Coonhound & Foxhound Companions
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Team
  • Programs
    • Long Ears Alive! Fund
    • Success Stories
  • Resources
    • Why Adopt Coonhounds & Foxhounds
    • Adopting Senior Coonhounds & Foxhounds
    • Long Ears Blog
    • Poster Downloads
    • Long Ear League
    • Promotional Kit
    • Links >
      • Rescue Organizations
      • Hound Activities
      • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Shop

EASY’S URBAN ADVENTURE or, You can take the dog out of the country, but….

1/13/2013

11 Comments

 
by Gates Murchie
This past October, we visited our son, Colin, and his family (Molly and Miles) in the Washington, D.C. area. Our grandson’s first birthday provided the opportunity, and off we went. Though we usually impose on them in their house, this trip was different. Molly’s parents drove up from Texas for the party and had dibs on the spare bedroom. Up until now, our Black and Tan, Easy, stayed with friends when we traveled. This time, we grabbed the chance to expand Easy’s horizons to include hotel life in the “big city.” 
Picture
Front to back: Miles, Candy, Franki, Easy
Step 1: find a “pet-friendly” hotel. Google provided a list of options and I began the search. As it turns out, it isn’t as easy as I thought. Although a number of hotel chains say they are “pet friendly”, it doesn’t necessarily mean “pet welcoming.” Many limit the pet size to 50 pounds or less (that would not be Easy!). Others impose significant fees for bringing your loved one on a per-stay or per day basis. It seemed we were destined to be 20+ miles away from the family and residing in a “third tier” establishment at “first tier” rates. That is until my son mentioned the Kimpton Hotels. 

I looked and we were in the 3-4 star hotel category. Gloom filled the air. Then I found the Kimpton Helix hotel. A few short blocks from Dupont Circle (pix can be downloaded here) and 200 yards from Logan Circle, the 3-star hotel was in the middle of shops, attractions and dining and a mere 5 miles from my son’s house. The gloom thickened as I imagined the cost. I called anyway and the cheerful reservation person quickly ascertained my eligibility for discounts, offering a rate competitive with the pet-loaded rates at the other hotels. OK, now what can go wrong? Oh, yeah, the dog. I asked about bringing Easy. She said, “How big is he?” Expecting a fee adder, I sighed and said, “About 75-80 pounds.” Her response, “Oh, he’ll need a big bed. Does he want his own bowls?” What? He’s welcome! You’ll provide a bed and bowls? What’s his favorite treat? You’ve never taken reservations for a coonhound before and you’re excited! Free wine every evening? Okay, we’ll be there.

So now, the trip begins in earnest. Easy is in the back of the Subaroooooo and we are off. Only, he thinks we are going to nearby Otsiningo Park to tree squirrels and begins baying as we leave the driveway. Thirty miles later, he realizes his error and we now know why they have hound boxes in THE BACK of pickup trucks. The next 3 hours go by uneventfully and we pause at a Pennsylvania rest stop for a picnic lunch. Not just A rest stop, but THE BEST rest stop EVER. Why, you ask? Because the rest stop attendants have been feeding the squirrels around the trees in the dog walking area!!!! Hooray!!!!! Anyway, this recreational interlude gets even better when a second hound shows up to join the chorus. Back in the car and time for a nap.
Picture
Arrival - and Easy meets with his old friend, Frankie the dog

Frankie and Easy

Frankie is my son’s rescue dog and he is a North American LBD (Little Brown Dog). They proceed to light up the neighborhood with barking and bawling as they chase squirrels in the yard and on a walk. City squirrels are a little too sassy for Easy and he quickly teaches them that running 3 feet up a tree is not far enough to avoid a near-death experience at the mouth of a coonhound. This lesson would be repeated numerous times during our visit, in the yards parks, streets, and outdoor cafes of the D.C. area.

Now, it is late and time for the hotel…we arrive, 15 hours into our day and looking a bit bedraggled. We are met with an on-going full-blown party and a moment of wondering, “What happens next?” A hearty greeting and a pat for Easy and now, we face navigating the crowd and ….. an elevator.  Luckily, for the uninitiated, a B&T coonhound looks enough like a Rottweiler that navigating the crowd quickly resolves itself. This would also prove true when walking the city streets. People respect your personal space when part of it is occupied by a serious dog. Back to the elevator.

Easy does not like new surfaces or wiggly floors. The vet’s moving table and scale are not popular places. Anyway, the elevator opens and two people get in, not realizing we are getting on, too. They look nervous and Easy freezes. Undeterred, I tug and Candy scoops and he is in. This was his one and only problem with the elevator. All further trips went without a hitch, although I can only imagine what went through his mind. “OK. There was this party and these people and we got into the little room and then the door closed and then it opened and they were gone and then we went to bed and got into the little room and the door closed and it opened and different people were there.” (I imagine Easy thinks in run-on sentences.)

A quick call and Easy’s very comfy bed and bowls show up at the (very nice) room and our first night begins. No issues except that he stares at the dog in the floor to ceiling mirrors and tries to look behind them. 

The next morning at 7, it is time for the a.m. walk. We travel up to Logan Circle and quickly accomplish the mission… and discover that the circle and its trees are loaded with squirrels in desperate need of a fitness program. The new regime is announced with great gusto and much fanfare. Unfortunately, the ceremonies serve to wake those unfortunates who spend the night sleeping at the circle. There is much grumbling and rustling of plastic. I feel bad about this and resolve to avoid repeating it the next day, if possible. Their lives are difficult enough (pic can be downloaded here).

Breakfast outdoors at Caribou Coffee is another new experience for Mr. E. Coonhound. Still exhibiting exemplary behavior, he sits under the table and examines the passing parade with great interest. Different smells from different cultures, different vehicles and different foods all provide the same amusement as a morning paper … Until he discovers pigeons. They act like squirrels, make squirrel noises, flutter about and are annoying. A surprise bawl sets things aright and gives the other patrons something to remember. 
Picture
Easy holding still for his close-up
The rest of the visit is equally wonderful, the birthday party a great success and the return trip satisfying. Easy took many more elevator rides, met many more people and showed us that he is a traveler of great sophistication. And that you can’t take the country out of the dog.
Picture"Easy's dreams after his visit to the nation's capital swells his head."

Picture
Bo invited me!
PictureThat's one funny looking raccoon!

11 Comments
Jill Sicheneder
1/17/2013 12:43:25 pm

Love this story! Please take Easy on another adventure!

Reply
Gates Murchie
1/18/2013 10:53:43 am

Every day with Easy is an adventure... usually a boring adventure, but an adventure nonetheless

Reply
Melissa
12/19/2013 02:29:52 am

Love the Subaroooooo! Our coonhound is the same way. :)

Reply
Emily link
1/9/2014 06:42:58 am

Dear Easy
Thank you so much for the hotel recommendation. Recently mom and dad had to go to NY City for some medical tests starting pretty early in the morning (at least compared to dad's usual morning schedule). They decided to spend the night before in the city, but it was too cold to leave us in our cosy cabin because it doesn't have central heating and they didn't want to have to have to hire someone to stoke the woodstove every couple of hours. Mom looked and looked and looked for a hotel that didn't mind 2 coonhounds in one room. All those "pet friendly" hotels turned out to be not quite as friendly as advertised when it came to 145 lbs divided between two opera singers. Then we remembered your story here, and checked out the Kimpton hotel chain. Yup! They had a nice one in Koreatown, just outside the fur district. Mom and dad drove up in their pickup truck, and were able to park in a garage directly beneath the hotel without any guff from the parking attendants. When we went to check in, they fed us biscuits at the counter. When we got up to the 11th floor, we had a floor to ceiling glass wall and the taxi cabs looked like voles way down there at street level. The Empire State Building was all lit up just outside, too. he 24 hour drug store down the street provided us with dog food despite our late arrival, and mom and dad let us have the exstra french fries from their room service meal.. Then mom and dad took us for a walk, and we got to pee on all those weird evergreens lying on their sides at the edge of the sidewalk. We rememberd those popping up in Brooklyn for about a month every year. Then, even though it was really cold and windy, they took us over to the fur district where we got to sniff all sorts of scraps of animal hides. They smellled REALLY good and we charmed everyone by baying them up. So, thanks again for the great hotel recommendation.
Clamour and Mudd

Reply
Easy
1/9/2014 08:04:21 am

I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip and the hotel... and the french fries.

Easy..

Reply
Gates
1/9/2014 08:04:58 am

I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip and the hotel... and the french fries.

Easy..

Reply
Gates
1/9/2014 08:05:25 am

I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip and the hotel... and the french fries.

Easy..

Reply
Gates
1/9/2014 08:05:52 am

I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip and the hotel... and the french fries.

Easy..

Reply
Brody link
2/10/2014 07:47:10 pm

Thanks for distribution your thoughts and thoughts, i like your article and bookmark this blog for more use thanks again

Reply
mindy
8/21/2014 03:30:24 pm

I have a black and tan named Sara. She is the easy going love bug.I have found that my life is better with a coonhound. This is my third!

Reply
Cousin Nancy
3/18/2016 08:40:41 am

Love this story! I suggest you start writing a children's book series about Easy! I think you may already know a talented illustrator - perhaps she'll donate her services!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    The Coonie Team

    ​Marybeth Brown
    Charlotte Busch
    Jerry Dunham
    Mary Ann Emerson
    Kathy LaRoque
    Anna Nirva

    Jill Sicheneder
    Jean Stone


    Archives

    April 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    June 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All
    Black & Tan Coonhounds
    Bluetick Coonhounds
    Coonhound Advice
    Coonhound Companions
    Coonhound Events
    Coonhound History
    Coonhound Rescue & Adoption
    Coonhounds In Competition
    Coonhound Stories
    Coonhound Temperament
    Foxhounds
    Fun With Coonhounds
    In Memory Of Special Coonhounds
    Miscellaneous
    Redbone Coonhounds
    Senior Coonhounds
    Training Coonhounds
    Walker Coonhounds

    RSS Feed

Home
Our Story
Donate
Contact Us
to the