainability Low
Scent drive Very high
Sensitivity High
Independence High
Vocal tendency High
Guarding tendency Low
Common owner mistakes
Letting it off leash and expecting recall to beat a scent trail · Skipping weekly ear and wrinkle cleaning until infections set in · Feeding one big meal fast - a bloat risk in this deep-chested breed

Family and environment

Kids Good
Patient and gentle; supervise toddlers around a 40+ kg dog.
Dogs Good
Pack hound heritage; usually easygoing with other dogs.
Cats Conditional
Fine when raised together; may trail and chase unfamiliar cats.
Apartment Not suited
Size, baying voice, and exercise needs all argue against it.
House with a yard Suitable
Fence must be tall and dig-proof - a scent will test it.
City Conditional
Manageable on leash, but scent overload and noise are constant work.
Countryside Ideal
Room to track safely on a long line.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Heavy

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Bloat (GDV) High-risk emergency; know the warning signs
Hip Dysplasia Common large-breed joint concern
Chronic Ear Infections Long ears trap moisture; check regularly
Hypothyroidism Manageable with medication

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Smaller, lower-key scent hound
Basset Hound
A gentle, low-slung scenthound that is wonderful with kids but stubborn on the trail and prone to ear, back, and weight issues.
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Lighter, more athletic tracker
Black And Tan Coonhound
An easygoing, nose-driven American hound that is great with family but bays loudly and follows scents anywhere - fenced space and patience required.
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Calm giant without the scent obsession
Mastiff
A calm, enormous homebody guardian: modest exercise needs, immodest food bills, and one of the shortest lifespans in dogdom.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Bloodhound cost?
Expect roughly $800-$2,000 from a health-testing US breeder. The purchase price is the small part: a 36-50 kg dog eats a lot, and the breed's bloat risk alone can mean a $3,000-$8,000 emergency surgery. With ear infections, joint issues, and a shorter lifespan concentrated into heavy senior years, budget for well over $20,000 in lifetime care - insurance or a real emergency fund is strongly advisable.
Are Bloodhounds good family dogs?
Temperament-wise, yes - they are famously gentle, patient, and tolerant with children. The practical side is harder: they drool heavily, counter-surf with a world-class nose, knock small kids over by accident, and howl when bored. Families who accept the mess and the size usually love them.
Can a Bloodhound ever be off leash?
Treat the answer as no. Once a Bloodhound locks onto a scent, recall reliably loses - the breed was built to follow a trail for miles without checking in. A long line and a secure fence are the realistic setup; off-leash freedom is what tracking sessions on a harness are for.
Why do Bloodhounds have a short lifespan?
Giant scent hounds carry the usual large-breed load: bloat, joint disease, and heart strain, and studies of the breed consistently put typical lifespan around 8-10 years. You cannot buy your way out of it entirely, but choosing a breeder who health-tests, keeping the dog lean, and managing bloat risk (smaller meals, no hard exercise after eating) improve the odds.