The following is a guest post by my esteemed colleague Amanda.

Lucky and Louie: Follow the Leader

I didn't know much about dogs when my beagle/terrier mix, Louie, came to live with me. I read a lot of books, some about dogs in general and some about hounds and terriers specifically. I found the breed-specific books terribly frustrating—they were full of things that Louie couldn't be allowed to do and offered no positive alternatives. I learned that terriers "can't" be trusted around small animals, so I socialized Louie with small animals whenever I had the chance―and to this day, she treats little critters with the utmost respect.

According to the hound books I read, beagles kept as companions can never be allowed off leash because of their propensity for following their noses, wherever they may lead. I found this incredibly unfair: Humans have manipulated dog breeds for centuries, even millennia, to exploit certain qualities, but with more and more people keeping dogs as companions, the need for a scent hound to track successfully is almost entirely diminished, while unfortunately for the dogs, their desire to do so is not. So I came up with several ways to provide Louie with activities that would stimulate her and meet her needs to track and find safely, including hiding toys and tasty treats around the house and games of hide 'n' seek. I also solicited the help of friends, asking them to take a walk so that Louie and I could follow and track them. She loved the games, and she loved the inevitable reward when she found what she was looking for, whether it was a cookie or a friend.

Although my intention was always just to make Louie happy, her skills came in handy one cold winter evening when my grandparents' beloved dog, Lucky, went missing. I volunteered her as soon as I heard the tearful news. "Louie will find her," I said, and then kicked myself. What was I thinking? Lucky had already been gone for several hours, and Louie's tracking experience was limited to headstarts of only a few minutes. But it was better than doing nothing, so I grabbed an extra leash and some cookies and said, "Let’s go find Lucky!" I’m proud to report that Louie picked up Lucky's trail immediately and didn’t make a single wrong turn. Lucky was warm and safe back at home in less than 20 minutes.

That was three years ago, and Louie has been successfully tracking lost animals ever since. She has even alerted me to several maimed birds and tiny lost kittens, animals I was able to help but never would have known were in trouble if not for her. Whether we are working against the clock to find an animal in danger or just practicing, our teamwork has helped to forge a wonderful bond, and my little houndie who "couldn't" be allowed to do off-lead work is wonderfully focused and attentive―with or without a leash.

My grandma always told me, "Can't never could." Life may be full of negatives, but that means it's also full of opportunities to turn them into positives. Dogs who constantly excavate the back yard or herd guests are begging for something constructive to do, and they rely on you to give it to them. Your ability to provide your dog friend with the stimulation, purpose, and fulfillment he or she craves are only limited by your imagination, so start dreaming!