Canis lupus familiaris
Bloodhound
Featured photobloodhound.jpgThe Bloodhound is a ancient Belgian abbey scent-hound from which most modern coonhound and southern-hound lines descend. The Bloodhound descends from the Saint-Hubert hounds bred at the Belgian Abbey of Saint-Hubert in the Ardennes from the 7th century onward.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Hound
- Origin country
- Belgium / France / United Kingdom
- Origin period
- Pre-12th century (St Hubert lineage)
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Black and Tan, Liver and Tan, Red
- Average lifespan
- 7-10 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1885 · FCI 1954 · UKC 1893 · Group 6 — Scent Hounds and Related Breeds (Section 1.1: Large-sized Hounds)
Origin
The breed descends from the Saint-Hubert hounds bred at the Belgian Abbey of Saint-Hubert in the Ardennes from at least the 7th century, where Saint Hubert (the patron saint of hunters) was abbot. The hounds reached England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and were prized by the medieval aristocracy for their unmatched scenting ability; English manuscripts of the 14th century describe them as 'sleuth hounds' (sleuth from Old Norse sloth, meaning trail). The American Kennel Club registered the breed in 1885.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1885, the United Kennel Club followed in 1893, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 84) in 1954. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 6 — Scent Hounds and Related Breeds (Section 1.1: Large-sized Hounds).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a powerful, deep-bodied scent hound with a long, narrow skull, deep flews, long pendulous ears that fold inward and reach below the muzzle, and pronounced loose skin around the head and neck. The short, dense coat is recognized in black-and-tan, liver-and-tan, and solid red. Males stand 64-69 cm at the withers, females 58-63 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bloodhound's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Bloodhound in the Hound Group. The Hound Group gathers breeds developed for the hunt, broadly split into scent hounds (Bloodhound, Beagle, Coonhounds) and sight hounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Borzoi). The breed's foundation working role was as a ancient Belgian abbey scent-hound from which most modern coonhound and southern-hound lines descend.
When was the Bloodhound officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1885; the United Kennel Club followed in 1893; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 84) in 1954.
What is the average lifespan of a Bloodhound?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Bloodhound's average lifespan in the 7-10 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
