Are bloodhounds hypoallergenic?
No, bloodhounds are not hypoallergenic. They shed fairly consistently throughout the year and are one of the heavier drooling breeds, and both shedding and drool carry the proteins that trigger most pet allergies. For anyone with a genuine allergy, a bloodhound is one of the less suitable breed choices rather than a borderline one.
What hypoallergenic actually means for a dog
No dog breed is completely allergen-free, since the proteins that trigger most pet allergies come from dander, saliva and urine rather than from the hair itself. A so-called hypoallergenic breed simply sheds less hair and dander into the environment, which reduces exposure rather than eliminating the allergen altogether.
That is an important distinction, because it means even a low-shedding breed can still trigger a reaction in someone with a significant allergy, just generally less often or less severely than a heavier shedding breed would.
Why bloodhounds are a particularly poor match
Bloodhounds carry a short but dense coat that sheds steadily across the year rather than in one obvious seasonal burst, which means loose hair and the dander attached to it are being shed into the home more or less constantly.
Drool is the other major factor, and bloodhounds are known for producing a lot of it, particularly around the jowls. Saliva carries allergenic proteins too, and a breed that drools heavily spreads that around furniture, floors and hands in a way that a drier-mouthed breed does not.
What actually helps if allergies are a concern
Regular grooming, frequent cleaning of surfaces the dog has drooled or shed on, and keeping the dog out of bedrooms can all reduce exposure somewhat, but none of it removes the allergen source entirely for a breed that sheds and drools this consistently.
For someone with a genuine, diagnosed pet allergy, the honest answer is that a different breed, ideally one that is both lower-shedding and a lighter drooler, is a more realistic long-term choice than trying to manage a bloodhound's coat and drool around the allergy.
Keeping a bloodhound's coat and drool manageable anyway
For an owner without allergies who simply wants to keep shedding and mess under control, regular brushing several times a week lifts loose hair out before it ends up on furniture and floors, and keeping a cloth handy for drool is a genuinely normal part of life with the breed.
None of that changes the underlying allergen load in the home, but it does make the practical side of living with a bloodhound, the hair and the drool, considerably easier to stay on top of day to day.
Kit for this breed
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad
A quilted, machine-washable training pad that absorbs accidents and locks in moisture with a leak-resistant base. Reusable for puppy toilet training and senior dogs, in several bone and paw prints.
From£7.99
Microfibre Pet Drying Robe
A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.
From£10.99
Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe
A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.
From£13.99
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Common questions
- Is any dog breed truly hypoallergenic?
- No, not completely. Every dog produces some dander and saliva, which are the proteins most pet allergies react to. Some breeds shed and drool far less than others, which lowers exposure, but none eliminate the allergen source entirely.
- Why do bloodhounds drool so much?
- Their loose jowls and lips do not hold saliva in as neatly as a tighter-mouthed breed, so drool collects and drops more visibly and more often. It is simply a feature of the breed's physical structure rather than a sign of anything being wrong.
- Would a bloodhound cross be more suitable for someone with allergies?
- It depends entirely on which traits the cross inherits, and coat and drool characteristics can vary a great deal even within one litter. There is no reliable guarantee that crossing a bloodhound with a lower-shedding breed will produce a genuinely allergy-friendly result.
- What breeds are generally better for allergy sufferers than a bloodhound?
- Breeds with a tighter, curlier, lower-shedding coat and less prominent drooling are generally considered easier for allergy sufferers, though individual reactions vary a great deal from person to person, so spending time with a specific dog before committing is always worth doing.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.