Hunting with a Twist

7.13.2017


A vigilant Chloe keeps an eye on her backyard from the living room.


The Cocker Spaniel has its origins as a legendary hunter and retriever of downed birds, and other small game animals for its master. Through centuries of breeding, the Spaniel’s hunting abilities are now instinctive. Known to trample through wet marshes and thick underbrush, the Cocker has become a hunting companion without equal. I’m amazed at Chloe’s keen interest in retrieving a simple rubber ball that I’ve thrown during times of play with no teaching of the traditional fetch game on my part.

The day we chose her from the kennel was my first experience of watching Chloe return a half-sized tennis ball that I rolled toward her, proving that her ability to understand retrieving was there at the start. Over time I’ve also witnessed her unique ability to adapt different hunting styles to fit the particular environment. When Chloe is in the mood to roam the backyard, she instinctively moves with stealth, orchestrating each of her four legs in a slow motion pattern as she stalks an unwitting predator, whether it be a bird, a lizard or even a bug crawling through the blades of grass.

Of late, Chloe has adapted a new approach with a rather creative twist. Instead of stalking her prey, she's turned to observing her potential victim from the comfort of inside the living room. When the exterior patio door is set ajar, Chloe can easily keep guard of her backyard, particularly since her line of sight brings her within striking distance of the railroad tie wall and the patio’s decorative water fountain. A fountain I might add that has become a favorite watering hole for birds looking for a cool drink. You see Chloe has indeed elevated the art of hunting to a whole new game that includes not only her Spaniel cunningness, but her ability to now hunt from the relative comfort of the house. 

Chloe's backyard with the decorative fountain on her right...
Intense observations from a serious Cocker Spaniel...
With the prey spotted Chloe leaps into action!

2 comments :

  1. My grand daughter has an American cockers named Chloe. Twelve yrs old, she is our sweetheart but sadly she has liver failure and will not be with us much longer. I gave her to Tucie for Christmas when she was seven. Now she almost twenty one. So sad to lose our good friend Chloe. We know there's a heaven for dogs like our Chloe.

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