The discussion about dogs deserves it's own thread, so here it is.
What kind of dog do you have, and what are it's best and worst qualities?
I'll start with my "Pepper". She's a 5 year old Red Bloodhound.
http://users.rraz.net/anelson/PEPPER1.JPG http://users.rraz.net/anelson/Pepper/HOUND2.JPG
I got her from the Arizona Prison system, where she was trained as a man-tracker to hunt down escapees.
I've had her now a little more than 2 years, and have converted her to a Search Hound, helping search for lost people in the desert.
I've also started training to have her "Marine Search" certified, so she can locate drowning victims. She loved riding in the boat from the first time I took her out, even though she'd never even seen one before. (Has her own Lifejacket too.)
She already has 1 save to her credit. Last Christmas a severely handicapped 31 year old man (development of a 2 year old) wandered away from his home out in the desert by Bouse. We were airlifted into his last known position, where the search team had found footprints.
I scented Pepper from his jacket, and she immediately picked up his trail, and led me for about 3 miles, where we found him, cold, hungry, but alive. The kid was overjoyed with the dog, and Pepper was strutting around like she'd just won the Westminster dog show.
Bad qualities? Since she has to be a "free thinker" she was never really obedience trained, so can get out of control somewhat. But when ever I put her harness on, she knows it's time to work, and obeys every command instantly.
Best Quality? She's 100% tax deductible. http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif
Alan
BoatCop (http://www.boatcop.com)
[This message has been edited by Boatcop (edited July 11, 2002).]