Spring 2017  Saber Tails 17    

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America

Cont’d from  p 14

Advertising/Content Deadline 

for June Issue of Saber Tails 

is May 15th

“We were hoping our city dogs would catch on to what 

they were bred to do, hunt rabbits,” Carol said. “After sev-

eral rabbit sightings, shouts of Tallyho!, lots of sniffing, 

a walk through some muck around a pond on the hunt 

property, and lots of excited running around, we headed 

back to our set up to share our experience with our new-

bie handlers who were anxiously waiting for their turns 

on the hunt field.”

Carol added she was encouraged by the more experi-

enced handlers’ stories about their dogs’ first several 

hunts, and said the new handlers were told not to worry if 

a dog did not pass their HIT initially. 

“I was not holding out high expectations on my dogs. I 

just wanted them to have a fun time off leash with other 

peebs, hunting for bunnies,” Carol said, adding she appre-

ciated Lora’s leadership of the hunt.

“A big thanks to Lora for her perseverance, planning, and 

hard work to actually pull this off. As soon as she found 

out the hunt was approved by the PBGVCA, she put out 

a request for help from members of the PBGVCA Club. I 

volunteered to help chair the raffle.”

In addition to Carol and Lora, others who helped make 

sure the hunt and its auxiliary events such as the raffle, a 

dinner at a local winery, a BBQ lunch -- they were in Texas, 

after all -- ran smoothly were Joan Burke, Bruce and Laney 

Toenjes, and Tim Bryant. 

“After the last hunt, the scores were tallied, ribbons passed 

out to dogs passing their hunts, and participants began 

packing up for their trips home,” Carol said. “I was proud of 

both my dogs. Strudel passed her HIT test, and Mulligan 

did very well, in spite of his progressing glaucoma in both 

eyes. They both had a good time, and that is the bottom 

line.

“I must say, I was very appreciative that so many judges 

drove so far to Texas to judge our first hunt,” Carol contin-

ued. “We are looking forward to attending future hunts 

and observing our dogs enjoying what they were origi-

nally bred to do. We hope to see our “new” hunt friends at 

a future hunt, and also hope that the Texas hunt becomes 

an annual event.”

As chairman of the raffle, Carol was able to collect some 

wonderful donations, Lora said, including prints from 

Sara England, a quilt made and donated by Rosalie Falcon 

(Lora’s mom), a handmade hat from Laney Toenjes, some 

wine, a dog crate, a dog bed, and too many other items 

to mention.  

“Always when it’s a first time, you never really know what 

to expect with the donations or the profits,” Lora said. 

“Overall, I think the raffle was very successful and many 

exhibitors went home with unique items.”

Lora said she appreciated the willingness of handlers 

and judges to travel great distances for the hunt includ-

ing Gloria Swaine and Lindley Henson, of Phoenix; Joan 

Burke, of the Chicago area; Roni Kaluza, of Tennessee; and 

the Toenjes from Iowa.

“Without all these people willing to travel, enter, and 

judge, this would not have been a successful hunt,” she 

added. “I also want to thank the other exhibitors for their 

entries, great sportsmanship, and willingness to help 

make this a success.” Hopefully there will be many more 

shouts of Tally-Ho from the Lone Star State.