SophieB

I hope you can read through this as someone has discovered what being owned by a Basset is really like!!!!
Haha they are asking for help!!!

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_phill...obin-williams/

"As I was being pulled face-first into a thorny hedge this morning, I realized: I have to find a better way to walk our dog. Let me give you an idea of what I’m dealing with: Giant floppy ears that are a foot long. Short freckled legs, six inches in length. A giant brown and white body that look uncannily like that of a very short cow. Adorable, friendly personality who loves all babies, grandmothers, Chihuahus, Labs, and everyone in between. And a relentless cat-chaser who almost dislocates your arm every time he sees a cat. Yes, people, we’ve got a basset hound, and we have a next-door neighbor with ten cats, who wander her yard like Lion Country Safari. It’s a recipe for dog-saster.

Murphy, our dog, is a very healthy-sized hound at 74 pounds (“That’s the biggest basset hound I’ve ever seen!” marvel strangers), and is incredibly active for the 4 hours a day that he’s awake. Honestly, when we got him as an adorable, tiny puppy, we pictured him growing into a portly couch potato, one who’d companionably snuggle with the kids and occasionally wander through the back yard for 10 minutes a day.

He does do all those things, and Murphy is one of the sweetest-tempered dogs ever, but when he’s up and moving, Murphy’s energy level is like Robin Williams on an HBO special. He revels in a long walk every day, or a trip to the dog store, or to visit some of his dog friends. It helps him burn off his favorite snack (American cheese), and the joy he gets in pretty much any activity is fantastic.

I don’t mind that he steals my lunch every day, or drools on the couch, or howls at the door every time we go out, but the walks have gotten a little out of control. When he sees one of the ten cats, his tank-like body suddenly shoots off like Seabiscuit, and I’m left frantically clutching the leash, running behind him, dragged under rhododendron bushes, and praying he doesn’t get away from me. Also, I’m afraid I’ll hurt his windpipe if he keeps pulling like this. And if he rips the leash out of my hand and follows a cat out onto the busy road near us … it’s too horrible to think about.

“You need a choke chain,” said one friend matter-of-factly, watching Murphy pull me manically through her back yard. A choke chain? On my baby? I can’t do that. (As I was pulling thorns out of my legs this morning, it seemed like more of a possibility, but I don’t think I can do it.) “A harness!” said my aunt, who bought us one. Unfortunately, none of us can figure out how to get the harness on. It was a particularly fancy harness, so I think I’ll go back to the pet store again today and ask for a harness made for the none-too-smart.

One thing that immediately springs to mind—I gotta get him away from those cats. So tomorrow, Murphy and I are driving over to the kitty-free trails at Wissahickon High School. Any ideas on how to safely walk a giant, cat-obsessed dog would be very much appreciated."

FloppyToby

LOL! i think every basset owner can relate to this. that's so funny. i ended up getting toby a head collar which was a miracle until him and my lab mix hank thought it would be fun to play tug of war with it, leaving it in a couple different pieces.

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A basset is an asset!

LoveMaxwell

ROFL!!!!!!!!

A harness has helped with Max, but it may not help you as much with all of those cats around. That is obviously temptation beyond any basset!!

Miss Snickers

Love this story, soooo familiar with it! I just purchased a new harness for Snickers, and put it on her for an evening walk last week. I follwed the instructions on the box, and before we left, my hubby asked if it was on right. I replied (rather shortly) "yea, that's how the box told me to do it" Needless to say, the little bratski wriggled her way out of it somehow! Luckily there was a neighbor who called her over and held her there till I could reach her! Thank god the street isn't busy!

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I could sure go for a Snickers Blizzard right about now!

Tuesday

Cute! Thanks for sharing!!!!