 Age: 4 Years Sex: Female Weight: 51-100 lbs
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Leave a bone for Penny
Nicknames:
Penster
Doggie Dynamics:
| | | | | | | | | Energy | | | | | | Intelligence | | | | | | Friendliness | | | | | | Playfulness | | | | | | Disposition | | | |
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Quick Bio:
Likes:
A WALK!!!!
Pet-Peeves:
Luke going near any of the food in the kitchen
Favorite Toy:
Penny is too dignified to play with toys
Favorite Walk:
ANYWHERE
Best Tricks:
Penny does a very graceful bow and sketchy high five
Arrival Story:
I was asked by the foster home that had her if I could foster her because she was displaying some behaviour problems that they felt they could not fix.
Bio:
Due to unfortunate circumstances, Penny ended up in the SPCA system over a year ago. Since then, she has been adopted out and returned twice and been in the care of 2 different SPCA branches. She has also under gone training and obedience at another facility. The training was very much a plus for Penny but I see that the moving around from place to place has taken a toll on Penny's psyche. She has become a much more anxious and insecure dog than she was a year ago when I first met her. I believe that Penny's adoptions did not work out because her homes may have not understood her breed and she was not given an environment that she could thrive in. If you are considering adopting Penny or any coonhound, please read the following article first: http://members.petfinder.org/~MD14 9/Spotlightbluetick.htm This article points out the wonderful things and the not so wonderful things about having Penny in your life. Penny came into our home about a week and half ago. At first I thought she was going to be a difficult dog to integrate into my home as I heard that she could be sometimes difficult with other dogs and cats. She also spent the first few days crying a fair amount. Well after a few days of watching Penny and getting to know her, these are the things I have learned about her: Penny can be somewhat protective of things she values from other dogs such anything she thinks tastes yummy (the kitchen where the food comes from, the recycle box that has empty cans of cat food). Penny's guarding is very minor and only requires a verbal correction from a human to rectify situation. She has quickly learned that sharing a cushion with another dog is no big deal as she really doesn't loose out on anything just because another dog is sitting next to her. Penny is living with 3 other male dogs and does know that she was the last dog in the house but that doesn't stop her from trying to put herself ahead of another dog she thinks is an easy target. Penny does try to push around our senior blind lab. But again, it only requires a verbal correction to stop her in her tracks. This is not a daily occurrence nor does it escalate past a woofing, well more like a baying for Penny, in Luke's face. We were told that Penny was not good with cats but she has been respectful of our 2 senior cats In fact she is afraid of our senior male as are the other dogs. Although Penny can live with cats in her home, it does not mean she won't chase a cat outside the home but I don't think it would ever go past a chase. Penny's ability to live with cats is a trait that is supposedly out of the norm for a coonhound Penny does live well with other dogs but can take them or leave them. She prefers the companionship of humans. This trait again is supposedly out of the norm for a coonhound. I suspect that Penny would prefer being the only pet in the house. If you get Penny outside and give her what she wants , a very good field/trail to sniff around in for a least an hour, Penny calms herself down in the house. Once we started exercising her nose, she no longer had a need to cry in the house. Penny does cry/whine when I leave the house for about 15 minutes but only if someone else (a human) is around to hear her. She does bay/howl when all humans leave the house but that lasts for an only a couple of minutes. Penny is a face licker. This is her favorite way of manipulating us dumb humans into giving her what she wants. Penny is very adept at this. Penny jumps up and down in one spot (looks very comical) when she sees her leash come out but she is not a dog who jumps on people when they greet her. Penny loves to ride in the car but cries her face off unless she has a window to stick her nose out. I would recommend, for Penny's safety, that she be contained in the back of a car with a dog barrier. Penny is not good on leash. She is a huge puller and this is very typical of her breed. She is walked on a harness or a halti which helps her to control herself and her need to pull ahead. Penny could easily live with children as she pretty calm inside and, while outside, she is more interested in sniffing out a good trail than being inappropriate with children. When outside, Penny is all work and can ignore her human's inside, she is a very affectionate girl and loves to be petted, she also has the softest ears in the world. Penny loves settling herself down in a soft spot, like a bed or couch. She has no problem coming off a couch or bed when you ask her and is learning that she needs to ask permission before jumping up on the furniture. I can easily see Penny wandering off somewhere following some scent. I can also see her trying to get out of a yard if she smelled something really, really good. For these reasons, Penny needs to be supervised while outside with you. She also needs to learn a very good 100% recall with anyone she is with as her need to follow her nose blocks out and other senses like her hearing. Penny is a pretty sensitive girl. If you are not happy with her, it totally affects her demeanor. She gives you a very hang dog look. I would swear her feelings have been hurt. Penny is pretty laid back in the house and is not overly demanding about needing/wanting your attention. Because Penny is a coonhound, she does not fit the norm of a typical family pet. Having a big back yard is not enough for Penny as I have discovered. Penny needs, wants, requires more than that. With every dog that I foster I try to figure out what makes the dog light up with joy. Well take Penny for a walk in an empty field, and you will see a dog light up. Watch her catch a scent and follow it as far as she can, see her tail whip faster and faster as her nose targets in on a smell and listen her howl out pleasure because she has found her objective. Penny's joy is tracking with her nose. I don't usually know what she is tracking. All I know is her nose is much, much stronger than my other dogs. While they are happy smelling out doggy pee and marking the spot, Penny is looking and finding much more than that. Penny's ideal home will be with a person(s) who loves living out doors because that is where Penny likes to be. Again, I can not stress enough that a big back yard or walk around the neighbourhood will not be enough for Penny. Someone who is interested in hiking for long periods of time would match Penny perfectly. Someone who is interested in tracking would be even better. It would be nice if the person could spend a lot of time with Penny as I think she does become anxious when someone isn't around most of the time. Penny really needs to find a person who is familiar with and loves the breed and does not mind that coonhounds can be noisy when out on a run. Please make sure you have read the article on coonhounds that is attached at the top as this article really does describe Penny's nature quite well.
Penny has successfully completed level 1 and level 2 obediance. She is also learning to track. Penny is very intelligent but as her tracking instructor said "Penny has a her own agenda" so she is a challenge in class.
Penny's biggest challenge is to learn how to take a walk without barking through the whole walk. She has made great strides but she is only half way there. Yes coonhounds bark but they should be reserving their bark for exciting things... Right now Penny is barking at nothing.
The Groups I'm In:
Crazy Coonhounds!
The Last Forum I Posted In:
Penny (Coonhound extradionaire)
I've Been On Dogster Since:
| June 10th 2007 |
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More than 2 years! |
Rosette, Star and Special Gift History
Dogster Id:
561054
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