Trail Security: This is Ted, the guy who watches out for me on hikes. Nothing escapes his notice, and he is particularly on the alert for dead things and poop. He politely greets...

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

This is Ted, the guy who watches out for me on hikes. Nothing escapes his notice, and he is particularly on the alert for dead things and poop. He politely greets people and most dogs. Bears, another matter: they are NOT to be on or near the trail, and his alarm bark for bears is of Mythical Beast proportions. Therefore I never get to see bears, and I kind of like them!

Ted will be eleven in December. I found him as a very young puppy, seven or eight weeks old, by the side of the highway (having missed my turnoff even though at that time I'd lived in the same place for 20 years and driven that highway often. No coincidences, right?) and despite my believing that there was no room in my busy life for a puppy, Ted had other ideas. They proved to be good ones. He is an exceptional companion, not without his weirdness for sure but who's perfect? His intelligence and good judgement, except when it comes to dead things and poop, amaze me.

(Download)

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Beautiful boy!!! Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a home. Love the one ear up and the other down!!!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

luvmypets wrote:

Beautiful boy!!! Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a home. Love the one ear up and the other down!!!

I didn't so much rescue him as give him a lift! And then let him stay. And yes, isn't that ear thing a hoot? Both ears stood for a while and people reacted to Ted as if he were a pretty serious and scary dog. When the left ear flopped, they relaxed. Funny how body language works.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

SWFeral wrote:

This is Ted, the guy who watches out for me on hik... (show quote)

So he adopted you and has taught you many thinks. Smart dog.
Bud

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

WF2B wrote:

So he adopted you and has taught you many thinks. Smart dog.
Bud

Indeed this is true. The day I brought him home, TEMPORARILY, he figured out the pet door intended for cats. As a puppy he fit through it handily. Now, as a 60-plus pound oldster, he STILL stuffs himself through it. If he's having an arthritic day, he has a certain bark to let me know he needs an open door. With all his "situational" vocalizations, he communicates better than most people I know.

crafterwantabe Loc: Mn

I do believe it was meant to be..that you missed your turn. Ted was just waiting for you to come and pick him up... he is a great looking boy!!!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

crafterwantabe wrote:

I do believe it was meant to be..that you missed your turn. Ted was just waiting for you to come and pick him up... he is a great looking boy!!!

Yes, it was the best turn ever missed. Even though I've always felt like Ted's kind of feral, I think he would tell you he's spent all these years trying to civilize ME!

bluechris Loc: Grapeview, WA

I have always been a dog person, but when 8 feral cats were born in our yard in California, one of them was the runt of the litter and we fed her milk and then she was ours. She chose us and today Casey is 14 years old and she is the boss lady. She knows how to tell me what to do. She owns the yard and lets me know it is time for me to come out and walk the yard with her. So, Ted and you have the same bond. You were meant to be with each other, you just did not know it at the time. Ted is a gorgeous dog and you are lucky to have him.

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

Beautiful dog! Mine passed away a few years ago, can't get my head around another! But I do carry a fully licensed and I am fully trained 9mm and snake bite kit! By the way, most things including bad guys will run away when fired in the air! Not for everyone, but then if you saw how some folks treat their dogs, dogs are not for everyone either! Take good care of that puppy, treat him/her good, it will treat you good! Give a pat on the head and a "cookie" from me!

dougwalter Loc: The Colony, TX

Love the portrait. Sounds like Ted is a great pointman.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

bluechris wrote:

I have always been a dog person, but when 8 feral ... (show quote)

I am lucky. I'm also a cat person since childhood. A lot of people just write cats off, thinking they're too aloof and independent to have anything other than snotty personalities. As you've found out, that's simply not true. I share my life with two former ferals (cats I mean!) and they are incredibly sweet.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Tet68survivor wrote:

Beautiful dog! Mine passed away a few years ago, can't get my head around another! But I do carry a fully licensed and I am fully trained 9mm and snake bite kit! By the way, most things including bad guys will run away when fired in the air! Not for everyone, but then if you saw how some folks treat their dogs, dogs are not for everyone either! Take good care of that puppy, treat him/her good, it will treat you good! Give a pat on the head and a "cookie" from me!

I'm not against carrying a gun and have at times considered it, mostly for bad guys of the human variety. But I carry too much camera stuff (I also set up trail cameras) and besides, if I had to fire off a pistol Ted would be off like a shot himself. He might never come near me again.

I think I will always have a dog to keep me from losing myself in the mountains. There will never be another Ted, of course, and I'm not sure how it would feel to have a more "normal" dog. Ted is a ball of weirdness under those handsome looks. He thanks you for the cookie.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

dougwalter wrote:

Love the portrait. Sounds like Ted is a great pointman.

Thanks. Not a bad model, either.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Ted is a handsome dog, SWFeral, and I'm soooo glad you rescued him! (He is, too!). Very nice shots!

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

SWFeral wrote:

I'm not against carrying a gun and have at times c... (show quote)

Good puupy! Good Daddy! Best of luck you too. I carry the gun it is Ruger LC9s compact in a Sneaky Pete holster, looks like a smart phone carrier on my belt! Main reason, a couple it times my GF and I had unsavory characters follow us into the woods! Don't know what was on their minds, but I'm betting it wasn't good! Normally I trust others!