Everyone loves Walter Brennan

I have never had a true outside dog before -- never. I grew up in suburban Minneapolis; our dogs were inside; when outside, they were in our fenced-in yard or on a leash. Too much traffic to take chances -- except for T.H.E. Cat, named after a TV show. Cat left home one day, lost forever -- well, not quite. Three months later, I opened our front door ant there was T.H.E. Cat, acting as though he had never left. Walked right in ...

I was one of those children always hauling home strays. Many, I'm sure, weren't really strays but put up with me messing with them. Those who stayed were quickly house-trained by my mom. My first dogs were Sniffer followed by Sniffer Jr. Yep, I was a whiz at unique dog names.

Silverwalk has Walter Brennan (adoptable). Walter is an old black and tan coonhound from Arkansas and is such a cool dog. Ty called him Walter Brennan after the actor who, after a real life accident, lost most of his teeth.

Walter the coonhound has about half his teeth, and the rest aren't pretty; he needs dental work bad. His spirit and demeanor are loving, admirable, joyful and scent-ful: where's the food? Walter doesn't care if it's beef or not, just edible. This is the main reason Walter has remained an outside dog -- he can clear my counters (and has) toute de suite. If I miss seeing him in the yard with the other dogs, I high-tail it into the house to minimize the damage. Here's the thing -- I can't get mad at him. He comes to me wagging that lethally long tail, moaning with pleasure when petted or given any attention. Walter is intact, something I need to take care of sooner than later; he is so easy going, I tend to forget and I preach spay/neuter! Egads.

Walter is old and smart. I started putting him in a crate in the house with a Kong full of food. It only took one or two times after which Walter would put himself into the crate, demanding his food filled Kong! He rests very well but I know he is there by the thump-thump of his tail when I walk by. Besides the super long tail, Walter has gorgeous long ears and a wart between his eyes. With apologies to those of Hindu belief, it reminds me of a bindi or "third eye." Walter is a wise, gentle, old coonhound with a good voice appropriately used.

Bobbie blogs about pets, primarily dogs and cats, and issues of rescue and adoption, living with pets and the best pet products. She hopes her blog will be a place for people interested in pets to share their views and ask advice or others. Bobbie is an RN, director of Silverwalk Hounds Dog Sanctuary and a board member of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary.