What I’ll remember about Robin, my Redbone Coonhound after she is gone: 1) The ears – Her big furry hound ears which were like soft red fabric in my hands. 2) Hiking up in the mountains, from the Sierra Nevada range up to the Cascades & Olympics, she was my trusty companion who pulled me up the trail when she was younger. Coming down she got to be off leash which was heaven for her to experience. She’d run ahead 15-20 feet ahead and scout it out but would mostly wait on my whistle. 3) Running off to chase some unknown scent while hiking, she scared me a few times but always come back after yelling for her return. For when the nose is on, the ears are off…proved that true. 4) Turkey and Chicken…it took way too long to figure out which meat she really was excited about. Everything else was secondary…except cooked salmon too. 5) Standing in the Truckee River together as I tried to get her interested in swimming – she was not, even though she had webbed feet & could swim well as a breed. 6) The hound body she wore well during her prime, from the deep chest to narrow hindquarters & proud wagging tail, all in deep rich red – for she was a pure bred sporting dog for sure. 7) Treeing that cat…it was the most glorious display of her breeding. She waited at the base, front legs up on the trunk howling for me to come and see. 8) Running on sand…she was always funny to watch her bounce around on that soft element. 9) Sun and Lawn – how she used to run out to the sunny area of the back lawn & sprawl out. I saw her through the window rolling on her back with legs in air wild & carefree in joy. 10) How she arrived timid & shy and grew into a balanced temperament dog by being socialized walking out & about, and by going to overnight dog camps outside Seattle. The later was some of the best $$$ money I spent on her during her life. 11) Canter…when she walked briskly she looked just like horse in stride…graceful & ready to race. 12) Rides in vehicles, which were different based on which one. The VW / Audi – she sat in the front seat upright like a human passenger, which startled more than a few nearby drivers. In the Jeep, she rode in the back wild & free – all the Jeep rides went somewhere fun (and she knew it). 13) Skateboards – what was the deal with riders on skateboards & how they made her crazy – guess I’ll never know reason why (must have been something with her first owner Airell). 14) Chasing raccoons…wow the few times I let her loose to run them down, she was a natural born hunter. Howling like a banshee & every hair / muscle on fire. Her tail stuck straight out like an arrow too. 15) Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno – this was the first & bar none, best dog park we went to ever. From the long rangeland field to the banks of the Truckee River, combined with the adjoining scrub brush & desert highlands, it had everything for a dog in spades. She loved it there and it was a wonderful place to visit with fellow Reno dog owners…felt like heaven might be. 16) Ol’ brown eyes – she had this pleading expression with your eyes & facial expression. So gentle yet so deep. 17) Vacuum cleaners…why did she get all excited & want to chase me around when I was using an upright vacuum cleaner?! Another aspect of her I’ll never understand. 18) Daily walks - she got me out of the house to explore the neighborhoods in which I lived. Not only did it allow me quality outdoor thinking time, but also made more centered in my daily living. This will be another of the hardest things to let go (daily) about having her as my dog. 19) Cold scented nose – She had the most remarkable sense of smell. It was what she was bred (scent hound), however it displayed itself in crazy ways. With the smell of an animal trail, she would pull me down the path…smelling so hard & snorted like a piggy. Also, she could smell strangers at the house door, without seeing them first. And yes, the nose was cool to the touch. 20) Riding in the moving van from Reno to Seattle was epic – especially when we drove into a blizzard front outside of Mt Shasta, CA. Putting chains on a U-Haul while she was inside was crazy…but she was my co-pilot the whole 800+ mile trip. 21) Digging Holes – Yes, she had a passion for digging holes in my backyard. She excavated behind a shrub (3 feet deep) and took out a line of plants that I planted a few hours prior. Made me mad as hell. 22) Smart & Perceptive was this hound. She figured out my routine & could tell when it was cage time (pouring coffee in am). Also could tell when I was finishing up my grilled dinner & would “wake up” for leftovers. And finally, on weekends when we were going for Jeep ride somewhere fun, (got excited and start howling). Yes, she was on to me. 23) The Cone – she had two serious medical incidents, the first was getting mange & the second was getting bit by another dog at Camp Charlie. She had to wear the round plastic cone around head while the injured areas healed. She hated it & was bummed out. I thought it was kinda funny…but understood her displeasure. 24) Grass, more green grass please…She ate grass when we were out walking the neighborhood. My vet Dr. Barnhard told me it was nothing to worry about. She was like a cow with the grass seriously, mooooo. 25) The hound had a way of displaying affection by nodding her head against me when I was giving her petting love. It was different than “pet / scratch / rub that area” more – it was showing love in return. 26) The Howl…This is the last item, and the most notable. The hound howl (bay) is distinct for a hound breed. Hers was a rich soulful timbre when she younger that faded out towards the end - Beautiful. RIP: "Robin", pure Redbone Coonhound, 2003-2016.