<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="/xsl/news.xsl"?>
<champion apiversion="1.3" rev="5627" rel="1.3.01.20101118">
  <title><![CDATA[All I want for Christmas is a well-trained hound]]></title>
  <metadesc><![CDATA[Come inside to Champion Basset Hounds today to check out hours of videos, pictures, news articles, events, other member profiles and much more all at Champion Basset Hounds!]]></metadesc>
  <metakeywords><![CDATA[Basset Hound Breeders, Basset Hound Rescues, Basset Hound Puppy, Basset Hound Puppies, I want a Basset Hound, Looking for a Basset Hound, basset hound rescue, basset rescue, hound, dogs, rescue, basset, ears, hunting dog, tracking dog]]></metakeywords>
  <ads verson="1.0" rev="5627" rel="1.3.01.20101118">
    <leaderboard>57</leaderboard>
    <rectangle>56</rectangle>
    <banner>0</banner>
    <button>0</button>
    <plaque>0</plaque>
    <vast>0</vast>
  </ads>
  <sitename><![CDATA[Basset Hounds]]></sitename>
  <sitebase><![CDATA[http://www.championbassethounds.com]]></sitebase>
  <offsite>0</offsite>
  <profilebase><![CDATA[http://www.championbassethounds.com]]></profilebase>
  <thispage>L25ld3MvMTg2MjI=</thispage>
    <article id="18622">
      <title><![CDATA[All I want for Christmas is a well-trained hound]]></title>
      <author><![CDATA[Basset Hounds Staff]]></author>
      <attribution source="Nola.com"><![CDATA[http://www.nola.com/pets/index.ssf/2011/12/all_i_want_for_christmas_is_a.html]]></attribution>
      <createdate unixtime="1325757729" delta="19 weeks ago"><![CDATA[1/5/2012]]></createdate>
      <image><![CDATA[gwa622459.jpg]]></image>
      <lead><![CDATA["I thought of something I want for Christmas," I told Stroup at dinner a few nights ago. He's always asking me what I want for Christmas, and I try to think of things that won't take up any room, because after living in the same house for so long, we have way too much stuff.]]></lead>
      <text><![CDATA[Ruffins chews everything with abandon: his toys, the grandbaby's toys, bibs, paper towels, apples, The Wall Street Journal, sweatshirts, wood for the fireplace, computer glasses, peppermint candy ..."So, what is it?" he asked."Obedience training for Ruffins," I told him.He laughed and shook his head."Remember Solomon?" he said.Of course, I remembered Solomon. He was our first basset hound baby. Stroup and I had moved to Norfolk, Va., from Corpus Christi, Texas, the weekend we got him. We'd found a tiny basement apartment with a $25 rug and a landlord who didn't say, "No pets." And I had that "I-need-a-puppy" look a new husband has no defense against.We didn't have furniture, a washing machine or a savings plan, but by Sunday night we had Solomon, plus a collar, a leash, a bowl, a squeaky toy and a stain on the landlord's rug.A few months later, Solly and I went to obedience training in a big armory. He was fine with sitting and was known to fall asleep after "down." Gradually, we worked our way up to "stay." But the first time I took him off-lead and said "Stay," he bolted. There was an open door at the far end of the building, and he headed for it lickety-split on his little short legs. He wasn't fast, but neither was I. It took me three blocks to catch him. We never went back to school."This time, it will be different," I said, but Stroup just shook his head again and started talking about how if Ruffins were a Labrador retriever instead of a hound dog, training might be worthwhile.In his memory, Nick, the yellow Lab puppy I gave him one long-ago Christmas, grew up to be a perfect saint of a dog. So I didn't remind him that Nick climbed over every fence he ever built and ran away from home. That he high-tailed it through the woods behind our house and fell in love with a wolf on McIntyre Road. That he once dragged home part of a cow's leg and then jumped into our bed.I didn't mention that when Nicky was 5, he ate the entire toe out of the right shoe of the most expensive pair of loafers Stroup had ever bought. (They were so expensive I saved the left one for years in case he ever had an accident and needed a great-looking left shoe to wear while his right foot was in a cast.)I told Stroup that if he didn't want to invest in obedience training, I would have to find the book I bought when we got Solomon and read it again. It's called "How To Raise and Train a Basset Hound.""There really is a book like that?" he asked."Yes, I said.I found it on the book shelf in the living room. I had paid $1 for it. When I turned to the first page, I found Ruffins there."The basset seems to be a natural comedian," it said. "It is as if he realizes he will never win any canine beauty prizes and so makes up in character and disposition for what he lacks in looks."That's why it's so hard to get mad at him. He makes me laugh. He's the Chevy Chase of dogdom, running into things, falling over his feet, running through the house trailing a towel he grabbed out of the clothes basket and then stopping suddenly, distracted by a single Cheerio he smells under the couch.He had his first birthday the day before Thanksgiving, which, according to the basset book, makes him "an adult." But I think that just means the kind of dog food I'm supposed to feed him.What he realized as soon as he turned 1 was that although he is very short, he is as tall as Rosy when he stands on his hind legs. He can reach the fruit bowl on the chopping block, our granddaughter Cilie's bibs hanging on the oven door, the roll of paper towels on the kitchen counter. I am having to move everything to higher ground.There was one sentence in the book that made me laugh out loud: "If you give him toys of his own, he will be less liable to chew your possessions," it said.Ruffins chews everything with abandon: his toys, Cilie's toys, Cilie's bibs, paper towels, apples, The Wall Street Journal Stroup hasn't read, my little dog Harry's supper dish, sweatshirts, wood for the fireplace, computer glasses, peppermint candy. If I had to describe him in one word it would be "exuberant."The main problem with his approach to life is that I'm often on the other end of his leash trying to hold him back. Our walks are three-mile lurches, him leaping sideways to grab a pine cone or stick and then bounding forward with his treasure while I hang on. If he gets a whiff of something enticing, like a squirrel, he lowers his nose to the ground and we're off at a gotta-catch-it lope, him barking frantically and Stroup yelling, "That's enough!" while he and Rosy walk sedately behind us.I am up to Chapter 5 in the book, which is about training."The purpose of training is, first, to prepare your family pet to take his place in society and to become an acceptable member of the community," it begins.That seems like quite a lofty goal, but we're working on it. As I recall, Solomon grew up to be a perfect saint of a dog, just like Nick did. I have no doubt Ruffins will do the same.]]></text>
    </article>
  <related count="20">
      <article id="18621">
        <title><![CDATA[Family seeks news of missing Bassett Hound]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1325757545"><![CDATA[1/5/2012]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[gwa755304.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[A BELOVED family dog has mysteriously disappeared and his owners are appealing for his ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="18620">
        <title><![CDATA[Clever basset hound made name for self in Helena]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1325757303"><![CDATA[1/5/2012]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[gwa421056.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[I have had dogs every year I have been alive. Some lived long, full ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="18619">
        <title><![CDATA[Rescue group takes in 5 Basset Hounds]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1325756588"><![CDATA[1/5/2012]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[gwa170951.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Five Basset Hound puppies from Texas are getting a second ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="18618">
        <title><![CDATA[Family dog becomes prime suspect in theft]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1325756089"><![CDATA[1/5/2012]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[gwa386284.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[Dogs always get blamed for eating homework, but how about a $4,500 wedding ring? ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="18617">
        <title><![CDATA[Basset hounds find good homes]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1325755907"><![CDATA[1/5/2012]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[gwa278758.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[You could hear barks of joy in the yard at Hill Country Animal League ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="17214">
        <title><![CDATA[Animal cruelty trial for Fayeville couple set for Monday]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1299526681"><![CDATA[3/7/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i61449.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[FRANKLIN COUNTY - A trial is scheduled for Monday in the case of a ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="17213">
        <title><![CDATA[New puppy rules the Stroup house]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1299526571"><![CDATA[3/7/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i2995.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[I am always making lists. Lists make me feel I have control over my ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="17212">
        <title><![CDATA[Found Hound Reunited With Family]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1299526494"><![CDATA[3/7/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i77345.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[She was a mystery, a basset hound puppy wandering along busy  Interstate 95 ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="17016">
        <title><![CDATA[The scoop on slobber]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298485899"><![CDATA[2/23/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i82488.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[Slobber … yucky, stringy, sticky, stinky, disgusting slobber. You don't want to look at ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16995">
        <title><![CDATA[Valentine's Day treat Armstrong among dog fans]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298413964"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i90744.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[NEW YORK  - Lance Armstrong leaned forward in his seat, trying to get ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16994">
        <title><![CDATA[Puppy love stories in MetroWest]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298413615"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i22423.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[NATICK - Puppy love, a term given when cupid captures young hearts, can also ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16993">
        <title><![CDATA[A doggone helpful app]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298413438"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i31693.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[ATLANTA - Eighth-grader Preston Oakes has long been concerned about the number of dogs ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16992">
        <title><![CDATA[High school students rescue dog from White Rock Lake]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298411817"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i75243.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[A group of students needed community service hours to go along with grades so ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16991">
        <title><![CDATA[PET OF THE WEEK]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298411467"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i43155.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[PITTSBURG - Cleatus is a 3 year old Basset Hound.  He is neutered ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16990">
        <title><![CDATA[Puppies stolen from a Lakeland pet store found safe]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298411256"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i65419.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[LAKELAND - Three puppies taken from a Lakeland pet store were found all the ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16989">
        <title><![CDATA[Make Skip A Member Of Your Family Today]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298410961"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i17618.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[Greensboro, NC - Skip from the SPCA is the featured 2 the Rescue pet ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16988">
        <title><![CDATA[Do a five mile round with your Basset hounds]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298410876"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i53438.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[BASSET hounds and their owners are being welcomed on a five-mile walk at Goodrington ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16987">
        <title><![CDATA[Looking for a good home]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298410802"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i41703.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[This basset hound mix, ID No. AO46544, is 4 months old and available for ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16986">
        <title><![CDATA[A specialist can diagnose Basset Hound's thyroid problem]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298410685"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i90117.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[Q. My dog Harold is an 8-year-old Basset Hound with chronic ear infections. I ...]]></text>
      </article>
      <article id="16985">
        <title><![CDATA[Fla. girl who cared for stolen pups gets to keep 1]]></title>
        <createdate unixtime="1298410542"><![CDATA[2/22/2011]]></createdate>
        <image><![CDATA[i30012.jpg]]></image>
        <text><![CDATA[LAKELAND, Fla. - An 11-year-old Good Samaritan is now the happy owner of a ...]]></text>
      </article>
  </related>
  <page><![CDATA[article]]></page>
</champion>
