The name sounds dangerous but means something quite different. According to the FCI standard, “Bloodhound” comes from “blooded hound”, a hound of pure blood. This is a gentle giant whose main job today is following trails over long distances, including searches for missing people.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.1 Large-sized Hounds, Standard No. 84 Chien de Saint-Hubert (Bluthund), with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Belgium |
| Height at the withers | Ideal males 68 cm, females 62 cm, tolerance 4 cm above or below |
| Weight | Males approx. 46 to 54 kg, females approx. 40 to 48 kg |
| Life expectancy | Median 9,3 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs, based on 71 Bloodhound deaths (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | Short, dense, fairly harsh and weatherproof, very short and soft on head and ears |
| Colours according to the standard | Black and tan, liver and tan, solid red from light to dark; a little white on chest, toes and tail tip permitted but undesirable |
Origins
According to the standard, monks at Saint-Hubert Abbey in the Ardennes bred the dog. It descends from the black or black-and-tan hunting hounds of Saint Hubert, the patron saint of hunters, in the 7th century. In the 11th century, William the Conqueror brought these dogs to England, where they became ancestors of the Bloodhound.
Temperament
The standard describes a gentle, calm, friendly and sociable dog, strongly attached to their person, compatible with other animals and never aggressive. Equally clearly, it calls them rather reserved and independent-minded, sensitive to praise and correction. Pressure achieves little; patience much.
Exercise and activity
The nose leads and the dog follows. Off-lead freedom is rarely wise for a dog capable of following a trail for hours. Mantrailing or tracking on a long line is ideal, alongside calm, long walks. Growth is rapid in puppies and young dogs, so keep jumping and boisterous play moderate during this time.
Grooming
The short coat needs little. Long ears, head folds and eyelids need more attention: clean and check regularly. The standard itself warns against exaggerated folds and loose lids. Expect drool too.
Health
Gastric torsion is a serious concern in the Bloodhound. In a British health survey of 15.881 deceased pedigree dogs, the breed was among those at highest risk of dying from it (Evans and Adams 2010). In an American cohort of large breeds including Bloodhounds, rapid eating and a raised bowl increased risk (Glickman et al. 2000). Feed several small meals from a bowl on the floor, allow rest afterwards and discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet.
Who does the Bloodhound suit?
Calm, experienced people with space, time and enthusiasm for scent work, who appreciate a gentle dog with a mind of their own.
Who is the breed less suited to?
First-time owners, small homes, very tidy households and anyone seeking an obedient off-lead dog.
To see whether a tracking dog of this size fits your life, try the breed quiz, with more thorough help in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For those first weeks with a puppy, try our free Puppy Starter Pack. Find a wall picture of your Bloodhound among our dog portraits from your own photo or as a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 84 Chien de Saint-Hubert (Bluthund) (fci.be, version dated 05.06.2002); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Evans KM, Adams VJ, Mortality and morbidity due to gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in pedigree dogs in the UK, Journal of Small Animal Practice 2010; Glickman LT et al., Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2000.
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