Hound · Belgium / United Kingdom
Bloodhoundtemperament, daily life and costs
Kind, enormous and led by its nose. A Bloodhound needs secure land, tolerance for drool and patient training with modest expectations.
Origin & original purpose: Refined as a scent hound capable of following a human trail over great distance.
- They usually live
- 8–12 years
- Roughly, per year
- €1800–3000
Life with a Bloodhound
What people love about them
- Forms a meaningful bond with the right household
- Brings the original working character into everyday life
- Can thrive when its real needs are planned for
Things to weigh up honestly
- You need tidy floors, clean walls or easy recall
- Secure high fencing is not possible
- Bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, ear and skin infections, eye disease and heart issues occur.
What they're like
Some breeds shed less than others, which people with allergies sometimes find easier to live with. But no dog is completely allergy-free, and reactions vary from person to person.
A typical day together
- 07:00
Morning Routine
A walk of 35–53 minutes before the day starts properly. Needs something to think about every day. Without it, walks alone won't be enough.
- 12:00
Midday & Independence
A few quiet hours alone are fine once they've had a proper morning.
- 17:30
Evening Energy Burn
A longer outing later on — 70–105 minutes across the day in total — then settling down with you.
- 21:00
Decompression & Care
A quick brush once a week is usually enough
Estimated daily active commitment: ~1.5 hours
What they ask of you
- Exercise
- 70–105 min a day
- Your time
- 9–14 hours a week
- Walks, training, coat care and play together
- Space
- Really wants space — a garden and room to move suits them far better
- Coat care
- A quick brush once a week is usually enough
- Typical yearly cost
- €1800–3000
- Food, insurance, routine vet care and grooming. Illness and emergencies come on top.
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- The whole of that time is the commitment, not just the puppy year.
What a year with this dog costs
An honest estimate, built from this breed's size and coat. Adjust the two things that really move the number, and you'll see the range change as you go.
Where you live
Insurance included
Professional grooming
- Food
- €650–€955
- Routine vet care and insurance
- €715–€1,080
- Grooming
- €40–€110
- Equipment and consumables
- €200–€355
- Buffer for the unexpected
- €195–€500
Your likely year
€1,800–€3,000
about €150–€250 a month
Real costs vary by country, by the size and appetite of your own dog, and by their health. Illness, dental work and emergencies can sit well above this range, which is why the buffer is here at all.
Best suited for
- People who are outdoors every day, whatever the weather
- People who have lived with a dog before
- Family homes with children around
- Someone who likes a dog with its own opinions
Important things to consider
- Vocal by nature, which matters where neighbours are close
- Strong on the lead until loose-lead work is solid
- Boredom shows up fast, usually as unwanted behaviour
- Struggles in hot weather — summer walks need rethinking
Health considerations
Bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, ear and skin infections, eye disease and heart issues occur.
A poor match if…
- You need tidy floors, clean walls or easy recall
- Secure high fencing is not possible
- A giant dog’s food, transport and vet costs are beyond budget
Key trade-offs
- Gentle temperament, overwhelming logistics
- World-class nose, limited obedience once scent takes over
Questions people ask before committing to a Bloodhound
- Is a Bloodhound good with children?
- Yes — a Bloodhound is typically patient and easy-going with children, as long as the dog gets rest and children learn to respect it.
- Can a Bloodhound live in an apartment?
- Honestly, apartment life is a poor fit for most Bloodhounds. Space, noise and the daily walks in and out of a building make it hard work for both of you.
- How much exercise does a Bloodhound need each day?
- Plan for around 90 minutes of real activity a day, split into more than one outing, plus something that uses its head — scent games, training, or a proper sniffing walk.
- Does a Bloodhound shed a lot?
- Moderate shedding all year, with heavier periods in spring and autumn. Brushing a few times a week makes a real difference.
- Is a Bloodhound a good first dog?
- Possible for a determined first-time owner with good help — a trainer from week one, and realistic expectations.
- How long can a Bloodhound be left alone?
- Around 3 hours at a stretch once fully grown and gradually trained for it. Longer days need a dog walker, day care or someone dropping in — and a puppy needs far shorter stretches at first.
- What does a Bloodhound cost per year?
- Budget roughly €1800–3000 a year for food, routine vet care, insurance, grooming and everyday kit. Country, size and individual health move that figure quite a bit, and a single unlucky year can cost more.
These answers come from the same trait numbers used everywhere on DoggMatch — no marketing, no guesswork.
Read more before you decide
The guides that matter most for this breed, written in plain language.
Compare with similar breeds
Side by side on exercise, coat, time alone and cost — the things that decide how the week actually feels.
- Bloodhound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Basset Hound
Beagle
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