Fall 2018 Saber Tails 67
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America
“Tails” from the Clown Hound Files
Featuring: The Stone House Hounds
As told by Beverly Childs
ZZTuX (HiCotton Sharp Dressed Man BN RN PCJH RATN CGCA CGCU) was al-
ways the funny clown of the Stone House Hounds. Laid back, verbal and very
stubborn, he was also very astute.
When Rowdy (GCHS HiCotton Can’t Stop Rockin’) arrived at the Stone House at
nine weeks old, ZZTuX disgustedly let it be known that the young puppies were
interrupting his household. And yes, it was ZZTuX’s household. Flirt (HiCotton
She’s A Heart Breaker CGCA CGCU) had joined us about eight months prior and
now there was another puppy to potty train…and I give ZZTuX full credit for
helping potty train the young ones. He would poke them with his nose and bark
when they started to potty in the house and stop them. Then Tony or I would
run open the door and let them out. ZZTuX kept a sharp eye on the little ones
and made sure he told on them when they were doing something they shouldn’t be doing. He was the “Sheriff” of the
Stone House Hounds and let the pups knew it!
When Willett (Crepu Visage Aged To Perfection At StoneHouse CGC CGCA CGCU TKN) was added to the pack this year,
ZZTuX had gone to the Rainbow Bridge. Tony and I failed the potty training test for many months. Yes we let Willet out
but sometimes we missed her “clues” and when we did, well, you know what happened. We missed ZZTuX and his ability
to show a new puppy the ropes. Flirt and Rowdy were not up to the job of training the new puppy. As the months went
on, I knew our sweet TuX was looking down from the Rainbow Bridge shaking his head and saying “you have to nose
them and bark, nose them and bark!”
ZZTuX was always full of antics. We would crate Rowdy during the day when he was
young and we were out of the house. The hounds always got a treat as we left. When
I came home for lunch I would let the pack out, and before I left give them another
treat, and put Rowdy back in the crate. Imagine my surprise when I came home for
lunch many times and Rowdy was out of his crate. I was telling the world how SMART
my puppy Rowdy was - he had figured out at two months old how to get out of the
crate. Tony would say I wasn’t latching the crate but I was sure I had.
Little did I realize ZZTuX was the SMART one! Then came the day when I came home,
let them out and put Rowdy back in his crate with his treat and started out the door.
Remembered I needed to grab something from the office and as I was coming back
in the sunroom there was ZZTuX with his paw and nose sliding the latch on the crate
open. As I quietly stood and watched, he let Rowdy out of the crate and went in
and ate the treats. You see Rowdy has never been a fast eater and ZZTuX decided if
Rowdy didn’t want the treats he did and figured out a way to get them!