__ I had always wanted a bluetick coonhound and when I met the Hildenbrands of Pontiac, IL and bought "Cry Baby" from them, it was a dream come true. I had no idea of how that decision would change my life.

Jeb's first years with me we just did basic obedience necessary for a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certificate and mantrailing (a type of canine search and rescue, typically done by bloodhounds). We traveled around the US and attended well over 30 seminars in trailing, cadaver, and some obedience. I met people that didn't set limits on Jeb because of his breed. This was the beginning of my journey as a professional trainer.

_ When Blueticks became eligible to compete in American Kennel Club obedience competition in January 2004, we were in the ring that month and earned our CD. A CD is the Companion Dog title given by the American Kennel Club after a dog and handler pass a test three times with a minimum score of 170 points out of 200. The exercises in the test include heeling on leash, heeling in a figure eight pattern on leash, a stand stay while the judge touches the dog, heeling off leash, calling your dog to come from across the ring, a 1 minute sit stay with the handler across the ring from the dog and a 3 minute down stay with the handler across the ring from the dog.

That same year we earned our CDX. The CDX is the Companion Dog Excellent title given by the American Kennel Club when a dog and handler pass a test three times earning minimum scores of 170 out of 200 points. This test is called the Open class. The dog is taken off leash as soon as he enters the ring. There is a heel off leash and heel in a figure eight exercise. The dog must retrieve a dumbbell thrown by the handler across the ring on the ground and over a jump. And the dog must go over a broad jump. The sit and down stay exercises are much harder since the handlers must leave the ring and go out of sight.

After a break while we focused on canine search and rescue work, we returned to obedience competition two years later to earn a title in the advanced class called Utility. In April 2006 we earned our UD (Utility Dog) title. In the Utility class the dog has to execute some very difficult exercises. The running joke of obedience competitors is to call it the "Futility class". Jeb had to complete an off leash heeling (NOI) . A good friend tells me I trained an hour just about every day. I was working hard because by then I believe I realized we could finish the OTCH. Hard to believe when I never thought I'd care about precision nor did I think I had the dog to do it. BUT....I learned that it takes hard work and good solid training -- not necessarily some "perfect" dog. It's work....and yes money to travel and enter shows. The more I pushed Jeb, the more we learned and accomplished together and the more fun we had. I had to constantly balance the "have to" and "fun to" of obedience. With Jeb there were a lot of times it was more about the "have to."

_Back to 2006. We traveled to Long Beach, CA for our first NOI experience. The National Obedience Invitational is held once a year. Dogs who have competed at the highest levels and earned the best scores for their breeds are invited to come compete. Only the best of the best get to come. It was so fun to see so many people I knew and had met at shows. It was wonderful to see all the wonderful dogs. I remember walking in the room that first day and it felt like you could cut the tension with a knife! Very nerve wracking even if you were just there for the experience of it all. Jeb did quite nicely. My goal was to have no NQs (non-qualifying scores or errors) and we didn't. He was quite clean in his performance. That first day was EXHAUSTING! I felt like I was about 90 years old! We were ranked 18th after the first day. I will say that we would have made it to day two even without the only 4 per group count (only the top four dogs in each group get to go to the next round, i.e. sporting group, herding group, hound group, toy group, non-sporting group, working group, terrier group). Jeb was in the top 32 of 95 or so dogs.

On to day 2 of the NOI. I remember hoping to at least maybe win one round. The 2nd day works much like the NCAA Basketball tournament. There are 32 dogs and you are in brackets based on your rank. If I remember correctly, my first round I was up against the dog ranked #15. A sheltie? We won that first round and I was thrilled! I didn't care what happened from there. :) On to round two - another sheltie, this one ranked #3. Jeb was so tired. He lost 12-15 points on no sits. However, the sheltie NQ'd an exercise and lost 20-30 points. We managed to win the 2nd round! I couldn't believe it. (I didn't see the sheltie perform, so I was surprised).

_ By now we were down to 8 dogs. I had someone helping me and they were taking me so seriously, I remember thinking I'd better do so too and at least try to look like I belonged at that level. So I sat by Jeb's crate, kept him quiet, got some water in him (with chicken broth in it to get him to drink some). I played my iPod and visualized success. I wanted to at least look good out there. I was up against a border collie -- nice dog. I had no idea there were so many people in the stands -- so many people watching that I felt should have been out there instead of me. But...I was totally focused on Jeb and doing my mental management, so I just did my thing.

Jeb performed beautifully! He did all his sits; he was just wonderful! I was so proud! The applause was HUGE and it was so heartwarming. It was also adorable when Jeb realized all those people were watching -- he looked over and tilted his head at the crowd. It was a great moment. When we came back in with the other team to find out who won, I gave no thought that it would be us. When they went to shake our hands the crowd went CRAZY!!!!! I was STUNNED! We had just made the final four which meant we would be on the podium. I was honestly so stunned I didn't feel much at all. I was done, too. I went in two more times to find out if we'd run off for 3rd/4th or for 1st/2nd. I was done. I just went through the
motions. I was exhausted and happy to be where I was. I lost to Bridget Carlson. I sent Jeb over the wrong jump, but I didn't care. I was oblivious and floating around in a stupor. So I would run off for 3rd/4th. In hindsight, I wish I'd tried, but I was so floored. Jeb did a no sit on a pivot so we were 4th.

I was so proud of that dog. He was so exhausted, but he did everything I asked of him. The one round where I really focused and raised the bar, he rose to the occasion. What a wonderful boy. The rest of the day I was literally numb. It was the greatest thing ever and thanks to hard training and some luck -- we have our medal and crystal eagle for our third runner-up NOI finish. A true Cinderella story if you ask me.

Paula McCollum

OTCH UUD Smokin' Bullet Jebediah Blue UDX3 VER Bh (NAPWDA Cadaver/SAR Area/Obed)

Last March I received an email from a woman in Wisconsin who was trying to help her neighbor’s eleven-year-old coonhound, Elvis. The family was moving and could only take two of their dogs to their new home. Elvis was dealt the bum card—they either had to find him a home or have him euthanized. 
 
After posting his picture and description on the Nose to the Ground to Help Hounds’ Facebook page and other sites, I saw negligible interest in poor Elvis.  Every night I would talk to my husband, Bill, about how Elvis’ time was almost up and it did not look good.  Bill slowly started asking questions: “Where does Elvis live”? “Is
he housetrained, ”? “Crate trained”?  Finally Bill said, “Set up an appointment. We will check Elvis out.“
 
Off to Wisconsin we go---mind you we were thinking of a 60 lb coonhound. Little did we know that Elvis was 105 lbs, full of lumps and warts, and a little unsteady on his legs.  Boy, were we surprised when we met Elvis!  
 
However, he was also a big, absolutely lovable lug of a senior hound!  He had the sweetest big face, droopy lips, and a bark that shook the windows in the house.  We had brought our dog-reactive “Bagel” (Beagle/Basset), Elroy, to meet Elvis, so we took them for a walk together. They seemed to get along – a big plus.  Bill looked at me and said, “Your decision.”  Why did he even say that?  He knew what my decision was._

_So, we drove back home to Illinois with a big dog head poking between our front seats, I am sure it was a sight!  We arrived home and introduced the rest of the Taney clan to Elvis.  Our Beagle, Ricky, was fine but our normally accepting Basset, Ellie, and Chihuahua, Tippy, made it clear they did not approve, lunging and snapping at poor Elvis.  Ever the good boy, Elvis, did not react to their rudeness.  Whew!  He was to stay. The first couple of months took some adjustment, but now all get along fine, including our parrot, Bob. 
 
Each day we learn something new about Elvis; he is house and crated trained, knows sit, down, high five, shake, catches treats in mid air, hates garden tractors, loves to ride in the car, loves to counter surf (proudly rearranging the kitchen counter), loves to boat and wade in the lake.  My husband even sold his sports car so we could get a van, because Elvis, our other dogs and Bob the parrot just did not fit in our smaller car!

We have adopted other senior dogs in the past, smaller in size, but their time in our household was just as rewarding and we cherished our time together.  As I am finishing up this article, Elvis is lying in the middle of the floor, relaxed and happy, as are we.  I know many people worry that senior dogs “won’t adjust.” Well, we know from experience that is not true.  Seniors have so much to offer! Go ahead. Take a chance and see!  Adopt a senior hound!

By Susan Taney, from Nose to the Ground to Help Hounds


Visit her website at:
http://www.savethehounds.org/index.html
And on Face Book at:
http://www.facebook.com/nosetothegroundtohelphounds?ref=search&sid=1137528323.3648328271..1

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