Bloodhound Grooming

The Bloodhound is a hunting breed--so while overall Bloodhound grooming isn't too time-consuming, there are a few tasks that will need to be performed regularly to keep these outdoorsy dogs looking, smelling, and feeling good.

Here you'll find details on maintaining the Bloodhound coat, including plenty of info on bathing these big dogs. Get answers to your questions about Bloodhound grooming in the following sections!

Dogs of this breed have short, smooth coats--and while this fact would seem to make Bloodhound grooming a simple task, that isn't necessarily the case. The coats are double-layered, meaning Bloodhounds shed seasonally--so while weekly brushing with a bristle brush or grooming glove will be fine most of the time, daily brushing (along with the possible use of a shedding blade) will be necessary during the spring and fall shedding seasons. Luckily, the brushing process is easy: wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle, then use the brush or glove to go through the entire coat section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth.

Bloodhounds are also known for their "doggy odor," so monthly baths are best. The baths will also need to include ear cleaning. (See more details in the Bathing section below.) In addition, the skin folds around your Bloodhound's head, neck, and chest will need weekly cleaning with a damp cloth or sponge to keep them from becoming dirty, stinky, or even infected.

Bloodhounds' coats aren't long enough to be given any kind of hairstyle, so haircuts aren't needed at all.

And while owners can certainly learn to fulfill all Bloodhound grooming needs themselves, it's a good idea to take your Bloodhound to a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Bloodhound at home.

A few Bloodhound grooming tools will be necessary too, including a bristle brush or grooming glove (along with an optional shedding blade), canine shampoo, and canine ear cleaning solution.

Do Bloodhounds stink? Unfortunately, they often do. These hunting dogs can develop a not-so-pleasant Bloodhound odor if not bathed regularly. Your Bloodhound bath will need to happen at least once a month, or more often if the Bloodhound smell is bad.

It's also important to use canine shampoo when bathing a Bloodhound. The best shampoo for a Bloodhound includes brands like Earthbath, Vet's Best, and Rocco & Roxie--all of which will make your Bloodhound smell fresh and clean.

How to bathe a Bloodhound: first give the coat a good brushing. You can bathe your Bloodhound either in a bathtub (which hopefully has a spray nozzle attachment) or in an outdoor plastic pool using a garden hose. Wet the coat thoroughly, then apply some Bloodhound shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (And don't forget the legs, underbelly and tail!) Next clean the head, ears, and face with a washcloth; pay extra attention to the skin folds, and to the tips of the low-hanging outer ears (which can get dirty when the dog drags them on the ground while sniffing). Rinse the coat completely, towel-dry, then give the dog another quick brush-through.

Bath-time is also a good opportunity to clean your Bloodhound's ears. These dogs are known for getting ear infections more frequently than other breeds, because the inner ear collects dirt, grass, and other debris.

How to clean Bloodhound ears: use canine ear cleaning solution. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but the usual process is to squirt some solution into the ear canal, close the ear flap, then massage the outer ear for a few seconds to work in the liquid. The dog will probably shake its head vigorously--this is normal--and then you can use a cotton ball (never a Q-Tip!) to wipe out any remaining solution.