[Dailydrool] Duck Feet

[Linda H]

Our atb basset, Turbo, came from good hunter stock, and had good legs. She was very athletic and could run for hours at the park. She looked a bit different from show dogs, but hunters care only about results. 

Now, Merlin, on the other hand, has had nothing but Pet dog in his ancestry for a l-o-n-g time. He does not even look at rabbits. He has definite eastie-westie legs. He also has a roachy back. These things combine to make for a dog who is not a great athlete, but a wonderful couch potato. He is easy to catch since he can't run faster than me. He does not require hours of exercise. He does not scare little kids with bursts of speed. He tires after short walks. He walks slowly. 

Does any of this make Merlin any less of a fabulous pet? Heck no! He gets lots of grins from passers-by because of his extra goofy looks. He makes friends very easily. He needs help getting in and out of the van. And up and down from the furniture. So what! 

The big difference with a basset with bad legs is the strong need to keep the dog slim. The extra weight puts extra strain on the not-so-great joints. 

Linda and Merlin (I am gorgeous just the way I am!)

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