Message #251871

[dan]

Both of my Grandfathers had plenty of hunting and working dogs.  The hog farmer/steel worker had beagles and farm collies.  The cowboy/engineer had curs, and border collies.  I grew up watching, listening, hunting and learning about dogs from men who worked them everyday.  I only had one pet dog growing up, but that's another story.
 
Anne (english pointer mix) was my first official hog dog.   "First official hog dog" meaning I found, bought, raised, fed, and hunted her on my own.  She was a 100% natural hog dog from a pup, till the day she died.  She would find, bay and catch on command.  

My wife (girlfriend then) and I still talk about that dog today.  Anne was 8 or 9 and retired when "my wife to be" came along.  She saw the scars and grey muzzle and they were instant buddies.  I only have two pictures of the dog.  One is a picture of my pregnant wife sitting in a lawn chair, with her favorite hog dog laying at her feet.  The other is a fuzzy 35mm picture of lemon and white 8 week old puppy with her nose to the ground.  It's proudly displayed in my office right now.