Basset Hound vs Bloodhound

A Basset Hound
Photo: Clara S.
A Bloodhound
Photo: Bruce

Side by side

Basset Hound
Bloodhound
Adult weight
18–29 kg (40–65 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 46–54 kg (101–119 lb); females 40–48 kg (88–106 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 33–38 cm; females 33–38 cm3
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.5 years4
Median 9.3 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
13 months, both sexes5
Group
Scent hounds3
Scent hounds6
Coat
Short coat3
Short coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Dry eye (far more likely); Skin fold inflammation (far more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Field

Which suits you

Size
The Bloodhound is much larger: about 47 kg (104 lb) as an adult, against 24 kg (52 lb) for the Basset Hound.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Basset Hound lives longer: a median of 12.5 years, against 9.3 for the Bloodhound.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Basset Hound: a lap or leaning dog; Bloodhound: affectionate on its own terms) and on loyalty (Basset Hound: friendly with everyone; Bloodhound: bonded to its family).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Basset Hound
Scent hounds · Medium

Bred to hunt in packs, the Basset is sociable with people and other dogs and placid at home, though single-minded once it picks up a scent. It has a deep, carrying bay.

Bloodhound
Scent hounds · Giant

By nature it is affectionate and gentle, somewhat reserved with strangers, and wholly absorbed once on a scent, giving tongue in a deep, resonant bay.

The Basset Hound page →The Bloodhound page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Basset Hound
Bloodhound
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Basset Hound
Bloodhound
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Basset Hound
Bloodhound
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Bloodhound grows to the heavier adult, about 47 kg against the Basset Hound's 24 kg.
Basset Hound
Bloodhound
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More comparisons

Compare the Basset Hound with
Basset Hound vs BeagleBasset Hound vs Petit Basset Griffon VendeenBlack and Tan Coonhound vs BloodhoundAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·