Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire In praise of a gentle dog

This is Tarna, the same little heeler/sheepdog mutt in my avatar, that pic being at least ten years old as she's twelve now. Found as a sickly, worm-infested pup in a roadside stand in South Texas and purchased for $15 (and that was the White guy price). The best dog I will ever own.

A dog which quietly studies any given situation and figures out her role in it. I can bring her into the woods all day and never have to say a word (she responds to hand signals) while she goes out on point and quietly alerts me to all manner of critters. Sleep out in the woods and she'll sit up and keep watch. Run into a feral hog and she'll put herself between you and it. Only thing is better leash her when coyotes lurk around the campsite or she'll charge 'em if they come too close.

Of late another of her roles has been to graciously accept the attentions of all manner of little kids at the playground who come over and pet her. I'd not trust too many dogs at the other end of a leash from a four year-old and of course our grandchild loves her (doesn't hurt any that leashes are redundant when it comes to this dog).



One of those dogs that will leave a big hole when she passes on.

Birdwatcher

Had one of those myself, until just last year or so. Darn dog was the best I ever had. Probably will not get another. She only made it ten years. The most gentle, intelligent dog ever. Had a need to please, too. Damn good girl.

The thing is.... I dunno where to FIND another. Good dogs can be found, but GREAT dogs? Thats a whole different matter.

Birdwatcher

Best friends are hard to come by BW, I'm glad you found one.

BW

Whereever you got her, try placing an ad in the little local newspaper nearby for what youre looking for.

Maybe it will hit, maybe it wont.

Nothing to lose.

One of the great ones you wish would outlive you.

Thank for introducing us to Tarna. She looks like a great little dog. Man, we get so attached to our dogs! My current mutt is Pixie the Wonderbeagle. Absolutely worthless as a hunting dog, but as most dogs do, she just wormed her way into our hearts and is a big part of the family now. Cathy runs a pre-school out of our house, and Pixie's the start attraction. The kids just love her, and she puts up with all the tugging on her ears, and the power-petting very well. They have a morning meeting of sorts that Cathy calls Circle Time, and if Pixie happens to be upstairs away from the kids, she some how knows when it's time to go to the kids. They all sit in a circle on the floor, and Pixie's right there with 'em. Like others have said, it's gonna be very hard when she goes away.

Thanks for the suggestion but this was in a roadside stand outside a feed store in a poor rural area, mostly Hispanic. It is my understanding that that place just crated up out front random puppies and kittens whelped in the neighborhood, no shots or guarantees of such. I dunno what happens to the ones that don't sell.

I bought Tarna because even as a flea-infested ten week-old pup with a hard and swollen belly due to hookworms she was looking out at the world from that dirty crate with the exact same good natured, interested expression evident in the pic. When we got her home she crapped out lettuce and fragments of Styrofoam, obviously had been fed on leftovers. First stop was the vet of course, improvement was immediate the next day once she crapped out a bunch of worms.

Possibly my favorite pic of Tarna in action. Five or six years back in New Mexico, Dog Canyon, one January dawn. It was cold, we had slept out under those wool blankets, the dog curled up by my shoulder.

I about jumped out of my skin when she suddenly went off at a lurking coyote, and did so again another three or four times in the night, her leashed to my wrist. Here she is at first light, still on the job.



Birdwatcher

Can you breed her? Do you have a friend with a heeler or Aussie with a like disposition?

Best dog I ever was around looked similar and had a similar story.

Bug was found roadside as a pup in AZ. Border collie cross of some flavor. She was one of those gentle souls that just new her place, never had to be told twice, and never curled a lip that wasn't warranted.

She is probably 11-12 years on now. Haven't seen her in five or so.

Congrats on a fine dog, Birdy.

Best advice on dogs i wver got. Let the dog pick you, you'll know it when it happens.

When I went and looked at my lab. I was holding his brother, the one I eventually picked, came over and pissed on my sneaker. I put the one dowm and said that one there, the one that pissed on me, he's the one...he's been my best friend for eleven years

A great dog is a marvelous thing.

Knowing the OP it simply confirms dogs are good judges of character

One trainer once recommended, when looking at pups, take a small/appropriate size ball with you, and toss it for the pup. If he brings it to you, that's one sign of a dog that wants to please.

Sometime in your future try out a setter. Rocky is 105 pounds of gentile love. He also points.

That dog has a permanent smile. What a great girl she is!

Damn few things in life are on par with a good dog.

Congrats for finding one friend.

Dave

Birdie,

Great dogs are made, not found.

I would estimate that half of the dogs in the world would be great dogs with enough time, training, love, and attention.

When you start talking heelers.......the odds go up far beyond 50%.

The herding breeds are brainy little beasts, and as long as we people help keep most of their IQ points occupied they make great dogs.

When that time comes, head on down to the local shelter. Take your time, look into their eyes and you'll know. Cause one will pick you. Just like that flea bit wormy pup did years ago.

I know how you feel. I have one that will be 10 in December.

I got lucky for my first dog. She picked me out of the litter and we've had an unbelievable connection ever since. You would swear she's 3/4 human.

Mike, I know you'll find another. Maybe not her twin, but another wonder dog. They are reflections, after all.

Ed

Thanks for the kind comments all.

A Tarna collage...

Tarna around 1 year old, the other two dogs are passed on now...



...about three, the phone photo that is my avatar...



...about five, Whiteface Mountain NY...



...maybe seven, Lincoln National Forest New Mexico...



following year Upstate New York...



...age eight, I was marking bird survey points in blistering July heat, we had to take refuge in a shady ravine to cool down for a bit...



Two years ago, turns out Tarna also does reenacting, here as an 1840's Texian mutt, that is an original Paterson I'm holding...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Sharpshin/frontierfolk/tarnacolt.jpg[/img]

Just this weekend, aging gracefully in her latest role; gentle companion of a beloved grandchild...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Sharpshin/IMG_43142_zps2dde9002.jpg[/img]

Birdwatcher

Ya well, take it from me, some reflections are dimmer and sorta out of focus

Birdy, I figure you could go in a pound and if there was a great prospect there you would be able to pick it out.

What a sweetheart.

Yep. When that time comes, you will know the next one is before you.

That is a beautiful doggie.

Yup, I wish the AKC would leave what's left of the REAL ones (Heelers) alone.

GTC

Ya got that right, I have learned to avoid the letters "AKC" like the plague.

Anyways....

Us bringing our heelers on visits back east to NY State resulted in the Birdwatcher clan switching to the type. Wish I had a better shot of the heeler we bought for my sister and her three sons, this one is now an indispensible member of their family. Goofily sweet in personality, and smart as a whip of course....



My sister, with Tarna in mind, had the wits to arrange a cross between that dog and a good Australian sheepdog a friend owned. I've related before how one of the pups thereof grew up to likely save the life of his owner by driving a big heifer off of her that had backed her into a corner in the barn and which was repeatedly butting her. The dog jumped onto the heifer's neck and bit it around the ears, causing it to run off.

This here is another one of those heeler/Aussie pups from that same litter, my other sister's dog, maybe 40lbs, which might possibly be the best dog in our whole clan...



Birdwatcher

That's some good lookin' dogs, Mike. My daughter
was fortunate to rescue an excellent dog that
I get to keep half the time as she travels for work.
All the luck to you!!

I just had to put down Zorro, my 15 year old mixed black lab/golden retriever, the best dog I have ever owned. Not worth a damn as a hunting fog, he hated loud noise and water. But the gentlest, sweetest dog I have ever known, who just loved everyone. He had a stroke or seizure over a year ago, and I thought I was going to have to put him down then. But he rallied, got to eating, and could move around pretty well, although he was about blind and appeared to be deaf.Last week he just stopped eating, shi** ting and every thing. It's tough to say good bye to an animal who's been your friend and companion that long. I told the vet "I've known that dog almost as long as I've known my wife." My thoughts are with you.

An ol' mean, biting, dog won't keep nobody away from your place but your friends.

Very nice tribute to a fine friend. Well said....