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Animal register · DogIn the app

Bloodhound

St. Hubert Hound, Chien de Saint-Hubert, Sleuth Hound

The Bloodhound comes from Belgium, where the FCI lists it as the Chien de Saint-Hubert, a large scent hound. The FCI standard describes the most powerful of all the scent hounds: gentle, placid, kind and sociable with people and particularly attached to its owner, with a short, dense, weatherproof coat and supple, loose skin. Males are about 46–54 kg and females about 40–48 kg; the three colours are black and tan, liver and tan, and red.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day, says the breed suits a large house with a large garden, needs grooming once a week and sheds. The PDSA says Bloodhounds are better suited to experienced owners, are not recommended for homes with smaller children or smaller pets because of their size and very high prey drive, drool, and need their skin folds kept clean and dry. It also advises leaving a gap between eating and exercising.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Bloodhound — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
large — The Royal Kennel Club S502
Adult weight
about males 46–54 kg, females 40–48 kg — FCI S501
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S502
Brushing
once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S502
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S502
Lifespan
less than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S502

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • an active familyS502
  • a large house and gardenS502

Keep in mind:

  • needs lots of exercise every dayS502
  • powerful dog — needs an experienced ownerS503
  • large dog — not for homes with small childrenS503
  • shedsS502
  • drools — keep a cloth at handS503
  • shorter lifespanS502
  • eyelids and eyes — check eye testsS503
  • strong prey drive — may chase small petsS503

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S502

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S502
  • Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S502
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S502

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: less than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S502

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 18–24 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S502
  • Height at the withers: males 64–72 cm, females 58–66 cm — FCI S501
  • Adult weight: about males 46–54 kg, females 40–48 kg — FCI S501

Training

  • No. 74 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 84, group 6 (scent hounds and related breeds); origin: Belgium. — FCI S500

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Bloodhound need?

According to our sources, the Bloodhound needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S502.

How long does a Bloodhound live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Bloodhound is: less than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S502.

How big does a Bloodhound get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Bloodhound, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S502; Adult weight: about males 46–54 kg, females 40–48 kg — FCI S501.

How much grooming does a Bloodhound need?

Coat and grooming of the Bloodhound, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S502; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S502; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S502.

Who is the Bloodhound a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Bloodhound as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club S502; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S502. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club S502; powerful dog — needs an experienced owner — PDSA S503; large dog — not for homes with small children — PDSA S503; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S502; drools — keep a cloth at hand — PDSA S503; shorter lifespan — The Royal Kennel Club S502; eyelids and eyes — check eye tests — PDSA S503; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S503.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 61 (5.1 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.5× its speed).
  • Becomes a senior in month 61 (5.1 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing once a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, The Kennel Club S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S502S505

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — PDSA S503
  • Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PDSA S503
  • Eyelids that turn inwards (entropion) or outwards (ectropion) can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PDSA S503
  • Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S503
  • The breed is prone to ear infections; keep a close eye on ear hygiene. — PDSA S503

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Royal Kennel Club S502
  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S502
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S502

Further tests for best practice

  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S502

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S500FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — CHIEN DE SAINT HUBERT (84)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/CHIEN-DE-SAINT-HUBERT-84.html
  11. S501FCI — FCI-Standard N° 84 CHIEN DE SAINT-HUBERT (Bloodhound), English (PDF)https://WWW.FCI.BE/Nomenclature/Standards/084g06-en.pdf
  12. S502The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — Bloodhoundhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/hound/bloodhound/
  13. S503PDSA — Bloodhound Breed Informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/bloodhound
  14. S505The Kennel Club — Breed Health and Conservation Plan (BHCP): Bloodhound, version 3, June 2019 (PDF, hosted by the Association of Bloodhound Breeders)https://associationofbloodhoundbreeders.co.uk/_files/ugd/b32d2a_08b88158e662433e96c2435160de4818.pdf
  15. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  16. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  17. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  18. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  19. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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