海角大神

Bloodhounds are models of perseverance. Once they begin tracking a scent, other odors don鈥檛 distract them. They鈥檝e been known to follow a trail for 130 miles.

So perhaps it鈥檚 fitting that it took them over 140 years to win the canine Super Bowl, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Trumpet, a big and noble bloodhound so wrinkled that his jowls have jowls of their own, took best in show at Westminster on Wednesday night.听

He triumphed over Winston, a smiley French bulldog, and crowd favorite Striker, an immaculate and personable Samoyed, among others.

His handler and co-owner Heather Helmer said she was 鈥渟hocked鈥� at Trumpet鈥檚 win.

鈥淚 feel like sometimes a bloodhound might be a little bit of an underdog,鈥� she said.

Bloodhounds have been at the Westminster Kennel Club since 1878. They鈥檝e won the hound group of the club鈥檚 show 22 times since 1941. But they鈥檝e never walked away with top honors before.

If 鈥渂est nose鈥� were a category, they鈥檇 have an unbroken winning streak. They can distinguish smells than humans, and far better than other dogs, even scent hounds like beagles.听

Owners say they are sweet and loving companions. But the nose rules their life. They can鈥檛 be walked off leash. If a rabbit stirs a county over, they might be off.听

They鈥檙e big. They need exercise. There is drool.

Underneath all that loose skin, though, there is charm. Take Trumpet. Outside the ring 鈥渉e has a lot of attitude, and he鈥檚 a little crazy,鈥� said Ms. Helmer.听

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