New Westminster Breeds

Shoot off the fireworks and break out the band! The Westminster Dog Show in New York highlighted six new breeds. Two of them ...TWO of the six... were hound dogs! What makes this so exciting for me...Jonathan's dad raised and hunted hound dogs! During his coon huntin' days, Ron had Treeing Walkers (I do not like them!), Black and Tans (I like them), and Redbones (I love them!!) He even had a bloodhound once...but he did not make a good coon huntin' dog. We had several good dogs. The majority of them were UKC (United Kennel Club) registered. They did not have a long enough pedigree to be registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club).

But now...NOW!!!! After 100 years of breeding and proving themselves. The Redbone Hound (along with the Blue Tick) are AKC registered and this week. THIS WEEK!!! They were featured along with four other "new" breeds at the Westminster Dog Show in New York. HOUND DOGS!!!

Joe was one of Ron's favorites. We also had two of his sons, Clem and Roy. Clem followed in his dad's 'paw prints' and was a really good dog. Roy was gorgeous!!!...but not very good at hunting what he was supposed to be hunting.Yep. That's me. Back in December 1973. With Joe.

Let me tell you a story about Clem. The hounds were Ron's dogs. Not mine. The only time I had anything to do with them was when Ron was gone on the truck and I fed and watered them. And gave 'em a pat on the head. And maybe turned one out every so often while I was working in the yard. Anyway...

Whenever we were out in the yard, we turned one or two of the dogs out to play with us. Once while Ron and I were horsing around - I screamed. Clem ran between us, faced Ron and GROWLED AT HIM! Ron and I stood there with our mouths hanging open. I got rather smug. Ron's dog. Uh-huh. Riiiight......

'Bout time this breed got their due!