[DARISC]

My breed of dog:

Years ago I was talking to a business associate, a retired professional rodeo rider from Colorado. The breed of my dog came up and he told me when he and his buddies hunted big cats, they'd always have one with them. I said, I thought they hunted cats with hounds? He said, Oh we do, but if the cat holes up in the rocks, the hounds won't go up and flush it out; only your breed will do that. They're fearless.

Back then, early one evening I was standing outside my neighborhood supermarket with my dog, waiting for my wife to come out. A weatherbeaten little old man dressed like a cowboy came out of the store, saw me and said, See ya got ya a (my breed of dog). As I was with the rodeo rider, I was surprised that he recognized the breed, since it isn't commonly seen on the west coast - I was always being asked, What kind of dog is that? when I had her out in public.

So I said to the old man, So you know about (my breed of dog)? Oh yeah, got six of 'em right now. Do you breed them? I asked. Oh no, they're the only breed I can keep on my ranch out in El Cajon. Why's that? I asked. Coyotes kill all the other breeds. Your breed kills coyotes. Grew up on my ranch, always had 'em. Never had coyotes...'cept the occasional dead one. They're too scared to come around.

I haven't had a dog for many years now, but if I get another one, there's only one breed for me. Care to guess what 'my breed of dog' is? I know that one poster on this board knows.

Joe Bob, ya need a couple o' these dogs!