Hunter

The other day I got to see the ancestry of my dog in action. This was worthy of note since up to now his power skill (sleeping) did not seem to be anything special. Max is an 8 year old full breed Labrador Retriever, black coat. Standing on his 4 paws at ninety-pounds with a big square head, a gentle personality with a love for thrown toys and kids, I thought I hadn’t really seen much of his hunting ancestry exhibited as a suburban housedog.

But yesterday I got to see the majesty of his breed in action. As we walked around stalking our prey, he stayed at my left hip as if held by an invisible leash. From the tip of his upcurled tail, past his outstretched head held high at attention, he leaned forward, right front leg lifted in the classic “point” position. Mouth closed with ears drawn back he pulled at the air with large ‘snuf’s through his black nose, glancing up to see what I am looking at, then returning to focused forward. His whole demeanor said ‘On Alert’.

With a ‘Bang!’ I would attack and Max would lunge forward to the spot. ‘There!’ I cried out again, pointing to the fallen prey and he jumps to the spot, feet bracing to stop his momentum. He snaps his mouth and searches with his nose at the spot. I turn to move on and he bounces over to my side, ready for the next one. We end our hunt victorious. He lays down, watching, and I have to clean the slobber off the sliding glass doors, the kitchen cabinet and the front window. But all the flies in the house are dead.