Sadie Is 8 Years Old Today

Sadie turns 8 years old today and still acts like a puppy in someways. You can read here a lot about her first 7 years, so today I'll just write about this past year. She is living proof not to give up on hounds when they are puppies and destructive, no matter what you try.

She also had separation anxiety up until the age of 5 years old. At that time I was working and gone around ten hours per day from the time I drove to work and returned home. She would spend those times in the biggest indoor heavy wire kennel you could buy. It wasn't much taller than she was but it was long enough for her to turn around. The teeth that she has lost or are damaged today is from her attempts of chewing her way out of that steel rod kennel.

When I would relay the stories of her destruction as she was growing up (many were funny) to co-workers, ALL of them suggested I get rid of her. ALL of them suggested she was a nut case ... she wasn't, she was just a bloodhound, a breed that is somewhat obnoxious when they are young.

So I turned down those opinions, and even the one person that wanted her, because I never give my hounds away no matter what. As she grew older she turned into a great house dog that has the run of the house.

She still loves to roam the field, taught as a 12 week old puppy by Winston. He showed her where all the good spots were in the field and could tell she had tracking tendencies.

Even with fewer teeth, she still likes to chew on an occasional stick. Where she use to use just her small front teeth, now she will try to get the stick further back in her jaw.

Last August I decided to get a 2nd bloodhound, more to help Stella have a permanent home and not really realizing just how much she would change Sadie's life for the better. That first night Sadie wasn't real excited about her new companion ... she had always been the "leader of the pack" ... still is.

After spending all of her 7 years with short legged basset hounds while following The Bloodhound Property Laws, she now had a hound almost as big as she was, just as strong and also followed those same Bloodhound Property Laws.

Her life was about to change ... as it turns out it was for the better.

Stella had Sadie running more and playing like she was a puppy again. It reminded me of the time Sadie was a puppy and was tormenting Winston with her abundance of puppy energy.

Sadie shared her water, gave Stella the chance to choose what bones and balls she wanted but still kept her bed and daily meals off limits. I bought this dog bed the day I picked up Heidi and for Heidi ... but Sadie took over the bed and Heidi decided my bed was a better place to sleep anyway.

She still likes a game of fetch, inside on bad weather days or outside. Once she is playing that game it is all she focuses on, even when Stella tries to get her to play.

Stella has also taught Sadie how to lay down and relax, enjoy the sunshine, and the yard without having to explore and track stuff all the time.

Of course after the week camping trip to Colorado and Utah last June, Sadie has liked riding in the FJ. She and Stella make all the local trips around town as long as I am not going for groceries and the temps are below 80° if I am stopping somewhere. If we are just out driving with no stops, then she rides with the air conditioning on.

Last December the morning that Winston hurt his back and couldn't walk, it was the first time I could ever remember that Sadie got up on my bed. Being the "leader of the pack" she knew something was wrong with him ... She showed concern for him the next few weeks.

The morning I came back without Winston ... Sadie knew her good friend was gone. Winston was the basset hound she chased as a puppy, played with him as a puppy and would sleep with him when it was cold outside.

She could tell what happened to Winston.

She continues to roam the field, run in the backyard just like Winston taught her as a puppy. She still gets so excited for her daily walks and her meals that she hops up and down on her back legs when the word food is mentioned. She always grabs my hand with her mouth as we start the daily walk ... every time.

She is still 'the leader of the pack'

Deep in thought about what she will be doing in year 9 ... never a dull moment in her life in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Heidi Spends Time Outside

The day kept getting better as it went along. The hounds had an early lunch and with the weather so nice we went straight into the walk. As you can see Stella was anxious to get started.

They each put their noses to the ground and we were off.

If you look close in the next picture you can see what kind of drop off there is just on the other side of that ridge. I'd like to get back in there to take a better photo but the hounds would follow me and once they did that, they would do it in the future on their own. I don't want them that far into the brush.

The closer we got to the corner where we veer right, the wind was picking up and when we turned that corner it was a strong wind blowing into our faces from the NE. The hounds lifted their noses and took off, just like that they were heading toward that back field. I scanned the horizon and didn't see any kind of deer activity. The definitely picked up a scent with the strong wind blowing into their face.

Sadie made a left hand turn in the far back of the field and followed the bush line in a fast trot, acting like she had found a strong scent. Stella didn't want to be left behind and started running to catch us. Then again, she may just like lagging behind so she can get more running in during the walk.

When she headed a little further than I like in the 'no fly zone', plus ignoring me, I pulled out the 6' standard leash from my back pocket and hooked her up. She didn't mind it. After 30'-40' I dropped the leash to see how she would walk. She stayed near me, until I unhooked her completely and then she took off along the brush line on the way back home.

I knew during the walk that I was going to mow the yard when I got back. As a test I left all three hounds shut in the bedroom, with the windows open to see how Stella would do inside for about an hour. It is so much easier to mow the yard when they are inside instead of having to keep an eye on them while I mow. They like to wander off when I am mowing and they are left unattended.

After an hour, Stella continued her streak of no damage ... that's encouraging. When I said "lets go outside", Heidi went running for her blankets as if she was going to pass on the offer. When I told her she was not spending the summer in bed and to get outside, she sprinted for the door ... it must have been my tone of voice.  :)

Like always, once she was outside she enjoyed herself. While Heidi sniffed in the backyard and even laid in the sunshine for a while, Stella did her normal inspection of the freshly mowed yard and it looked like she approved.

Sadie rarely relaxes the sun. She either has to be exploring the field or chewing up sticks 1" at a time, but never eating them.

No matter how nice that warm green grass feels to Stella, for some reason she still likes to lay on the gravel driveway.

We had a good day today. It's nice to have all the windows back open. Does it look like Heidi has gained some weight? I think I'll take her over to the vet to put her on their scales and then find out if I need to give her more of the supplement called 'Hema A Spike'.

Cool breezes in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.