Cinnamon Teaches Hunting to the Geriatric Dogs

I know I hear something.
Aren't I a beautiful hunting dog?

You know by now that I am stuck babysitting two older dogs. But, they are not too old to get into trouble from time to time. So last night I saw an opportunity to teach them something... how to hunt!

I heard something in the tree. It sounded like a squirrel or maybe even a raccoon. So I called Indy and Remi over so they could see how a real coon hound works.

First they told me that there were no squirrels or raccoons in the tree. I think they were just lazy.

So they laid there in the grass and watched me. I searched every limb of the tree for a varmint. And I heard more noise as I searched.

I was getting pretty wound up. But Indy and Remi just laid there with sly smiles on their faces.

Come on you guys! Get off your lazy duffs and join me on the hunt!

Look up, like this. I think I see something!

This is how you catch them. You climb the tree!

This excitement went on for about 20 minutes. After trying very hard to make the climb, I just gave up and thought I'd join the elder dogs for a treat. As I walked away, I heard something go "plop, plop." I turned around to see two big seed pods falling to the ground. In fact, that is what I had been hearing to all the time.... stupid seed pods! No squirrel. No Raccoon. No prey at all.

But I tried!

Love, Cinnamon

A Job for Cinnamon: Dealing with Goose Poop

Here's one of the Geese Guy dogs.
He goes after them in the water!

I was reading the KGW website (because I am bored here taking care of two geriatric dogs) and noticed an exciting new job for ME!

Evidently there is a problem in Portland with geese who are really gross. They poop all over the place, even where humans want to lay down a blanket and enjoy things like concerts.

They are considering using DOGS to deal with the problem. Of course, they are thinking of sheep dogs because everyone thinks they are so smart.

But what about HOUNDS LIKE ME? They are considering hiring Geese Guys because they have a track record in dealing with issues between humans and geese. According to Geese Guys, "one adult Canada goose consumes 3 - 4 pounds of grass and creates 2 to 3 pounds of droppings per day!" What a mess!

This is what a Geese Hound looks like.
Prettier than a Border Collie, right?

So what to do, what to do? I think I need to create a new business.... "Geese Hounds." My houndy friends and I can go crazy chasing away geese. I know we could do that. And we'd be cheaper than the border collies. Aroooo! In fact, if the geese don't bite, I'd do it for free!

Those border collies think they know everything. Just don't get me started!

Meanwhile, I think I'll take a nap and consider my new business venture later.

Love, Cinnamon

Wordless Wednesday: Is it time for dinner yet?

Here I am waiting sort of patiently for dinner.

Wordless Wednesday: Treeing Practice

There wasn't anything in this tree but if there was, I would have tree'd it!

Wordless Wednesday: Coonhounds Make Great Pets!

There are Coonhound rescue organizations across the U.S. where
you can adopt a wonderful dog LIKE ME!

Cinnamon's Confession

I'm tired. I had too much fun. I need to rest.

I'm sorry. I've been so tired since I got back from the Doggie Country Club. I've been lazing around, sleeping and resting.

I admit that I had my owner post the book review I wrote when I was at the Country Club. I admit I've been posting some brief infomercials. And I know you all want to hear more from me.

I barely have enough energy to chase that dratted squirrel in my back yard. But I promise, soon, I will recover and be back to my snarky, self-centered self. I want to get out on the road and write. I want to review things and write. I want to be Cinnamon the Blogging Hound... once again.

But for now, Good Night!

What does a coonhound do on vacation?

Here I am "sunbeaming" reflected in a mirror

Here I am in Canada on vacation. I am relaxing and completely forgetting the trauma of my scarred nose.

So what do Coonhounds do on vacation? Well, I do things like search for dead fish on the beach, sniff tide pools, bay at horses, take long walks, and long sleeps.

One of my favorite things to do at the B&B here is to find sunbeams. Once I find a good sunbeam, I lay in it. Sunbeams are kind of like going to a spa. They are warm and rejuvenating. I LOVE SUNBEAMS.

On the downside, I have to put up with a lot of island dogs who think they own the place (well, they really do).

Tonight I got some salami and cheese from my owner and her friend. What a treat that was. Of course I didn't get ANY chanterelle mushrooms or pork chops. That is what they cooked for dinner. I like the mushrooms if they are cooked in butter. And of course I would love a nice lean pork chop. But no luck at the table... even if I was very, very good.

Here's the dinner the people made for THEMSELVES.

I've rolled in the grass, sniffed the seaweed and dodged the incoming tide. There is much to do here in Sandspit, BC. I am truly enjoying my vacation!

I Demand Plastic Surgery!

Here's what my nose used to look like

OK, I'll bet you wondered how long it would take me to start obsessing about my nose. If you have been reading my blog you know I received a scar during "paw to paw" combat at the Survival Camp where my owner left me.

While, initially, I thought it was cool and would help me fit in with those biker dogs, I have found that people no longer comment on how pretty I am. I AM NOT PRETTY!

It always made me happy when people said I was pretty. I'd prance around showing off my beautiful  perfect black and tan coat. I had a BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT NOSE too and people would comment on how my facial fur looked like make up.

But no more. My scar hasn't disappeared and it MAKES ME LOOK OLD! I am just an OLD SCARRED HOUND DOG. Jeesh, it's now like I was from the back woods or something... not from the toney arts town of Santa Fe.

Here's what my nose looks like now. UGH!

I have a solution. I WANT PLASTIC SURGERY. It can't take much to remove the scar and implant some hair where the scar was. I, cinnamon, am worth it.

Until that time, I am not so keen about being seen in public. I am now embarrassed. 

If you agree, please leave a comment below.

Signed, Cinnamon with the RUINED NOSE!

A Houndy Day at the Dog Park

Here I am eating grass and
dutifully wearing my dog tags.

Well, I am close to rested up after my week at "survival camp." So today I decided to go to the dog park and see what was happening.

The first thing I noticed was that there were quite a few dogs gathered around the notice board. They were discussing the license issue. The issue is that dogs are being checked at the dog park to see if they have a license tag. And, of course, I had already heard about that from Facebook and was there with my tags on for all to see!

After that, I noticed that there were some hounds there. Of course I love hounds. But these were hounds of a different color... and size! 

There was a skinny Treeing Walker Coonhound running around. I think she was skinny because she's hyperactive. I went up to meet her and thought she was pretty nice. She ran too fast for me, though. I was more interested in sniffing around and eating grass.

Here's that Treeing Walker Coonhound and one of her friends.

As I walked up the hill I noticed a cute little Beagle. Some of the big dogs were ganging up on her. I was worried that she'd be scared. But she seemed to take it rather well.

I was low energy today. Part of it was because the sun was out and I was turned into a "solar collection device" and some of it was because I was still resting up. Besides, my camp scar was still healing. I need TLC and a great deal of sympathy because of that!

But it was fun to go to the dog park and run into the hounds, even if they didn't look exactly like me!

Here's those big dogs bugging the Beagle.

Home from Survival Camp: Dirty, Scarred and Tough as They Come!

Here's the big gate and the
van that picks up the Day Campers.

Well, I'm at my computer after almost a week away! I wonder if I can still spell? I hope I don't write like those cats over at I can has Cheezburger or Lolcats.

You see, I think I was sent to Survival Camp because some dogs at the dog park were scaring me. Never mind that some of them were as big as horses and others had the temperament of wolves. I just got scared and needed to toughen up.

So I was dropped off at the big camp gate with just my name collar and my food. The camp counselor took me in and introduced me to the other campers. He called me "Cinny." So that is now my official camp name.

It was mid-day so there was still plenty of exercise to come. We went down in the woods and I ran the paths with the other dogs. They were faster than me but I vowed to TOUGHEN UP! (I lagged behind on purpose because I was a little afraid of those dogs that looked like wolves.)

By dinner time, I was pooped! I was given my rations and so were the other dogs. But there was NO LOUNGE area for us to rest... it was just back to the woods until bed time. I thought that, at least, they would let us play poker or something. And bed time at dog camp was pretty bare bones (pun intended). It was just mattresses on the floor. During the day they aired out the mattresses but they still smelled like CAMP DOGS!

I learned to go to sleep and ignore those dogs that stayed up telling ghost stories. I was missing my naps so had plenty of sleeping to do!

Each day we had special conditioning exercises. We ran, played tug-o-war and chased balls. There were acres of trails and I ran each and every one of them. I was getting pretty tough... muscular even.

Here's my combat scar and I am proud of it!

One day we were having "paw-to-paw combat" training and something happened. I got in the way of a really big dog and OUCH! The dog took a chunk out of my nose. I was bleeding.... and no one felt sorry for me. We kept on with our training. Blood ran down the side of my nose. Finally it stopped and I felt like a real COMBAT VETERAN. Over the days the sore healed and, to this day, I have a battle scar to show my friends at the dog park.

I am tough. I am Camper Cinny!

Well, I was glad to see my owner (finally) arrive to pick me up from camp today. I jumped into the car, scar and all and even laid down a little on the way home.

After we got home I was ready to go out in the back yard and hunt squirrels. It was then that I got a rude awakening. I was back in suburbia and dirty dogs aren't permitted on the wall to wall carpeting.

Here I am drying off after my bath.

I HAD A BATH! All my camper dirt
was washed down the drain.

But you know what? I am tough. I am Camper Cinny. And, my scar still shows... for all to see. No one better mess with ME!

I think I'll go take a nap on my cushy bed now.

Semper Fi,
Camper Cinny

Burnt Bridge Creek Trail: Scaring Frogs and Annoying Ducks

Here I am sniffing around the trail head, looking for the rabbit

Today was a good day. The rain stopped and we quickly went for a walk on the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail in Vancouver. It's only a block from my house. I usually have fun eating grass, greeting other dogs and chasing a rabbit that hangs out near the trail entrance. This wily bunny knows I am on a leash so he taunts me. But today was better than a rabbit day and I will tell you why.

At first it wasn't all that exciting. I met two pit bulls, big ones, that were very friendly. And some bike riders passed us, scaring me a bit. But for most of our one hour walk, we were alone on the trail. I like the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail because it is asphalt and I don't get my paws muddy. And it runs along a creek with wetlands. It's an 8 mile trail but I am not up to more than 3 miles at a time. 

Now let me tell you about the best part of our walk. We reached the native plant nursery and took the fork that goes across a little bridge. The water runs through there and when it rains, it creates ponds. And in the ponds are fun things. :)  I got there and started looking at the ducks. They looked at me and decided to slowly move out to the middle of the pond. They weren't all that scared. I guess if I was a Retriever, they would be scared.

Here's the ducks watching me.

But all of a sudden as I walked along the bank, big things started jumping into the water. Lots of them! These were big frogs and I scared them. Once I got over MY surprise, I started looking for them, sniffing along the bank. I was having so much fun scaring frogs that I even waded into the pond, getting my paws in the mud. I thought I might be able to see where they go. I know I wasn't supposed to go wading, but it was just my paws, really! I loved sniffing for frogs. They smell like fish, kind of.

Who me? I wasn't hunting any frogs in this pond!

If I wasn't an all American Coonhound, I might be interested in eating one. But I am not a French Poodle or anything French so I decided that cooking up a bunch of frog legs was not too appetizing. But I loved scaring them!

We wandered around some more on the way back. I got tired, from all the excitement and stopped while my owner snapped pictures of the flowers. She does that kind of thing. But, between you and me, she doesn't let ME stop and eat grass when I want to. Only SHE can stop when she wants to. 

On the way back it started raining again. But we were close to home so I didn't get too wet. 

I'm ready for a nap now. I think I'll dream about chasing frogs some more!

What am I watching for?




Watching for?

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Raincoat Rant: Dog's don't wear raincoats

Can you believe this thing? Isn't it ugly?

Dogs don't wear raincoats, do they? Yesterday after a full day of rain we wanted to go for a walk. Not wanting that wet dog smell in the house my owner got out the dreaded raincoat. Not only is this a people thing (dogs don't wear clothes), it is a bright orange raincoat. I don't know why bright orange... maybe she thought I'd get lost in the woods or something.

And not only is it bright orange, it has my name emblazoned on it in big bold block letters. How embarrassing. I might slink through the neighborhood unnoticed if it didn't have my name on it but, now everyone will know who is out there wearing this ugly thing. Grrrr.

So she put it on me and I didn't like it one bit. I just stood there and waited for it to come off. But no, it was velcroed on. "Oh please don't make me wear this," I thought. On went the leash (usually that makes me happy) but the coat was still there.... stuck on me! I didn't rush for the door as usual. I just stood there wincing.

So she pulled on the leash and I made it outside but, again, just planted my paws so she'd take it off. I hate raincoats!

In a few minutes it stopped raining. There IS a doggie god out there. There IS! She ripped off the raincoat and I happily went for a grand walk through the neighborhood, trotting and prancing.... sans raincoat. I was so happy!

Cinnamon at the Wildlife Refuge: No Hunting Here!

Here I am stuck in the car

I was really excited when I found out I was going to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge today. Imagine... wildlife! I retreated into my fantasy world again and imagined myself hunting deer (well, annoying them anyway), nutria and ducks. I could be like my retriever friends and be a real hunting dog. Right?

So I found out what my hunting trip would be like when we drove up to the refuge gate and read the signs. Come to find out, they don't even let DOGS out of the cars. Some wildlife! NO wildlife for me, it seemed. So I spent most of the day watching out the window. Mind you, the friend driving us had built a keen observation deck for me inside the car but I couldn't get out and chase anything. Grrr.

First we saw a deer with huge ear tags. #10 this deer was. He must have been something. He still had velvet on his antlers. A nice deer but I couldn't chase him.

Here's that deer with the #10 tag.

Then we saw a Wood Duck and, down the road, saw a mallard standing on a log with some turtles. Oh, what I would have given to make those turtles jump into the water!

A duck and turtles - fun to scare!

Farther on, we stopped for a snack and I got real beef jerky. Our friend made it just for me.

We kept on driving and saw more ducks, some eagles and some cranes. It was all very exciting and I looked out of the window most of the time but sure wished I could have gotten out and sniffed some of the wildlife!

For Hound Dog Moms Everywhere

I, Cinnamon, am a Mom. I hope all hound moms have a great day tomorrow

It's Mother's Day. Time to celebrate your Mom or celebrate being a Mom. I, Cinnamon, am a Mom. This is a sad day for me because I don't know where my puppies are. I loved them, fed them and played with them until they went to their new homes. But I don't have their addresses.

But since I am a Mom, I think of my pups every single day and hope they think of me too. I loved your big brown eyes and soft little puppy ears. And I loved cuddling with you. 

Mother's Day is tomorrow. I wish a flower truck would drive up and deliver a beautiful flower arrangement to me. I wish I would get Mother's Day cards in the mail. I wish my pups would take me out to brunch. Most of all I wish I could play with my puppies once again!

But I just have to be happy I am a Mom and happy I got to give birth to you cute puppies wherever you are.

Happy Mother's Day to ME! Happy Mother's Day to all Hound Moms!