Thanks to Dean and Slingblade's encouragement my husband and I did take Belle and Gunther to the Labor Day Rabbit Run and I want to share that it was AMAZING!
First of all, Dean is very hot. But you guys probably know that already.
Second, I don't think I have ever been so scared -ever. I could barely comprehend what people were saying because my heart was beating 100 miles per minute and my face was getting numb from a small panic attack. This is particularly interesting to me because my personal hobby is bike racing and I have never, ever, ever, been scared like this - even though it's pretty easy to get injured or worse. Additionally, my husband used to race Formula cars ---- and I wasn't even scared then. But the thought of my little baby basset getting lost FREAKED ME OUT.
Dean and the whole group were great and made us feel very welcome - it is definitely a family affair and everyone was wonderful. Of course, I still felt like throwing up, but I managed not to.
Thank goodness we got to out right away - before I had a chance to high-tail it outta there. Dean loaned us radio tracking collars just in case. So, Belle and Gunther's necks were loaded down with their own collars, the club's radio collars and the regular club hunting collars. They look like rapper's wearing a lot of bling.
The way the whole thing works is way different than I thought it would be. There were kids and women and actual scary men hunters in our group - and everyone was very supportive. Our group was with our dogs the whole time. The fields were cut out like chess boards so even if they went into the brush you could walk a complete square around them until they came out. AND you are allowed to follow you dog, go get your dog, put your dog back on her leash and everyone in the group helps keep track of everyone. Plus, if one dog gets lost everyone stops to look for him.
Out of six dogs Belle, The Bun-i-nator, placed 2nd and Gunther, the Ambassador of Goodwill, placed 5th. Gunther is more of a sit-by-the-fire-with-a-hot-toddy kind of Basset.
We left early because I was exhausted from being so scared and it was a ton to take in. Plus Belle and Gunther were racked. They did not even move for about four hours after we got home - and these dogs get walked three times a day for about 45-minutes to an hour each time - so they are in good shape - I just think they were excited, working hard and overwhelmed. I don't think my jaw stopped clenching until about 5pm - and I am more tired then I have ever been even after a bike race. Fear certainly wrecks havoc.
I'm taking Belle back tomorrow for the State Championship - if I can force myself to get out of bed at 3:30am.
If you guys haven't done this and are thinking about it - it is a blast!
Susan O.
First of all, Dean is very hot. But you guys probably know that already.
Second, I don't think I have ever been so scared -ever. I could barely comprehend what people were saying because my heart was beating 100 miles per minute and my face was getting numb from a small panic attack. This is particularly interesting to me because my personal hobby is bike racing and I have never, ever, ever, been scared like this - even though it's pretty easy to get injured or worse. Additionally, my husband used to race Formula cars ---- and I wasn't even scared then. But the thought of my little baby basset getting lost FREAKED ME OUT.
Dean and the whole group were great and made us feel very welcome - it is definitely a family affair and everyone was wonderful. Of course, I still felt like throwing up, but I managed not to.
Thank goodness we got to out right away - before I had a chance to high-tail it outta there. Dean loaned us radio tracking collars just in case. So, Belle and Gunther's necks were loaded down with their own collars, the club's radio collars and the regular club hunting collars. They look like rapper's wearing a lot of bling.
The way the whole thing works is way different than I thought it would be. There were kids and women and actual scary men hunters in our group - and everyone was very supportive. Our group was with our dogs the whole time. The fields were cut out like chess boards so even if they went into the brush you could walk a complete square around them until they came out. AND you are allowed to follow you dog, go get your dog, put your dog back on her leash and everyone in the group helps keep track of everyone. Plus, if one dog gets lost everyone stops to look for him.
Out of six dogs Belle, The Bun-i-nator, placed 2nd and Gunther, the Ambassador of Goodwill, placed 5th. Gunther is more of a sit-by-the-fire-with-a-hot-toddy kind of Basset.
We left early because I was exhausted from being so scared and it was a ton to take in. Plus Belle and Gunther were racked. They did not even move for about four hours after we got home - and these dogs get walked three times a day for about 45-minutes to an hour each time - so they are in good shape - I just think they were excited, working hard and overwhelmed. I don't think my jaw stopped clenching until about 5pm - and I am more tired then I have ever been even after a bike race. Fear certainly wrecks havoc.
I'm taking Belle back tomorrow for the State Championship - if I can force myself to get out of bed at 3:30am.
If you guys haven't done this and are thinking about it - it is a blast!
Susan O.