sue fitzpatrick FITZPATRICK
Posted : 5/1/2007 1:21:31 PM
I adore my IW, he is the world's biggest Momma's boy....sits on my lap regularly, and only people with the large hounds truly understand what that means. We had a very regal female, and I would have ranked her very highly on the elegance scale-very deliberate in her movements, very fluid, and very self contained-little would break her focus. The new boy is easily distracted, just like a toddler, and has no concept of how big he truly is. We went through a rough period with him splitting open his tail on a regular basis waving it around in excitement and joy. We keep waiting for maturity and reserve, but am not sure that we will get it from him.
They are pretty quiet overall....just don't seem to need a reason to fuss, but are very curious and as sighthounds are the real snoops of the neighborhood. Getting dog snot off the picture window is a daily chore, but they do so enjoy watching the world. They don't necessarily see the need to chase everything though. I have watched them contentedly sitting in the back yard under the shade tree with a bunny or squirrel not ten feet away-content to just watch and observe. Other times they run things off for the pure joy of it....My female used to run off the rabbits and then bring the baby bunnies from the nest totally unharmed to the back porch (her babies) The poor things usually died within days, but it wasn't at all an aggressive thing, and she seemed so distraught when they would die.
I have seen them get upset, angry-and it sure takes alot to get them to that point. It is easy to forget how big and powerful they are because their demeanor is usually so gentle.
And so far, the one thing we have noted, they all seem to have a real affection for butter-snitching it off the table or countertops. And they are benevolent dictators-share the homefront well with other dogs, as long as the other dogs show proper respect. And they also seem to be nuturing-our present IW is the first cue we have to the coonhound having an ear infection, because suddenly he is always following her to groom her ears for her. Long before it would reach a level of being evident to the owners in terms of the dog fussing at their ears or because of odor-he knows and is already administering the doggie form of first aid. They can do most any activity from tracking, coursing, obedience, even agility (quite a sight to behold) and they do well as therapy animals. The hardest part about owning them is knowing that in all likelihood, they will not be around long enough for you to explore fully all their abilities. The short life span is the only and probably hardest drawback