Meet Ginger

I love Walker Hounds. They are quiet, kind, and athletic. Plus, they get along well with other dogs, children, and adults. They are easy, no muss-no fuss, pets who like to cuddle and relax on the couch. When I adopted my first Walker Hound, I found out just how misunderstood they are. I was told by a breeder that they don’t make good pets, are difficult to house train, and would probably be an escape artist.

I met my first Walker Hound, Savannah, standing by the trunk of my car. She approached me cautiously as I carried a bag of dog food to the house. She remained outside my front door so I went to see if she had any ID on her collar. She did. I called, left a message, and never received a call back. I gave her some food and water, brought her into the house, gave her a bath, and let her stay. True to her breed, she did try to get out of the yard a few times by literally climbing up and over the fence. Once out she was a blur as she sped away. I made a point to go out with her after that.

When our dog park opened, we were a regular. She would run around the perimeter faster than any other dog in the park. She was fast. Mostly she was very quiet. On special occasions (meeting her first turtle) she would let out a melodious bay. She was my first hound dog, and I was hooked on hounds after that. When she passed, I knew I would have another Walker.

I went to Colonial Capital Humane Society to see if they had any. Sure enough – they had several. One of them was so shy it hid behind the foster mother. I thought that she would be overlooked by others wanting a pet so I said – I want that one. I put her in my car, changed her name from Jackie to Ginger, and added her to my pet family. In a few days, she was at ease and enjoying her new home. Ten years later, Ginger is still very shy, doesn’t like noise, and prefers to stay at home. But in her zone, she has a ton of personality and brings so much joy to my household.

She is smart and can hold her own in a class of German Shepherds and Boarder Collies. Her recall is the fastest in the class. If she were more at ease with new sights and sounds, I think she would have made an awesome agility competitor. But I have learned to love her as she is and not flood her with too many triggers. It doesn’t bother me if she is shy. We still fit in three walks a day – short, sniff sessions instead of endurance walks. She’s content to spend time on the couch or the bed and the highlight of her day is mealtime when she lets out a roaring bark. Ginger turned out to be a happy and delightful pet who is adored by her owner.

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