Among the most comical of all dogs is the low-slung, sad-eyed basset hound. They tend to be stubborn, almost untrainable, but are among the most lovable of a creatures.
Little known by most people is that these dogs have unbelievable noses, which are every bit as sensitive as those of their better-known brethren, the bloodhound. I have successfully used basset hounds for years in my prospecting activities. They will find any sulphide occurrence buried by half-a-metre of soil. Every basset hound my wife and I have ever owned has provided at least one good story. This is Hoover’s.
Hoover is the largest basset I have ever known; he’s more than one metre in length and weighs in at close to 100 lbs. He’s the most stubborn basset we’ve owned, but he’s also the most lovable.
I took Hoover, with great trepidation, on a trial prospecting run on the first warm day of spring this year. The problems is that Hoover will follow his nose after a rabbit, squirrel or deer, and might not come back after being called.
High up on a trail, a few kilometers from my truck, we encountered an all-terrain vehicle, standing beside which was a young man wearing skimpy underpants and nothing else. At this point, Hoover ran forward to greet him, but quickly left and bolted beyond my view. Not wanting to lose him, I ran after him; I didn’t have to run far.
A few metres beyond the ATV, sitting on a blanket in the middle of the trail, was a beautiful — and stark naked — woman. Hoover was all over her, cuddling, licking and slobbering. Frantically, I called the dog, but to no avail. I had to approach the woman and put Hoover on his leash. I was apologetic as I dragged him away from her. The poor woman kept her arms crossed and her back to me. By this time, I was laughing so hard I could barely stand up. As I walked back with Hoover, the young man apologized for ruining our walk. “Hell no,” I said, still not able to restrain my laughter.
“That’s the best walk I ever had.”
I can only wonder where Hoover might lead me next.
The author, a prospector, resides in Spokane, Wash.
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