How Big Do Bloodhounds Get? [Average Height, Weight and Size]

Bloodhounds are widely known for their long ears, incredible sense of smell, hanging skin, and hunting ability. They are quite the iconic dog and are well known all around the world. But how big do they typically get? What can an owner expect when it comes to their height, weight, and general size? Here is what you want to know.

So, how big do bloodhounds get? Bloodhounds are classified as large-sized dogs, that will typically reach 23-27 inches in height, and weigh between 80-130 pounds at their full adult size. Males are typically larger and heavier, tending to average between 90-130 pounds. Whereas the females are often lighter and weigh as little as 80 pounds.

While they can be laid-back and loving, bloodhounds require a good amount of maintenance and care.

They have a tendency to wonder; being entirely committed to any scent that they pick up on. A strong leash comes strongly advised.

Let us now take a closer look at the average size of this dog.

We’ll also be looking at when you can expect this breed will be fully grown and equally reach their mental maturity.

Finally, we will be looking at some of the benefits and drawbacks of their size from an owners perspective.

So, be sure to keep reading to ensure you get all the information you need surrounding bloodhound care and their overall appearance.

What Is The Average Bloodhound Height, Weight, And Size?

The average height of a female Adult bloodhound is around 23 to 25 inches while their male counterpart ranges between 25 to 27 inches. However, some males can grow as tall as 32 inches.

On average, the female bloodhound weighs 36 to 45 kilograms (80 to 100 pounds) while the male weighs 40 to 60 kilograms (90 to 130 pounds).

They also possess a powerful set of strong legs; something in which has been developed in the breed following years of scenting through challenging terrain.

It comes as little surprise that the American Kernel Club (AKC) describe this dog as “large” and “substantial”.

When Is A Bloodhound Fully Grown?

Bloodhounds typically stop growing when they are 18 to 24 months old.

As you can imagine, as a large dog, they haver a lot of growing to do before then!

Bloodhound puppies therefore usually add 3 to 5 pounds weekly – this breed is known to grow rapidly.

However, the most growth in the life cycle of bloodhounds occurs when they are between 4 – 8 months old.

It is important to note that during the 4 to 8-month period, your bloodhound will need some additional care and you should take appropriate caution.

Their head, body, rib cage, spine, leg bones, and many other body parts are expanding in length and height and are much more vulnerable during this time. 

N.B. If your puppy appears to grow one body part every week, not to worry, at the end of the day, all his body parts will grow equally, it’s not unusual.

Here is a typical bloodhound development schedule, with the key milestones:

• At 2-3 Weeks old – Their eyes and ears open and they start to move around.
• At 2 Months old – They become old enough to depart their mother and the rest of the litter. This is when you can likely pick them up as their new owner. Also, this is a good time to start obedience training and introduce solid food.
• At 3 Months Old – Your bloodhound can begin to undergo light exercise, get vaccinated, and begin any de-worming.
• At 6-7 Months – Their coat grows in and adolescence kick in. This is when they begin to showcase their independence, disobedience, and fear: it’s time to begin obedience and leash training.
• At 9 months Old – You should look to transition them over adult food as they continue to grow.
• At 10 to 11 months Old – They develop sexually; females may begin spotting.
• At 18 to 24 Months Old and above– They reach their full adult sizes and can be classified as fully grown. Any growth, especially in weight, after this time may mean they are being fed too much or gaining unnecessary or unwanted weight.

When Does A Bloodhound Mentally Mature?

Bloodhounds are slow to mature, taking up to 2 years to become mentally aware of their surroundings and know the difference between good behavior and bad behavior.

You have to consider that these dogs reach puberty in 12 months and can reach their full adult size in as little as 18 months. For this reason you may have a full adult dog physically, but not yet mentally.

During puberty, the bloodhound may be clumsy and overexcited and follow any scent of interest and not fearful of eating whatever smell interesting.

There is this tendency to eat unsuitable objects which can range from car seats, batteries, towels, tv remote controls, and many other small objects.

You therefore need to be attentive to your dog during their early phases of life and help get them out of trouble.

Early socialization and puppy training classes comes advised. For this particular breed, starting obedience training while they are still young is best.

Otherwise, they can become set in their ways, holding onto behaviors latter in life that aren’t desirable and can cause issues.

As with any dog, training should always be based around positive reinforcement – treats and praise, as opposed to any punishment techniques.

While devoted and loyal, this dog is also somewhat stubborn and they do possess an independent streak. So when it comes to training, you are going to need to be patient and consistent.

What Contributes To A Bloodhounds Full Adult Size?

The two main factors that contribute to a bloodhounds size are genetics and diet.

Let’s start with genetics; as this is something in which is largely pre-defined.

As you can imagine, dogs typically grow to reach a similar size to their parents. Therefore, if you want to quickly get an appreciation of the size a puppy will grow into – look no further than the dogs used in the breeding.

The dogs in the lineage are the traits that your dog will be inheriting, so take this into consideration during any visit you undertake to a breeder.

Now moving onto diet. Since you’re whatever you eat, the same logic applies to dogs.

With the mammoth size of the bloodhound comes the craving for a nourishing diet to enhance growth. Bloodhounds require a lot of carbohydrates and animal-based fats/proteins as a source of their energy.

Furthermore, they need fiber, minerals, and vitamins for immune health and digestive functions. Omega fatty acids are also important for skin and coat wellness.

You can also add fresh fruit, vegetable, or lean meat toppings to one meal per day for your bloodhound.

What this means is that your bloodhound’s diet should comprise premium dry food and raw/fresh toppings.

Bloodhounds need to consume a balanced diet to grow healthy. But this should be appropriate to their age and current size.

Under no circumstances should you offer highly processed food to your bloodhound because it has little to no nutritional value.

Depending on the size, age, and activity levels, an adult bloodhound will require up to 5 cups of food divided into 2 servings daily, while the pup (below 6 months old) will need at least 3½ cups of food, divided into 3 servings daily.

Bloodhounds are a breed that are prone to becoming overweight. So you do need to consider everything that they eat and monitor their weight closely.

While you do not want to limit their intake too much as they are young or growing, you do not want them to become too heavy for their frames/joints.

Treats can be great while training but it is easy to overprovide them and cause unnecessary weight gain.

Perhaps one of the best things you can do is to contact your vet and speak to them about your dogs diet.

Do this regularly, during the different phases and stages of their life. They’ll be able to advise you further on exactly what to feed and when.

What Are The Benefits Of The Bloodhound Size?

Bloodhounds are elegant and big by nature, they exude strength and poise. If you want a dog to scare unwanted people to your property, a bloodhound is a great choice.

Bloodhounds have a huge presence and their big frame can make them appear intimidating. Thankfully, they are very social and good with other animals and kids – son they are great to be around and are generally safe.

Intruders are not to know this though!

Beyond this, bloodhounds are great outdoor companions. Bloodhounds love to go on outdoor adventures, and they do actually need a good amount of daily exercise.

Long daily walks can benefit both you and your dog alike, but it is advised to keep them on a leash while you do or otherwise they may chase a scent!

Nevertheless, these are huge, friendly dogs, the kind you want to take out for a walk and where you can safely meet others without worrying about any aggressive behavior.

What Are The Drawbacks Of The Bloodhound Size?

Bloodhounds require long daily walks to stretch their legs and exercise. This task can be a huge disadvantage for a handler or owner who is not willing, able or capable to do so.

Along similar lines, a lack of daily physical and mental exercise can lead to behavioral problems which can make your bloodhound difficult to control.

It doesn’t help that they can be stubborn and a challenge to train. So, as the owner or handler of a bloodhound, you need to position yourself as the alpha.

Naturally, Bloodhounds are hunting dogs which is why they are good at playing hide and seek. They have a very sensitive nose with a strong sense of smell.

Whenever you go out for a walk, a bloodhound can lose focus and if not kept on a leash or if you lose enough grip, they can wander off. It can also be quite to a place quite far away, an unknown destination in a bid to explore an unknown yet pleasing scent.

If this were to happen, you need to be patient and correct them gently when they do return or you are able to follow and catch up with them. Even if it is frustrating, worrying or concerning.

Furthermore, bloodhounds love to run and play in spacious environments. they are an active dog, and without having their needs met will otherwise become agitated, bored, and sad . This dog is known to express their unhappiness by destructive chewing and baying.

While bloodhounds are great with kids, they are not actually recommended to families with young children. This is because they can be very possessive with food and due to their sheer size can knock over or hurt a young child even accidentally.

Bloodhounds have also been known to display aggression if provoked. Again, this is not great for children, whom can grab them roughly, attempt to ride them, or disrespect them.

Bloodhounds are generally best suited to a single owner; being more of a one-man dog than a family dog.

Lastly, this is not the best dog to own if you are looking to take them out running.

Bloodhounds can’t run for long, they prefer to walk with their nose on the ground to pick up scents. However, they can walk long distances and not get tired – so you may just need to be willing to readjust your exercise patterns.

Exercise Ideas For Bloodhounds

Here are some of the various exercise ideas that you can try with your dog.

• Hunting: You can go hunting with your bloodhound as this is an opportunity for him to exhibit his natural given talents.
• Scent games: You can use this game to train their sense of smell by hiding a cookie, piece of meat of something that smells delicious and ask your hound to go look for it.
• Fetch: Instead of throwing a toy and saying fetch, take it a step further and hide the toy so your hound can sniff it out. This is a huge brain booster that can also increase the bond you share with your hound.
• Tug of war: You can also play tug of war with your hound by using an old towel or a rope and see who wins.
• Walking/hiking Both of you can burn calories and stay fit as you embark on a 1-hour hike, or two 30 minute walks.

The average bloodhound will require up to 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise to stay healthy and mentally fit.

For puppies that are three months old, you can take them on a 10-minute leash-walk, then increase the timing and distance as the puppy grows.

Things To Know Before Exercising A Bloodhound

Puppies that have not reached at least 9 months should never be allowed to partake in activities that include a lot of running, jumping and climbing.

This strenuous exercise can hurt their fragile bones and joints, and prevent them from growing optimally.

Regardless of age, whenever you go out with your bloodhounds, ensure to have a leash on so you can control their movements.

Hounds are fond of tracking interesting scents due to their incredible sense of smell so with the help of a leash, you can make sure they stay on track with you.

Even when you’re playing games in your house, make sure you have a secure fence or gate because your hound can jump the fence or go outside in pursuit of another animal with an interesting scent.

Finally

Bloodhounds are great dogs with many desirable traits. They have a loving temperament and are generally very gentle, patient, and mild-mannered.

That being said, this is a large dog breed, and they are known for having a stubborn and independent streak.

If you are looking to own one of these dogs then you will simply need to be willing to do two things:

1. Implement obedience training from a young age; being consistent and patient
2. Provide sufficient exercise and activity.

Nevertheless, so long as you are committed to their care, they can make a wonderful companion. They are highly intelligent, reliable dogs after all.

If you are interested in this particular breed, then be sure to read my following Bloodhound guides:

• How Much Does A Bloodhound Cost? [Complete Owners Price Guide]
• Are Bloodhounds Aggressive? [What Owners Will Want To Know]
• Do Bloodhounds Shed? [When, Why And How To Manage]