The Boss and I had been thinking about getting a dog ever since we got a house last summer. This past winter we got a little more serious about it and started looking around for the right dog. We were being pretty picky - female, 40-70lb, preferably short hair, and at least the potential to be trained as some kind of working dog. Non-puppy and non-senior-citizen. MrsZ nixed labs and I nixed retrievers and cocker spaniels.

We kept half an eye on the local SPCA web site, and this past week I saw one that caught my eye. We went to visit her on Tuesday, and brought her home Thursday.

Some kind of a hound mix, about a year and a half old, 60lb, VERY happy and friendly and energetic, but VERY even-tempered. We took her to a picnic last night and she was happy to hang out on her tie-out and let the various kids play with/around/on her. Not much in the way of manners (although she doesn't jump) or obedience yet, but school is being looked into.

Still a little skittish about sudden noises, but I'm hoping to train her enough to go looking for small game with me.

So, welcome Dixie!

Nice one...I love a dog with some hound in it. Looks like you picked a winner and a best friend.

Good looking girl!

And Dixie . . . not to worry . . . you'll have your new owners trained in no time! ~SMILE~

Beautiful dog,I just posted that I got one from a shelter in Maine.Good Luck with your new baby.

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Art

Dixie is beautiful. Pugsters says hi to Dixie.

Beautiful dog. She will give a lot more love than she could ever receive. I'll be in the same position real soon - we lost our third dog in two years - all due to old age. The wife says no more, but shes starting to weaken.

congrats, always great to have a dog...or two....around!

Good looking dog you have there. Welcome Dixie.

Congratulations--you rescued a dog that will love you forever. Tell Dixie hi from the girls:
Aza
Bailey
Carlie
Danner
Ellie
Francie
Gracie
Tillie
and the boys--Bandit--Doc--Kodie

Steve

Dixie is very pretty! What a fantastic match for you all!

Great looking dog.

Dixie looks like a great woods dog (Walker / Basset hound mix?) and probably has a real good nose for tracking animals. It's good that she is sociable with humans. I'm sure she will be great at treeing squirrels for you. Good luck and good for you for rescuing Dixie!

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

Walker/Basset was also the guess from a fellow at my fire department.

We went for a walk after dark last evening, and she was beyond hyper - back and forth across the road into the ditches on each side and whuffling her way into the brush across the ditch. LOTS of fresh critter tracks to follow!

Don't worry Dixie, just go along with all their Stuff and they will buy you all kinds of good things, because your good lookin...

She is a great looking dog.

Many good times ahead with Dixie.Keep a good eye on that one.She's got some major instincts.

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Dum vivo cano

Brian,

Nice looking dog fer sure!

Hey...that spot looks familiar...is that in Buttermilk Falls State Park near Ithaca?

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'Merica!

Hi:
Great looking Hound Dog.
The only thing better than a Dog is two Dogs.
Jimmy

Almost - Taughannock Falls. Buttermilk is gorgeous but doesn't have much in the way of flat land, it's just about straight up (and a beautiful hike if you're in shape for it).


Thanks to everyone for the compliments! We're slowly getting used to each other, and having a good time so far. Night time walks are an experience; she is constantly back and forth across the road (we live in the boonies) snuffling into the weeds and ditches for fresh scent.

She spent the afternoon tearing up a patch of grass under her run and then lying in the sun in said patch, while I worked in the garage. Happy to get some attention when I took a break from work, otherwise the sun was the place to be.

I think we lucked out!

Looks to me like all of you lucked out, that is one very fine looking dog and I'm sure she has a great home. I also see a hint of Pointer in her carraige, in that pic you posted she has a near perfect point going on, back and tail straight and level, the only flaw is she has her head up. BTW, every dog I've ever owned has been a mixed breed and haven't had a bad experience with any of them. IMO mutts are smarter, healthier, and more even tempered than most pure breds.

As for noise conditioning, start with baby steps and HUGE amounts of praise for good behavior. Personally, I would start her out with a 22 short and work up from there.

I think you're absolutely right about some pointer somewhere in the lineage. Right after we got her home a squirrel chittered at her from the edge of our yard and she went into a textbook-perfect point - tail rigid, back straight, nose waaaaay forward, and even one paw up in the air. Not sure how she'd work as a bird dog, because she has shown NO interest in retrieving anything. Doesn't pick up sticks, balls, etc.

Hot scent tracks are her thing, though - she wanted to go crashing through the hedgerows last night looking for things. I need to find a big open field she can play in on a long lead.

She's beautiful! I'd like to thank you, on behalf of Dixie and so many others like her, for giving a lost lonely soul a loving home! May she be a part of your family for many many years!

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Misty

Looks like a nice dog, going to a good home - the best deal for all of you. The shelters are overflowing with abandoned dogs (and cats) in need of good homes .....
Might be just me, but I've always felt that a "rescued" animal is just that much more loyal to you .......

Dixie is a lovely looking dog with a great name...must be a Southpaw?

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2 Blessed 2B Stressed