Bloodhound

The bloodhound is also called St. Hubert hound (especially in Belgium and France) because its ancestry can be traced to the monastery of St. Hubert in Belgium. It was bred as a pack hound and used to track game - this it would do relentlessly for days on end if required. In the eleventh century, the Saint Hubert reached Britain with William the Conqueror, and was then selectively bred and refined.

Sir Walter Scott had a tomcat called Hinse who tormented the writer’s dogs until a bloodhound called Nimrod killed him in 1826. 

A bloodhound called Ludivine joined the Elkmont Half Marathon in Alabama on January 16, 2016, after her owners let her out for a quick break on race day, not realizing the excitement unfolding nearby.

Drawn by the energy and commotion, Ludivine wandered onto the marathon route and happily trotted alongside the runners. Despite having no training or leash, Ludivine enthusiastically ran the entire 13.1 miles, even stopping to sniff interesting smells and socialize with cows along the way. She crossed the finish line in an impressive seventh place overall, beating out many human competitors. This unexpected canine feat captured hearts worldwide. Ludivine became a local hero and even received a medal for her participation.

Bloodhounds are large dogs, with males typically weighing between 80 and 110 pounds and standing 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. Females are slightly smaller, typically weighing between 65 and 90 pounds and standing 21 to 25 inches tall.

Bloodhounds have a short, dense coat that is typically black and tan, liver and tan, or red. They are relatively low-maintenance dogs, but they do require regular brushing to remove dead hair and prevent mats.

Bloodhounds are generally healthy dogs, but they are prone to certain health conditions, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and skin allergies. They also have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, which is shorter than some other breeds.

Despite their large size and powerful appearance, Bloodhounds are known for their gentle and affectionate nature. They are generally friendly, patient, and good-natured dogs, making them suitable family pets.

Bloodhounds are renowned for their exceptional sense of smell. They possess the ability to track scents over great distances and are often used in search and rescue operations and criminal investigations.

The bloodhound's nose consists of approximately 230 million olfactory cells, or “scent receptors” — forty times the number in humans. They have been used to trail human scent since Roman times.

The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court. Its sensitive nose is used in court to match scene-of-crime evidence to criminals.

Bloodhounds have an incredible ability to track scents that are days, and sometimes even weeks, old. They have been known to follow a scent trail over various terrains and obstacles, demonstrating their persistence and determination.

Bloodhounds are known for their loose, wrinkled skin, especially around their face and neck. This loose skin helps to trap scent particles, aiding them in their tracking abilities. They also have long, droopy ears that help funnel scents towards their nose.

The bloodhounds’ long ears not only help their hearing, but also aid their sense of smell. By dragging their ears along the ground, they sweep up particles that make up a scent trail.

A Bloodhound named Tigger holds the Guinness World Record for the longest ears on a living dog. Tigger's ears measured 34.9 cm (13.75 inches) for the left ear and 34.2 cm (13.5 inches) for the right ear, giving him a total ear span of 69.2 cm (27.25 inches)!

Source Daily Mail