Being the Luddite I am the thought of strapping more electronics around my dog’s neck makes me wonder if they are GSPs or F-16s. A few gents this past season had some infernal contraptions around their dogs’ necks to make sure that the said gentlemen don’t lose their dogs. The collars beeped and buzzed so much I didn’t know whether to get up or hit the snooze button. I like the old school sound of bells and I use two distinct sounds so I can identify when Cooper is ranging or Bella is working a patch of briars. Bella is seems was used to bells and would wear a pink tutu if it meant she was going hunting. Coop’s first reaction to a bell was pure fright. He was afraid to move fear that the jingle emanating from around his neck would cause dire consequences. He soon learned the clank of the bell meant time in the field hunting. I now need to handle the bells as if they were highly explosive. The slightest clank or tinkle and the dogs are on me. Since it is the time of jingle bells and the art of having dogs is about compromise, Ms. Deborah thought the two gun dogs would look cute in festive gear. The dogs immediately thought grouse or pheasant was in the near future, but the stereophonic collars with the jingle jangle only meant a steady stream of holiday well-wishers and food the likes not seen all year. Coop and Bella liked the collars and minced pie. At least they didn’t have to wear a silly hat or eat fruit cake.
