Its been my experience that you can learn many things by watching people in there everyday lives. Whether it is a skill, or an attitude, we try and emulate those that we hold in high esteem. I too am the same way and look to friends, family and acquaintances for guidance and inspiration. However last Saturday night I received a lesson on determination from an unlikely source, my English coonhound Digger.
Spring at my house is a whirlwind of activity, what with work, home projects, coaching and refereeing soccer, and all the other activities my kids are involved in, there is scarcely time to catch your breath. And although it stays light much longer it is not odd to be working outside until well after dark. There's not much time left for dog training. I had not had poor Digger out for at least three weeks and was feeling pretty guilty about it. So on Saturday night at about 8:30, I decided to take him out for a run. He jumped in the back of my truck with plenty of spring in his step; I knew he was anxious to go. We drove a couple miles up the road to a friendıs farm, I donıt think there are many raccoon there but there is ample space for a dog to get out and go. You see, Digger is not the kind of dog you let loose in the backyard to play fetch, its not that he doesnıt listen or that he would misbehave but should he catch the scent of a raccoon on the breeze, its off to the races.
Anyway we parked the truck and walked along the fields near the woods for an hour or more, Digger would go into the woods and hunt awhile, and then come back every 15 min or so to check on me, just like he always does. It was an unseasonably cold and mostly clear night with a bright moon casting those long shadows on the ground, certainly not perfect coon-hunting weather, but if you waited for perfect weather around here you wouldn't get out much. I was just getting ready to turn and start heading back toward my truck when Diggy showed up, I patted him on his side and sent him into a small patch of woods between two fields with a question and a few words of encouragement Where's he at? I said, Meaning the coon, and Go get him! Well go he did.
It was a very calm night with almost no wind at all, and I had convinced myself that if Digger would strike on a track I could hear him from a least a mile away, but I heard nothing. I waited for and hour or more but Digger never showed up. After another hour of calling for him with no success and I had all but given up hope finding him for the night. I reluctantly walked back to my truck and retrieved an old blanket from my back seat. I spread it out on the ground, like I have heard many an experienced houndsman advise. Of course, the theory being the dog will return and lay down on the blanket or coat because
of the familiar scent. If all goes as planned, you go back the next morning and find your dog there waiting for you. I thought "What the heck, its worth a try".
On the drive home I must admit I was a bit worried that I had lost him for good this time. Trying to clear my mind of negative thoughts I began formulating my plan for finding him the next day. As I pulled into the drive, my other dogs were wide-awake and greeted me with excited barking, I scolded them because of the late hour and sat down on the porch steps to take off my boots. It was then that I realized the reason for their excitement. Although faintly, I could hear a hound barking in the distance. I thought to myself "That can't be Digger", that location would have to be two miles from where I had last seen him. So I walked to the top of the drive to get a better listen, much to my surprise, and relief for that matter, it in fact was Digger, and by the sound of his chopping bark I could tell he was treed!
Being that by this time it was around 2:30 am I just left my truck parked in the driveway and started out towards the commotion. I headed up the quiet street with my headlamp off so not to raise suspicion from my neighbors. I soon ran out of road and took to the woods; the barking grew louder and more intense as I climbed the steep terrain. It seems when you're in a hurry and traveling with only a headlamp, you invariably gravitate towards the thickest brush possible, but I pressed on. I shouted a few words of encouragement up to the dog, (like he really needed it) and he treed harder. As I approached the dog I scanned the treetop with my light looking for those telltale glowing eyes of Digger's quarry and sure enough there they were staring down at me but only for a few seconds and then disappearing again into the darkness.
I made a big fuss over Digger petting and scratching him but you know what, he likes praise but he doesnıt need it to keep on going. Heıs just doing the job he was given and
was trained to do. He has a purpose in life, and when he gets an opportunity he makes the most of it. He never quits, if there are no raccoons on this mountain, he'll go to the next, or the next. And most importantly he is determined to see the job though to the end, even if nobody is looking. As you can see there are many valuable life lessons to be learned here for all of us, but what I will take from this experience above all else is... If you want to get some sleep at night don't turn out a good coonhound with out a tracking collar!
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