We were taking a hike on the Continental Divide this morning when a couple super-athletes came by. Both dogs made Tour de France cyclists look like pudgy marshmallows. They had enormously long legs, exposed ribs, and tortilla-sized floppie ears. They had no interest in being petted or drinking water. They were not unfriendly to me or my kelpie, Coffee Girl.
But there was an indifference that I'm not used to seeing in a dog. I don't like it. A dog should be your friend and come back to you when called. The "generalist" makes a better pet than an obsessive-compulsive specialist, like these two workaholic hounds.
Still, you have to admire a critter that is good at what it does, and does exactly what it was "meant" to do. That certainly describes these two. They were serious professionals on the job, hunting for something. Their earnestness was accentuated by the GPS collars and foot-long antennas, which gave them a bionic-super-dog look.
Since my own little poodle was rescued by an elk hunter a few years back (click on the blue tabbed "Disney Movie..." at the top of the page), I've felt a desire to return the favor. So I started walking back to the trailer, with these two hunters casually following me. I called the phone number on the collar at the high spot on the trail. The hunter met me back at the trailer 20 minutes later.
He explained a little about the GPS collars, but what really interested me was what they were hunting for. Mountain lions! Gee that's the second time that subject has come up, recently. The other day my dental technician treated me to a good story about seeing a mountain lion in these very mountains, southwest of Silver City, NM. Her silly dogs didn't even sense the cat, but she did. She scared the cat off just before the dogs practically walked over the cat! (In case you're wondering, I hike and mountain bike with a hunting knife and pepper spray on my belt, and an ear-splitting whistle around my neck.)
As always I am delighted with the friendly encounters I have with outdoorsmen of just about any stripe -- even motorized ones! I ask specific questions about how their sport works, and they seem to enjoy an "outsider" being interested. My own sports are pretty much limited to mountain biking and hiking, with an interest in birds, photography, and geology. But whenever I cross paths with another mountain biker -- or even worse, a hiker -- there is usually a troubling coldness between us.
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| All legs and lungs -- and ribs! |
But there was an indifference that I'm not used to seeing in a dog. I don't like it. A dog should be your friend and come back to you when called. The "generalist" makes a better pet than an obsessive-compulsive specialist, like these two workaholic hounds.
Still, you have to admire a critter that is good at what it does, and does exactly what it was "meant" to do. That certainly describes these two. They were serious professionals on the job, hunting for something. Their earnestness was accentuated by the GPS collars and foot-long antennas, which gave them a bionic-super-dog look.
Since my own little poodle was rescued by an elk hunter a few years back (click on the blue tabbed "Disney Movie..." at the top of the page), I've felt a desire to return the favor. So I started walking back to the trailer, with these two hunters casually following me. I called the phone number on the collar at the high spot on the trail. The hunter met me back at the trailer 20 minutes later.
He explained a little about the GPS collars, but what really interested me was what they were hunting for. Mountain lions! Gee that's the second time that subject has come up, recently. The other day my dental technician treated me to a good story about seeing a mountain lion in these very mountains, southwest of Silver City, NM. Her silly dogs didn't even sense the cat, but she did. She scared the cat off just before the dogs practically walked over the cat! (In case you're wondering, I hike and mountain bike with a hunting knife and pepper spray on my belt, and an ear-splitting whistle around my neck.)
As always I am delighted with the friendly encounters I have with outdoorsmen of just about any stripe -- even motorized ones! I ask specific questions about how their sport works, and they seem to enjoy an "outsider" being interested. My own sports are pretty much limited to mountain biking and hiking, with an interest in birds, photography, and geology. But whenever I cross paths with another mountain biker -- or even worse, a hiker -- there is usually a troubling coldness between us.
Comments
What happens in these situations that stirs up hostility?
Chris