Dallas' Story

When I reached out to Dallas' breeder, I had no idea the shockwave I had sent through my destiny. Or how that one message changed the course of my future in a pretty spectacular way.

 

Since the age of 10, after reading a novel about a Redbone Coonhound raised in the wild forests of Alberta by a black wolf, it became my lifelong goal to own a red basset. Back then, red wasn't a colour you saw on this breed. Red & white wasn't even really on the radar yet, so in my 10-year-old mind, the red basset was a mythical creature that existed only in my imagination.

Imagine my surprise when, more than 25 years later, I found myself reaching out to a breeder who had a pregnant red basset, Sadie. We chatted for days. She lived about 4 1/2 hours away from me. We shared stories of bassets, dogs in general and I told her about my experiences raising wildlife and other exotic pets I had owned in the past. We realized, through our conversations, that we had a lot in common and became fast friends.

In the span of just a few weeks, tragedy struck. Sadie went into early labour. MUCH too early. She was approximately 8-10 days away from her due date, and that meant that the puppies' chances of survival had plummeted. After 2 stillborn, Sadie gave birth to 5 living puppies, one of them an all-red boy, just like his mama.

The following 3 days were a whirlwind. An indistinguishable blur of fear, waiting, phone calls, stress and then devastation. One by one, the living puppies perished. Between breathing issues and no suck/swallow response, they were simply too underdeveloped to survive. Despite all the breeder's best efforts, and our tireless attempts to help her, we could not secure tube-feeding supplies in time. We called veterinary offices and supply businesses within 6 hours of us to try and help, but due to the pandemic, nobody had anything they could spare.

The premature puppies were dying, and no amount of effort was saving them.

On the afternoon of that 3rd day, the breeder called me in tears. She told me that she just lost one more, and that there was only one puppy left. My heart sank, thinking that my dream dog had just slipped through my fingers. And then I heard the words, "It's your boy." I think I started crying immediately. Then she asked if I could come get him. She remembered the stories I had told her about nursing neonate squirrels that had been abandoned. "His best chance, I think, is with you."

We made the drive as soon as we could and picked up 4-day old, TINY little Dallas. At about 1/3 the size of a normal, newborn basset puppy, he was the smallest hound I had ever seen. I cuddled him against me all the way home, determined to not let this boy die.

The next few weeks were a crazy schedule of hydrating injections, feedings every 2 hours (that took 30-40 minutes to finish), potty stimulation, regular breathing checks on the hour, repeat vet appointments, weights and measurements and tweaking formula recipes to aid in growth. I cleaned up puppy messes, soothed him when he cried, performed Early Neurological Stimulation exercises, and carried him in his basket, complete with electric blanket, everywhere I went. It was intense, and our bond was born of it.

 

When the time came that we could all breathe a sigh of relief, we sat down to determine his registered name. The fight that he had put up to survive against all odds was his biggest claim to fame, and his name had to reflect that. After doing some research and translating into other languages, we found one that fit just right - "Wonder Strijder" - Dutch for "Miracle Warrior/Fighter".

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​GETTING STARTED IN THE WORLD OF DOG SPORTS

By the time Dallas was 4 months old, we all knew he was pretty special. He knew no fear. He was bold, he was proud, and he was Mama's little Prince. He was stunning, in all the ways that hounds should be, but then there was his COLOUR.

The breeder asked if I'd ever consider showing him. Given that I had NO idea what that would entail, I started to research. She, nor I, had ever shown dogs. I had no friends or family who had ever shown dogs either. I relied heavily on the internet to help me figure out what exactly I needed to do. I signed up for 2 professional handling classes before the show I had entered, hoping that I could learn enough in them to not embarrass myself entirely. Those classes, incidentally, were cancelled, so I attended the show with nothing more than a few YouTube videos to coach me.

Dallas and I arrived alone. We kept to ourselves and waited for our ring time, watching the other handlers. I didn't even have a correct lead for him, just a red slip lead that I had found on Amazon. I was approached by a few people who asked about him. I politely answered questions but didn't hold any conversation with them. I was far too nervous to chat.

Our time in the ring came and went. We were the only basset, so we automatically advanced to the group ring. But, once there, the judge had eyes for the other puppy. In fact, despite being perfectly polite, I felt like the judge had dismissed us from the moment we stepped in, turning his back to watch the other pup, then handing out the ribbon before we had even made our way around. It was frustrating, and stressful. As someone who already hates performing, the experience was horrible, and I vowed to never do it again. I was just going to enjoy my boy as a pet.

The following January, just a few months before Dallas' first birthday, we received a new girl puppy, Charlotte, a show prospect from Pennsylvania. My resolve had set in and I had decided that I wanted to give it another try with a Basset that judges wouldn't be so quick to dismiss. I connected with a breeder who lived a little closer to me and arranged to meet at an upcoming show. My hope was that this time, I would get some coaching and mentoring and do it right. At Charlotte's very first show at 5 months old, she received Best Baby Puppy in the hound Group. I was over the moon happy for her and, for the first time, started to see a bright future in the show ring.

In talking with my new mentor, we discussed her dog and the lack of competition in the breed, which made it near impossible for him to earn Grand Championship points. I had an idea, and before I could filter it, the words "I have a crappy hound that the judges don't like who I could put in the ring with him" had already come out. And so, at 13 months old, Dallas made his second debut in the show ring in late May 2022, as a "sacrificial hound".

But in those almost 8 months, Dallas had grown. His fantastic structure was beginning to show, and despite his colour, the judge definitely took note. He brought Dallas in, did his examination, had us make our round and gave us our Winners ribbon. Then he was brought back in with the Special. The Champion dog looked every bit the part. He was glorious, regal, so poised and professional. I hoped that one day, I could have a hound look like that!

 

The judge did his examination of the other dog, had the Special take a short trip to the corner of the ring and back and make his round around the ring. Then had Dallas go to the corner and back, and around the ring.

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We did our round, stopping behind the first hound, and struggled to get stacked and set up quickly for the final examination.

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The judge looked, then asked us to make a round together. I fully expected to watch him walk away like the first judge, but we made it around, and we got set back up in a stack. The judge looked, and looked. What was he waiting for?!

"Around together again please."

I bit back tears. I didn't think there was a chance we could beat this seasoned hound in front of us, but the judge here had NOT just dismissed us. He took his time, weighing the options. He looked at one, then the other, then back and forth again. It was the longest 2 minutes of my life.

 

Eventually, he awarded the Special with Best of Breed, but not without telling me what a beautiful boy I had. I was dumbstruck. I was absolutely speechless that Dallas had forced this mature hound and his handler to really work for the prize, and that he had made this judge consider my newcomer boy, even just for a fleeting few seconds, over a Champion.

 

Suddenly, Dallas wasn't my "crappy, sacrificial hound" anymore, and I decided that maybe, just MAYBE, this could be worth trying again. This time, with a few more people in my corner teaching me the ins and outs of the dog show world.

 

I got a few handling classes under my belt, joined my local kennel club and national breed clubs, and actually TALKED to people at the shows, making friends and acquaintances along the way. As the weeks went on, I learned from these people, did a ton of research, and felt better and better every time we entered a ring.

Dallas earned his first points at the next show just a couple of weeks later (Erie Shores, June 2022). He achieved a few Best of Winners wins, and then, as we became more educated and confident in the ring, his Best of Breed wins also started to roll in. At the London Canine Association show on July 10, 2022, he achieved his first group placement (Group 4th) in a very competitive hound group.

 

Despite minimal competition available in the classes, Dallas achieved his CKC Championship in just 2 1/2 months of showing, collecting his last 2 points needed at our home kennel club show in mid-August. It's no record, I know, but for us, it was VERY fast. I assumed that it would take us years, as I knew nothing about showing, and Dallas was incredibly unique. Just 1 year after earning his first points, Dallas came full-circle and at ther Eries Shores shows in June 2023, completed his CKC Grand Championship.

Coming in completely green, a fresh face and name in the world of showing dogs, I have worked hard to learn everything I could as fast as possible. I enjoy the relationships I have made with other exhibitors, handlers, and judges, and while I am still learning, I am proud to be someone that newcomers have started to look up to and bring their questions to. I am so happy and thankful to have made the connections I did, because without them, I have no doubt that my life would look very different, and not be half as exciting and full of fun as it is now!
 

I am working diligently with breeders and basset enthusiasts across the country to bring back the passion to our breed's group. Our main goal is to get more breeders back out into the rings, supporting one another and cheering each other on, increasing our breed's entries and generating new interest in the breed itself.

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We have also expanded into various sports with our dogs. We believe it is important to our program that they are proven in all core areas, ensuring that they not only have the beauty and form to excel in the conformation ring, but that they have the knowledge, skill and physicality to perform the jobs that they were bred to do. Dallas has already started competing in Scent Detection/Nosework and lure coursing/Sprinter, earning some titles already and well on his way to others.

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Dallas sired his first litter in the Winter of 2023/2024 and we are very excited for his breeding future with Dakoozi!