Train the equipment before the dog
A tracking harness and a strong lead are non-negotiable. Teach the dog what harness-on means, so gear becomes a cue rather than a wrestle.
Hound Group
Bloodhound
Possibly the finest scenting nose in the dog world, attached to a large, powerful, and famously unhurried animal. Wonderful with people; almost impossible to argue with once it has a line.
GentleStubbornSingle-minded
What to work on first
Three things that matter more than the rest
Let the dog track properly
A Bloodhound given real tracking work is a calm housemate. One walked around the block is a wall of frustration.
Patience is the method
Slow response is not defiance. Give the cue, wait, and pay the answer when it arrives instead of repeating yourself.
Where it usually goes wrong
Common challenges with the Bloodhound
- Pulling hard on lead
- Drool and skin folds
- Ignoring cues on scent
Behaviour that involves biting, real fear, or a sudden change in an adult dog is not a training problem until a vet has ruled out a medical one.
Read next
Guides that apply to the Bloodhound
Foundations
Building a Recall That Holds When It Matters
Most recalls fail in exactly one place: the first time the dog has a better offer. Here is how to build one that survives that moment.
10 min read
Foundations
Loose Lead Walking, Without the Argument
Pulling is not dominance and it is not stubbornness. It is a dog that has learned pulling works.
7 min read
Behaviour
Enrichment That Actually Tires a Dog Out
Ten minutes of scent work does more than a mile of walking. The reason is not mysterious.
6 min read
Recommended equipment
What our guidance for this breed calls for
Chosen against the training plan above, not against a supplier's bestseller list.
Trainer's pick
Steadyline Harness — Large & Giant Breeds
The same fit logic, built for a dog that outweighs you.
From $52.00