Our farm is a dog's paradise.
Open space, no leashes, a pond to cool down in, and plenty of interesting scents to explore, what else could a dog want? It seems that every time our son Robert visits us at the farm his dog Hunter sniffs out one creature or another. On two different occasions, Hunter picked up the scent of a Porcupine and things did not end well.
The first time around the venture ended up with him wearing the quills of the porcupine.
Living in the middle of nowhere does have a few drawbacks, like nothing is just around the corner, especially a veterinarian. Being that this unfortunate meeting happened on a Sunday the only option was for our son to remove the quills. That task took an hour or so, with Hunter yelping in agony the entire time.
The second time around Hunter's face was covered in quills.
Spikes were protruding from his nose and mouth along with at least a hundred others stuck in his face. At least this time it didn't happen on a Sunday because a vet was in need. $375.00 later Hunter was back on the farm, not quite as curious.
A few weeks ago as I was sitting on the front porch enjoying a morning coffee as Hunter was again on the trail of something.
I ignored his actions at first but his unwavering activity had me thinking, can he be on the trail of another porcupine? As soon as that thought came to mind I quickly went to see what the heck he had kicked up this time, praying it was not another dart-throwing critter. This time he had treed a raccoon which was about 15 feet up a tree. This poor guy wasn't having a very good morning. Not only was Hunter on his trail, he had obviously come across the dart-throwing critter, with several quills lodged in its face.
The one stuck in its nose had to be very painful.
I wonder how the heck this raccoon will remove these barbed darts.
It had rained most of the night, and at first, the wet fur of the raccoon made it look like a porcupine. Once I focused my camera in on the treed animal I breathed a sigh of relief.
It's a good thing dogs can't climb up a rope
or Hunter would have chased the raccoon further up the tree.
There's nothing like a dog that obeys commands. Despite Hunter being in a super excited state, on command, he sat there eyeing the raccoon while I took these pictures. I think he would have kept that raccoon treed all day if I hadn't taken him inside. Again on command, he followed me inside with one simple word, come.
On another occasion,
he took care of a groundhog that was living under our home.
https://peakd.com/hive-106316/@thebigsweed/hunter-the-name-says-it-all
I wonder how the heck this raccoon will remove these barbed darts.
It had rained most of the night, and at first, the wet fur of the raccoon made it look like a porcupine. Once I focused my camera in on the treed animal I breathed a sigh of relief.
It's a good thing dogs can't climb up a rope
or Hunter would have chased the raccoon further up the tree.
There's nothing like a dog that obeys commands. Despite Hunter being in a super excited state, on command, he sat there eyeing the raccoon while I took these pictures. I think he would have kept that raccoon treed all day if I hadn't taken him inside. Again on command, he followed me inside with one simple word, come.
On another occasion,
he took care of a groundhog that was living under our home.
https://peakd.com/hive-106316/@thebigsweed/hunter-the-name-says-it-all
or Hunter would have chased the raccoon further up the tree.
There's nothing like a dog that obeys commands. Despite Hunter being in a super excited state, on command, he sat there eyeing the raccoon while I took these pictures. I think he would have kept that raccoon treed all day if I hadn't taken him inside. Again on command, he followed me inside with one simple word, come.
On another occasion,
he took care of a groundhog that was living under our home.
https://peakd.com/hive-106316/@thebigsweed/hunter-the-name-says-it-all
he took care of a groundhog that was living under our home.
https://peakd.com/hive-106316/@thebigsweed/hunter-the-name-says-it-all
What a gorgeous pup Hunter is. I am a big dog lover having had Malamutes and Shepherds so to me all dogs are pups. I love how obedient he is. Those quills musy hurt like hell, no wonder he was yelping while they were getting pulled out. The raccoon well I feel for him too.
Malamutes are a splendid breed, and they are great family dogs. For me, obedience is key if you are going to have a dog. The fact Hunter doesn't bark too much is also very appealing.
Hunter was yelping like crazy but he didn't have to be pinned down while the quills were being removed, it was like he knew that our son was trying to help.
Awww Hunter!!! Poor thing becoming a dart board. The raccoon is learning a hard lesson since nobody is going to catch him and spend a few hundred to free him, so he can menace around in peoples' garbage.😄
Let's hope that Hunter is smart enough to avoid any future run-ins with another porcupine. If he does he may be wearing them for a while, just like the raccoon.
I don't think the raccoon will be trying to flip the lids off of our garbage cans in the future.
😅
Killing groundhogs is an excellent skill for ones dog to have! He's quite a treasure, that one, and must love coming to your house. Poor racoon though. I wonder, too, how he will get those out. I imagine that in time the body will push them out. I hope so.
Hunter is the best dog I've ever come across. Very seldom do you hear him bark and he's one obedient dog. Hunter is also great with all of our grandchildren, they ride him, lay on him, and when they give him a snack he gently takes it from their hand.
I was thinking the same thing with the raccoon, hopefully, the body will push them out.
Inquisitive dog really got into trouble not once but twice, now he should know the scent of porcupines. Poor little raccoon no such luck of going to a vet or having a human assist.
Catching a groundhog must be a similar excitement our dog digging moles up, not that they catch them very often. Dogs dig, some are agile enough to climb trees, more often than not end up in some form of trouble.
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You would hope that after the second run-in with a porcupine, he would know better the third time around, but I'm not convinced.
Hunter does the same thing when he finds a chipmunk hole, he'd dig to China if you let him.
He's yet to be sprayed by a skunk, KNOCK ON WOOD!
Thank you very much for the pizza and luv, always appreciated.
He sounds like a character that does enjoy exploring outdoors, meet and greet can be tough!
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Seems like that Raccoon is having a bad day.
I had to look several times and read your text before I was sure what I was seeing, hiding in that tree.
Great pictures!
The raccoon was having a pretty bad day, but a better day than if he didn't scurry up that tree and Hunter got a hold of him.
It also took me several times to look up the tree and I still was not sure what I was looking at. Once I got my camera and zoomed in on it I then realized what I was looking at.
Not too often do you get a chance to photograph such an occurrence.
Thanks for stopping in.
Hunter is a very good dog. A good pet and a good watcher in your farm Sir @thebigsweed
Hunter is a great companion and he has become a big part of the family.
In the same way, an animal which is in the habit of hunting may stay that way for some time, but it hunts, it is part of its nature.
Habits are hard to break, especially when it is in their genes.
Yeah you are right.
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