Tag Archives: coonhound

Weekend on Wednesday

  By

Yeah, I’m behind!  I’ve been busy the last couple days!  We had a very busy weekend of dog stuff…let me help you catch up.

Saturday dawned with a quick dog park trip. Nothing exciting happened though-in fact, Daisy was less enthusiastic than normal. I think Grannie tipped her off about the fun she was going to have that night so Daisy was saving up her energy.

In front of the sea plane

Saturday night Grandpa, Daisy, and I drove to a nearby town for a Pups on the Patio event. It was the first one they have had, and it will be the first Saturday each month.  It was more than one patio though. There were several businesses and restaurants along a street on a lake that opened their patios to everyone’s well behaved pooches. It was set up as a fundraiser for the local Humane Society. For 10 bucks you could get 1 adult or 1 non adult beverage at 4 or 5 different places. Well worth it if you want to do a pub crawl with your dog!  LOL

So, Grandpa and I chose the Irish pub to eat at mostly because it is hot here and the patio was completely covered. The food was great and Daisy behaved like a lovely lady. No begging for food, and no pulling on the leash to meet other dogs. She even laid down for a bit and relaxed.

Although I’m living in a relatively rural area I was surprised at all the “rare” type dogs that were there. Chinese Crested, Wheaten Terriers, a Bull Terrier, an Akita, and although not a rare breed, it is rare to see 7 standard poodles all together!

Yes, you are seeing that right. Daisy got to take a horse and carriage ride Saturday!  It was another fund raiser for the Humane Society.  Really, it was just like riding in a car for her I think. I had been a tad worried- her only other previous experience with a horse was police horses and she did not want to be nice to them!  She didn’t even really notice the horse at all this time. The driver recognized her right away! All night I had been being asked about my “bloodhound” but this lady knew a Black and Tan Coonhound right away. She had one once upon a time and hadn’t seen one in years.  I am glad I could bring back some happy memories.

Driving to go hiking-yep it's a dirt road.

Sunday, I wanted to make sure to do something Bella would have fun doing. So hiking it was!! It is the first time we went hiking in this area and oh boy did we learn a lesson (Grannie and I). You see, in all the urban area hiking the girls and I have done we have yet to of encountered one type of prey. Deer. Well, I should say tracks of deer as there were no deer to be seen (thank goodness!).

Bella turned into a crazy hunting dog! I almost couldn’t believe she had it in her. There was no anxiety. Just a need to GO! She pulled so hard, without regard to her own safety. Her ears were turned off to us, or anything else. She even did this ‘whomp’ sound with her mouth on the trail. Grannie couldn’t keep a hold of her so we traded dogs. Its hard to believe Daisy was the better trail walker.

I loved seeing Bella so happy. Her tail did not stop wagging while we were out. It was funny when we turned around-Bella did NOT agree with our decision. For that matter, she didn’t like us staying on the trail instead of heading into the bush after the scent. I could really see her being a real hunting dog rather than some puppy mill cast off.  I am so glad I bought her an easy walk harness long ago (which, she never used or needed). I will need it the next time we go to at least save herself from the choking. And there will be a next time-very soon I hope!

Due to the mighty huntress behavior of the girls-I forgot to take pics on the hiking trail. I tried at the trail head when we were finished but of course while Daisy has no issue hamming it up for the camera, Bella assumes the sign is part of the coming apocalypse and will fall on her at any moment.  (and no, she isn’t looking toward anything in this picture-she is avoiding the sign-tail tucked) It’s like all that confidence she had while walking just washed away. *sigh*

More on the hunting….

  By

So, since I really wanted to get a lot of pictures of the girls and I have two of them and one camera but only two hands- I decided the hunting session should go something like this: Start Bella on my waist leash which only has a 3 foot length while Daisy was on the 15 foot training lead. I thought I’d let Daisy get some of her energy out cause I know she’d be ‘crazy for cocoa puffs’ kind of crazy.

All would have been fine if Bella wasn’t a drama queen. I don’t know where she got that trait but it sure wasn’t me! Daisy was having a blast stalking and running after squirrels but Bella did not want to follow! She had her nose to the ground and refused to participate in the family outing. She sulked, she looked at me like I hit her when I didn’t go her way and a few times she just sunk down on the ground in a good toddler-esque temper tantrum. It was hard with Daisy going one way and Bella dragging her feet.

So, I switched their places. If Bella had her own blog it would have started something like “It took Mom forever to figure out that I am supposed to get the long leash and the freedom it offers…not that other hound that lives here…” As soon as she got the long leash she was so happy, sniffing and running around. The funny thing was Daisy was no less happy! She followed where ever we went, stayed untangled for the most part and just enjoyed whatever little bit she was offered. Of course, Daisy pulled a bit more in her excitement but with her leash around my waist it wasn’t so bad. The video from yesterday was made after the switch. You can see Daisy was just as happy as a lark (and how do we know that those larks are really happy anyway?).

 

Thanks a million to Grannie who is dogsitting while mom had to go out of town for the night!  Not that she minds….I think she secretly likes getting the coonhound lovin’ all to herself.  😀

Last Saturday….

  By

I know, I know, I’m telling y’all stuff that happened a long time ago.  But I haven’t told you yet so it’s new to you anyway!

Last Saturday morning Daisy and I went to a farmers market.  Well, I thought it was going to be a little thing with some food and produce stands. Boy was I wrong!  This place was so busy and an absolute madhouse! It was so busy and so amazing!

We had to park in a parking garage a couple blocks away.  She did great walking through busy city streets. As soon as we got to the first corner of booths some random guy comes up and goes “is that a real black and tan coonhound”? What I wanted to say was “no, she is a figment of your imagination; the heat must be getting to you.” But I didn’t. Turns out he was raised with B&T’s and his parents bred them for hunting for a while. He took a picture of her to send to his parents. This place was crowded. People were packed in. Right now there was actually only one produce stand. Most of the places were selling foods and crafts. One bakery had brought propane ovens and was selling warm breads right out of the oven. Many of the farmers come later in the season when more stuff is ready for harvest.

Several places had water bowls out for the dogs which I thought was nice. It was hot.  Several also had dog treats for the dogs.  Daisy did so great!  you would think I actually trained her for something like this, but I haven’t. She stayed right by my side and didn’t pull my arm off trying to get to the good smells. She resisted table surfing at all the food booths.  She also took her first elevator ride. She’s a champ at this stuff.  She didn’t smell too many butts.  She was exhausted when she got home.  Behaving made her work hard!

Yesterday was bath day. So we went to the beach dog park. I could not get Bella in a picture to save my life!  So instead you are getting Daisy, enjoying the smells and ignoring the big cruise ship passing taking all those lucky people on vacation.  So, the girls were walking down the beach….one reason I like this park is it is 100% fenced in….except for the new hole that leads into an airport.  They were down on the beach which is very rocky so I was up on the seawall which at the end is about 6 feet high.  Well, I am looking and all of the sudden I realize Bella is on the other side of the fence!

I had to walk way back the wrong way to get down to the beach.  Bella has been down there many times and this hasn’t happened. Once I’m down there I see Daisy has went over too.  Turns out there is a hole in the fence.  So I stayed calm and just walked to the fence (ready to trespass onto airport property to get the girls).  When I got there I just called their names in my friendliest voice and told them to “come on” and they turned right around.  That side has huge boulders all over the beach (to keep boats from coming onto shore) so Bella was smart and went down into the water and walked on the sand but Daisy took her time slowly climbing back over the rocks.  I was sweating that one. I knew if anything smelled too good they might not want to come back.

They are all clean and ready for company this weekend!

 

What boat? I don't smell a boat!