Thanks, JW. I have a couple of stories to tell on my beloved Sophie!
When she was young, my daughter had her male and our plans were to raise a litter of pups. When she was old enough, almost 2, we tried, but Sophie would have nothing to do with Hunter. AFter seeing how she adored the baby coons (and they adored her, like their mother!), I decided to give it another try. After 2 more failings with other dogs, I finally got her bred, and she had 9 pups. A few years back, she had her last litter which were 6 weeks old the day before Christmas, and all pups were sold but 2. After Christmas, we had 6" of snow, and the following day, both pups were gone, as were Sophie and Cammie! I freaked out! I lived in the country then, too.
Let me back up some. Sophie knew the command "find it", but always had to show her what "it" was. Ex hunted dove, showed her dove, he would shoot, I would tell her to "find it" and she would bring it back. Baby coons were referred to as her "babies", so when they would wander to the woods, and I could not locate them, I would say, "find the babies", and she would run to the woods, nose to the ground, until she located where they went into the woods. When she would spot them, she would wag her tail fast and whine. She was looking at them and then I could find them.
So, when the pups went missing, Sophie and Cammie came back with one few minutes after I got outside, but the other was lost. I was frantic and told Sophie, "Where is the baby, find him!" Well, she went directly to the edge of the woods where the baby coons would go, and searched and searched. I was sure she was looking for the pup, but realized later that she was not. I had confused her! So, about an hour later, I could wait no longer, took her back outside, but this time we went to the pen with the other pup, and I said, "Good puppy. Sophie, where's the puppy? Find the puppy!" Away she went, like she knew exactly what I said! And, she did, because she headed into the woods in a totally different direction this time. I followed her, with her nose to the ground, up and down hills, we went 1/2 mile up and down hills, I kept encouraging her, and her tail was wagging so I knew she was on a trail, I only prayed she was on her pups trail. I would call occasionally for the puppy and finally I heard a far off yip! I ran to the edge of the woods, and called again, heard it again, and saw the pup jumping up high as it ran, trying to see above the 24" tall dead grass! I screamed and ran toward him, calling Sophie, "Puppy, Sophie, puppy!!!" She, however, was still on her trail and not giving up! When I got to the pup, it was like a slow motion Walt Disney movie. LOL He was soooo happy to see me, wiggling like none other. Finally here came Sophie, and I called and she saw the puppy and came running. Wow, was that an exciting day, with a very happy ending! Especially since I had the brother sold, and while I was searching for the lost puppy, got another call and that guy wanted the lost pup, and I had to tell him what had happened, and if/when I found him, I will call him back. So, it was with tears of joy in my voice that I called the guy back with my victory of locating the lost pup. That little guy was 7 weeks old and how he got as far as he did I will never figure out! But, alls well that ends well! Thought you would enjoy my story.
