Our Sweet and Crazy Coonhound ...

Our Sweet and Crazy Coonhound ...
Run Free: birthdate unknown - Oct. 17 2008

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Excellent Camouflage


Boy this guy had terrific camouflage. He almost matched the tree. Rick just about grabbed him when he was "rubbing the trunk" to dislodge little lizards for Davis to chase. We left this prehistoric-looking creature alone. He was almost a foot long and no one wanted to clean up guts or pull his carcass out from between Davis' teeth. If Rick would have grabbed it, he probably would have jumped a mile and H-Mom would have screamed. She's not scared, just easily surprised.

It was thundering all morning while we were at the dog park. No rain, big noise. Booker is having minor panic attacks, ever since the Fourth of July. The rumbling in the sky had him hanging close to H-Mom all morning. He was whining and acting a little agitated. It was a bit embarrassing in front of the all the other dogs, who didn't even look at the threatening clouds, and their humans, but everyone was very understanding.

We are beginning to suspect that his first "home" in South Carolina determined that Booker wasn't going to be much of a coon-hunter. He is a natural tracker, knows how to "tree," and has a great choppy tracking bark. But, the sound of a shotgun might have sent him running to the next county. Or perhaps he associates neglect and abuse with loud explosions. Whatever it was, it's a bad memory for Booker, and he has been having some Post-Traumatic Stress for the past two weeks. If there is a loud BANG, he melts into the picture of a dog under heavy military attack. He cannot get home fast enough, his tail between his legs, slinking furtively along the pavement, until he is safe behind the condo's Hurricane-rated (and sound-proof) windows.

5 comments:

River said...

We have plenty of doggies that are scared of big booms (as in my July 21 post). There are some things like Rescue Remedy and storm shirt that help. Probably that was the reason, as you said, that Booker was available to be a pet. My mom has gotten lots of beagles that way--one man threated to throw the beagle that wouldn't hunt out on the street if my mom didn't take him. And we still have Peri many years later who is a sweet and gentle beast. He's definitely no hunter.

Ha, my mom really likes this 'not scared, just easily surprised'.

Hope Booker will feel better in a little while.

love & wags,
River

Molly the Airedale said...

ewwwwwwwwwwwww, anothe lizard! You guys must have lots of these in your neighborhood!
I hate thunder and fireworks too, Booker, so don't feel bad!
Mom says that there will be no bidding online. The only way to win the quilt is to buy raffle tickets and cross your fingers that they draw your name at Montgomery!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Charlie Daniels said...

That thing is huge! I'm not sure I would like to play with it!

Cheers

Charlie

Unknown said...

That lizard is camo'd really well. I didnt even see it at first glance... i was looking for a dog in the palm frans.

Sorry the storms are giving Booker such a hard time. Thunder can be a really scary thing for a dog.

Kathryn and Ari said...

Great lizzard find!

Ari's predecessor, Kinch, came to us for many the same reasons you suspect of Booker. He was a beagle/blue tick hound mix who had it all together except that he was absolutely terrified of guns (and thunder), which I think is why he got his walking papers. My husband, Greg, met Kinch just hours before the end of his stay of execution at the kill shelter. Thank goodness he did!