Bloodhound

The bloodhound is a large scent hound that was originally bred to hunt deer, wild boar, and, since the Middle Ages, people. It is thought to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert in Belgium and is known in French as le chien de Saint-Hubert.

This breed is well-known for its ability to detect human scents over long distances, even days later. Its exceptional sense of smell is combined with a strong and tenacious tracking instinct, resulting in the ideal scent hound, which is used by police and law enforcement around the world to track escaped prisoners, missing people, and lost pets.

Bloodhounds range in weight from 36 to 72 kg. At the withers, they stand 58 to 69 cm tall. Conformation judges prefer larger dogs, according to the AKC standard for the breed. Black, liver, and red are acceptable bloodhound colors. Bloodhounds have an unusually large skeleton, with the majority of their weight concentrated in their bones, which are unusually thick for their length. The coat of a scent hound is hard and made entirely of fur, with no hair admixture.

When following a scent, this breed is gentle and tireless. Because of its strong tracking instinct, it can be stubborn and difficult to train and handle on a leash. Bloodhounds are affectionate and patient with humans, making them excellent family pets.