She loved to boss the big dogs around, yapping shrilly and accusingly when they trampled her. I took her everywhere with me, relishing each breakthrough in trust and happiness. Then, she adopted the towel basket as her personal perch. At first, she sat right next to me, afraid to even lie down. Skinny, scared, and shaved naked, she glombed right on to me and rarely let me out of her sight. well, a weekend foster became my best friend! I had never slept with a dog before, and I still wonder at the peace and warmth I took from her little self each night. She was initially brought to me to babysit for the weekend, and by the way a 'real' grooming' would 'make her cute and adoptable'. Itchy was found running loose in the country, covered with mats and ticks. Imagine my surprise when I came home from the vet's and found people from his past and present, all waiting to throw a handful of dirt and tip a beer to the BEST FREAKIN DAWG IN THE WORLD!ДЄfter 55 yearsВ of big ol hounds and labs, a tiny morsel of love came into my life. Alas, summer was looming and the danger of him falling in the sun was too great, so the 'date' was set. near the end, he finally had Tracy trained to give him a treat EVERY TEN FEET! lol He would stop and give that wonderful hound dawg howl, a cookie, then stagger another few steps til he would stop and howl again. We would call each other to tell when he was toddering over the field, so no worries about him falling and not getting up. Of course, Easter was his favorite time-he would come home with a swollen belly and at least two stuffed toys, pilfered along with the pretty eggs!ДЄs he became older and infirm, he still liked to join Glenn and TracyВ every day on their patio for Happy Hour. He will be home by four.' lolВ I cant tell you how many times he came home wearingВ a bandanna, or with a new toy.

I would get calls from people that picked him up '.but dont come get him too soon, my dog is having a blast playing with him.' the big oaf often got call-backs, for PLAY DATES!! Or a message that '.Huck has gone to McDonald's with me and the kids. I bet Huck and I logged a thousand miles of beautiful Arizona trails!Д«earing in mind that this was 20 years ago В he roamed the neighborhood at will. Likewise, he caught on early about cholla and knew to stay on the trail in those areas. Like all the dogs before him, he heeled from horseback and 'wait!'ed at the streets til it was safe to cross. Only aВ couple times did he would get impatient and trail me thru Basha's. I would get admiring honks from cars on the road-then a point at my dawg and a thumbs up (kinda hard on the ego!)! Like the oh-so-special guy he was, he would wait in the back of the truck and accept the adulation of everyone that walked by. Perfectly adjusted, he went everywhere with me. 'Cuz while that lil howl is adorable, it can get waaaayyy outta hand with a hound! Hounds aint like other dogs, you have to work harder for every lessonВ and be careful not to get sucked into that 'talk to my dog' thing. I got Huck at a very young age and raised him up carefully. my fourth child (and according to my kids my favorite lol)

Somewhere over the rainbow ten thumbs