A SECONDHAND DOG
Catcher (Ch. Notice Catcher in the Rye), on the other hand, was doing it all. As is our custom, he finished his Conformation title and began training for a working career. Most of my dogs start as working ratters and only later graduate to larger quarry. By the very nature of the activity (for which I like to use a team of eight dogs) a pack men- tality with a large shot of cooperation is required. Catcher carried the genes of his ancestors and proved to be an excellent ratter. He worked as a “catch” dog and was able to share his quarry with other dogs. (We frown on rodent stretching, but it does happen.) In a nutshell, Catcher was living up to everything I wanted in a Bedlington Terrier, but like some of his ilk, he could be a bit dog aggressive. Many terriers are a bit feisty, though, and anyone foolish enough to keep a few stud dogs on the same property learns how to deal with it soon enough. Now about this time, I fell victim to a sweet-talking Baptist preacher from Kentucky who convinced me that in addition to find- ing Jesus, I really needed to find a Jagdterrier or two to round out my team. Dachshunds serve as “hole dogs” to navigate a deep dark burrow and locate the quarry. The hunting style of a Dachshund, charge and parry, is ideal for backing up and holding quarry or causing it to bolt. Bedlingtons and other long-legged terriers can be used effectively as small lurchers to wait outside the back door for the quarry to bolt. The Jagdterrier, however, is ideally suited to fill that middle ground that requires a fairly gritty little monster to be dug into the burrow and take over where the Dachshund leaves off. They’re cute, friendly, and have an energy level that puts the Energizer Bunny to shame. They need to hunt, and woe betide the owner who is unable or unwilling to satisfy that need. I took the bait and “Rommel,” a broken-coated male, and eventually, his younger sister, “Zoey,” took up residence in the kennel.
‘Marcus’ finishes his American championship on a quick trip stateside under Fred Basset, handled by Malin Erikkson and owned by Eva Byberg.
“Most of my dogs start as working ratters and only later graduate to larger quarry. By the very nature of the activity (for which I like to use a team of eight dogs) a pack mentality with a large shot of cooperation is required.”
At Reynard’s (my current kennel prefix), I keep the breeds of dog that are necessary for the types of hunting in which we participate. Each dog has a role to fulfill and the conformation to make that happen. Over the years, there have been Beagles, English Foxhounds, Jack Russell Terriers (Puddin’s, of course), Norfolk Terriers, and Smooth Fox Terriers, in addition to the current crew. It was into this rather diverse mix that Marcus landed without choice or explanation. Since he had been kept in the house in Sweden, I afforded him the same privilege, but he was, as the saying goes, “At sea.” The proud, cocky, stallion of a dog that I had seen at Lou- isville had become a subdued and more than a little insecure refugee. New smells, sights, and even a new language were a seemingly insurmountable challenge. (It is possible, though, that the word “A$$hat” sounds similar in English and in his native Swedish since he seemed to respond to that.)
There are few pleasures that equal the joy of showing your own dog to a terrierman whom you admire and respect. Bobby Paust was all of that and more.
102 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2023
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