Ole Dauber Dog

by Virginia
(Florida)

All my 10 year old son wanted for Christmas 16 years ago was a Basset Hound puppy. We lived in Tenn. at the time so I found a breeder several towns outside of where we lived. I will never forget the day we drove to the Kennel to pick out a puppy. It was just pouring rain, but it was worth the drive. The Kennel was a wonderful place. I never saw so many beautiful Basset Hounds all in one place. There were so many puppies to choose from. My son was so excited and a bit overwhelmed. But he picked out a very handsome tri. colored male pup. With the puppy being 8 weeks old he slept in my son's lap all the way home.

My son named his new dog Dauber. Dauber grew up very fast and turned into a very good dog. My husband did not want a Basset thinking they were not the brightest of the breeds. But Dauber proved him wrong time and time again. He was very easy to train and he loved to please.

When Dauber was around 2 years old I was working at an after school program with Elementary age children. I would take Dauber to the school and he would do all the tricks I had taught him for the children. They all loved it and so did Dauber. The one thing the children wanted Dauber to do is bark for them. There is nothing like a Basset Hound's bark. It took me about three days to teach him to bark on command. But I did it. So the next time I took him back to the school, I gave him the command to bark and he bellowed out the loudest bark and being in a gymnasium it just echoed. The children loved it.

We moved several times in the 16 years we had Dauber. But he always adjusted well and was a perfect family dog. Dauber never met a stranger and loved everyone. Dauber's favorite time of the year was Halloween. What could be more fun for a Basset Hound than hundreds of children coming by the house with candy.

Dauber was very healthy most of his life, I attribute that to all the good care we gave him and the Veterinary care he received in his life. He developed some arthritis in his spine when he was 12 or 13 years old, which is common in Bassets. But with some treatments he got along ok. Around when he turned 15, he developed some cancerous growths in his mouth. We had the Vet remove them on two different occasions. But it was a fast growing cancer.

This past May, Dauber was losing his fight and I knew it was his time. My 10 year old son was now grown, with a family of his own. They had moved far away. But I told him he needed to come and tell his Dauber Dog Goodbye.

A few days later Dauber's breathing became labored and I called the Vet. But before the Vet could get out to the house to put him to sleep he laid down in his favorite spot in the den and took his last breath.

Dauber is now buried out in his yard, where he loved to take walks and smell the flowers. I painted his portrait on a piece of ceramic tile to be his grave marker.

Dauber was a wonderful part of our family. He helped raise my children and was working on my Grandchildren.

We all loved him so much and miss him greatly.

The Basset Hound is an awesome breed for anyone looking for a family dog and a child's pet. I am so glad that all my ten year old son wanted for Christmas 16 years ago was a Basset Hound puppy.