The short answer
You can adopt a Bloodhound in Perth, though purebreds are uncommon in rescue, so set alerts across Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park, RSPCA WA at Malaga, the foster-based SAFE Perth and SAFE, and PetRescue, be application-ready, and stay open to a Bloodhound cross or an older dog. Adoption runs about $600 for an adult, all-inclusive, against several thousand dollars from a breeder, and the breed is not restricted in WA. The honest part is the reality of the breed: a large, gentle but stubborn scent hound that drools, needs secure fencing for its nose, patient training, and protection from the Perth heat. Meet those needs and you have one of the most affectionate hounds there is.
Why Bloodhounds end up in Perth rescue
Understanding why a Bloodhound lands in rescue tells you most of what you need to know about living with one.
Bought for the gentle looks, met as a big scent hound. The Bloodhound is a gentle, soulful-looking dog, and plenty are chosen on looks. Underneath is a large working scent hound bred to follow a trail for miles, with the size, drive and stubbornness that implies. An owner who pictured a calm, easy giant can find far more hound than they planned for.
The nose runs the dog. Once a Bloodhound is on a scent, its recall all but vanishes, so it needs secure fencing and life on a lead in open areas. An owner who lets a scent hound off in an unfenced space quickly learns why, and a dog that keeps escaping to follow a trail is a common path to surrender.
Size, drool and life changes. The Bloodhound is large, drools heavily, is slow and stubborn to train, and needs real space and budget, and the drool and size catch some owners out. Others reach rescue through no fault of their own after a move or a change in circumstances. The dog is usually gentle and sound; it just needs the right home.
What this means for you. A Bloodhound in rescue is rarely a broken dog. It is usually a gentle, affectionate hound whose size, nose or training needs outran its last home. If you have experience with big or hound breeds, you can provide secure fencing and patient training, and you are ready for the drool and the space, you are looking at a wonderful adoption.
Where to adopt a Bloodhound or cross in Perth
Because Bloodhounds are uncommon in general rescue, a wide alert net is the right approach. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider, and add large-dog and hound foster networks. For a fuller directory, see our Perth adoption resources hub.
1. Dogs' Refuge Home WA
A dogs-only, not-for-profit shelter at Shenton Park in inner Perth, running since 1935 and one of Australia's oldest animal welfare agencies. It houses a changing mix of dogs under a pro-life policy, and large hounds and crosses appear from time to time. Adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check, and staff can talk through the real demands of a big dog. Browse the current dogs at dogshome.org.au.
2. RSPCA Western Australia
The state welfare body, running since 1892, with its Animal Care Centre at 108 Malaga Drive in Malaga, northern Perth. Adoptions run by appointment, and every animal is health- and behaviour-checked before it is listed. That assessment gives you an honest read on a big hound's temperament and health before you commit. Apply at rspcawa.org.au.
3. SAFE Perth and SAFE
Both run a foster-care model rather than a central metro shelter, so larger dogs such as a Bloodhound cross live in homes while they wait. Because the dog lives in a foster home, the notes on its size, drool, recall, training and behaviour with people and other animals tend to be detailed and honest. SAFE Perth lists at safeperth.com.au and SAFE at safe.org.au. Both operate under the SAFE banner in WA, so confirm which organisation holds a given dog.
4. PetRescue
A national aggregator that lists Bloodhounds and crosses from many smaller WA rescue groups in one searchable place, at petrescue.com.au. It is the fastest way to scan many WA rescues at once rather than checking each site in turn.
Be wary of any group that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and registered status. Browse the current Bloodhounds and crosses on the Perth Bloodhound listings.
What a Bloodhound costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Bloodhound or cross through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, and the rare puppy usually more, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Bloodhound from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet.
Council registration is a separate legal step, set by your local council rather than a single Perth figure. Under the Dog Act 1976, a dog must be microchipped by 3 months and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months. A desexed and microchipped dog pays a substantially reduced registration fee, and pensioner or concession card holders commonly get a further discount. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub and your own council for the current amount.
The ongoing cost of a Bloodhound is a big-dog one: a lot of food, routine ear and skin-fold care, large-dog vet costs, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young. Adopting an assessed adult lets you see the size and temperament up front rather than gamble on a puppy, and it is many times cheaper than a breeder price with the vet work already done.
Bloodhounds and Western Australian dog law
The Bloodhound is not a restricted breed in Western Australia. Under the Dog Act 1976, only five breeds are restricted: the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. The Bloodhound is legal to own and to rehome normally. It simply needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a substantially reduced fee for a desexed and microchipped dog. The dangerous-dog framework under the Dog Act applies to any breed by behaviour, which is a reason to socialise and securely contain any dog rather than a breed-specific concern here.
Browse adoptable Bloodhounds in Perth
Bloodhounds are uncommon in rescue, so crosses and older dogs appear more often than purebred puppies. Browse live WA listings and set an alert so you hear the moment one comes in.
See Available Bloodhounds →If you have been searching “Bloodhound for sale Perth”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for a Bloodhound to buy, and that makes sense, because the for-sale listings outnumber the rescue ones. Reputable breeders exist, but before you spend anything, know that any large purebred is a target for backyard breeders and scam listings. A cheap puppy, or a deposit request for a dog you have not met in person, is a warning sign rather than a bargain, and Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for puppies that do not exist.
A seller who will not show you both healthy parents is a red flag rather than a mark of quality. WA does not run a Pet Exchange Register or a breeder supply-number scheme, so there is no source number to look up here. The practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay anything. Adoption sidesteps much of that: it costs a fraction of a breeder price, gives a vet-checked dog a home, and an assessed adult Bloodhound asks far less guesswork about size and temperament than a puppy. The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase has good general guidance on choosing a dog and avoiding poorly bred puppies.
Adult or puppy, and how to choose
For almost every adopter an assessed adult is the more responsible choice, and Bloodhound puppies are rare in rescue anyway. An adult shows you its real size, temperament and health, often has some training in place, and comes with a lower adoption fee and a rescue assessment of how it is with people, other dogs and being left alone. A huge, slow-maturing hound is a serious commitment as a puppy, so an assessed adult matched to an experienced home takes much of the gamble out.
When you choose, read the foster carer's notes closely. They will tell you how a specific dog does with children, other pets and being left alone, how strong its scent drive and recall are, and how it copes with heat, and that record predicts the fit far better than the breed average. A settled older Bloodhound is often the gentlest, most affectionate match for an experienced adopter with the space and patience the breed asks for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a Bloodhound near me in Perth?
Start with the main Perth shelters and rescues: Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park, RSPCA WA at Malaga, and the foster-based rescues SAFE Perth and SAFE. Purebred Bloodhounds are uncommon in rescue, so Bloodhound crosses, often blended with other hound or large breeds, show up more often than full purebreds. Set listing alerts across every rescue you would consider, have your application ready, and stay open to a cross or an older dog. PetRescue lists dogs from many smaller WA rescues in one place. Never send money before you have confirmed a real, registered rescue.
Why do Bloodhounds end up in rescue?
Almost always because the size, the nose and the stubbornness outran what the owner expected. The Bloodhound is a large scent hound with possibly the best nose in dogdom, and once it is on a scent its recall all but disappears, so it needs secure fencing and life on a lead in open areas. It drools heavily, is famously stubborn to train, and needs patient, reward-based handling and steady exercise. Taken on for its gentle looks without that understanding, it can overwhelm an owner, which is a common path to surrender. Others reach rescue through no fault of their own after a move or a change in circumstances. The temperament is usually gentle and intact; most just needed an owner ready for a big, scent-driven hound.
How much does it cost to adopt a Bloodhound versus buy one?
Adoption is far cheaper up front. A rescue fee for an adult Bloodhound or cross through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, and the rare puppy usually more, and that fee already includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Bloodhound from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper at the outset and the dog arrives already vetted. Where a Bloodhound gets expensive is the ongoing care: it is a large breed, so budget for big-dog food quantities, routine ear and skin-fold care, large-dog vet costs, and pet insurance you take out while the dog is young.
Are Bloodhounds restricted in Western Australia?
No. The Bloodhound is not a restricted breed in WA. The five restricted breeds under the Dog Act 1976 are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. The Bloodhound is legal to own and to rehome normally. Like any WA dog it needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months. A desexed and microchipped dog pays a substantially reduced council registration fee.
Can a Bloodhound be let off the lead in Perth?
Rarely, and only in genuinely secure areas. The Bloodhound was bred to follow a scent for miles, and when its nose takes over, its recall all but disappears, so most owners treat it as an on-lead dog in any open or unfenced space. Secure fencing at home matters as much, both to keep the dog in and because a WA yard can bring a dog into contact with snakes and wildlife. Exercise is best in the cool of early morning or late evening in a Perth summer, with water on hand, because a large, heavy-coated hound feels the heat.
Is a Bloodhound a good first dog?
For most first-time owners, no. The Bloodhound is a large, powerful, stubborn scent hound that drools heavily, is slow and independent to train, needs secure containment and patient handling, and takes up real space and budget. It is gentle and affectionate, which is the appeal, but the day-to-day reality is a lot of dog. If you have experience with large or hound breeds, you can commit to patient training and secure fencing, and you are ready for the drool and the size, a rescue Bloodhound is a wonderful companion. If this would be your first dog, be honest with the rescue about your experience.
Are Bloodhounds good with children and other pets?
With the right upbringing they usually are. A well-socialised Bloodhound is famously gentle, patient and affectionate, and many are good with children they live with, though the sheer size and the drool mean supervision around small children is basic sense, and a wagging, powerful hound can knock a toddler over without meaning to. Many live happily with other dogs. A foster carer who has lived with the individual dog can tell you exactly how it is with children and other animals, which matters more than the breed average.
Should I adopt an adult Bloodhound or a puppy?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, and Bloodhound puppies are rare in rescue anyway. An adult shows you its real size, temperament and health, often has some training in place, and comes with a lower adoption fee and a rescue assessment of how it is with people and other pets. Bloodhound puppies are huge, clumsy, fast-growing and slow to mature, so raising one is a serious job, and an assessed adult matched to an experienced home is the lower-guesswork way into the breed.
Is it safe to buy a Bloodhound online?
Be careful. Any large purebred is a target for backyard breeders and scam listings. A cheap puppy, a deposit request for a dog you have not met in person, or a seller who will not show you both healthy parents is a warning sign rather than a bargain, and Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for puppies that do not exist. WA has no breeder source-number register to look up, so the practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay anything. Adoption sidesteps most of that risk.
Keep reading
Adoptable Bloodhounds in Perth
Live listings of Bloodhounds and crosses across Perth and WA rescues.
Best Dog Rescues in Perth
The shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with across Perth and WA.
Registering a Dog in Perth
Microchipping, council registration and the WA rules for a new dog.
All Dogs for Adoption in Perth
Every adoptable dog we track across Perth and WA shelters and rescues, updated regularly.