A familiar looking wrinkly and long eared dog, the Bloodhound breed is more than one thousand years old. Originally bred in Belgium by the monks of St. Hubert, the monks selectively bred Bloodhounds with other hounds to perfect the scenting ability of this breed. Bloodhounds were brought into England and eventually America. Bloodhounds have the strongest scenting ability of all hounds and are known for the ability to track scents over long distances that may be days old.

Today, Bloodhounds are bred for the specific purpose of tracking human beings and are used to track victims of disasters or used by the police to track down suspects. Part of the Bloodhound history includes being used in the United States to track down runaway slaves. However, Bloodhounds are not hunters. They do not enjoy killing the prey, just capturing it. They will surround the prey and bay to let the master know its location. Male Bloodhounds will grow to between 25 and 27 inches and weigh 90 to 110 pounds. Female Bloodhounds will average 23 to 25 inches in height and 80 to 100 in weight. This large breed of dog will live about 10 to 12 years.

Bloodhounds have shorthaired coats that are easy to care for and can be black and tan, liver and tan and red and tawny. However, even with regular cleaning, Bloodhounds are sometimes described as having a strong 'dog' odor that will not go away. Bloodhounds tend to drool more than most dogs, and are also prone to howl and snore more as well. Described as kind, patient and affectionate, Bloodhounds are a good family dog and do well with children. In fact, many Bloodhounds will allow children to climb all over and will not react in any way. However, exercise caution when Bloodhounds are around children. This large dog may knock over smaller children accidentally.

Bloodhounds need firm and consistent training since they can be strong-minded. This is especially true (and especially important) when out with a Bloodhound, as they will take off after a scent that has caught their attention. Bloodhounds can live in any environment, provided they are exercised at least once a day. Bloodhounds can have medical problems including bloat, stomach cramps, hip dysplasia and ear infections. A padded bed is recommended to avoid calluses on the joints. Some tend to get entropion, where the eyelids turn inward.