There is no other way to describe Ginger the Red Setter. She was a Birdbrain. In every sense of the word. One of the most beautiful dogs we ever had, deep red and feathery, the kind of shiny coat that catches the sun and radiates it back. But not a house dog. Our mistake. She was sweet, and she was great with the kids. But she was a chewer. Shoes (some of MamaCharlie's favorite Italian heels !!), wires, and telephones. The Bundespost (the Postal System in Germany runs all the telephones) had to come out and replace our telephone...twice. I guess if it rang while we were gone, she felt the need to stop it. She got my low-quarters (the shoes I needed for my dress uniform), and various and sundry other objects around the house. She didn't get the idea of leaving the house to go potty, so we took shifts and walked her almost hourly trying to get her to catch on. Problem was that there were only so many dog-walking areas on post and they were pretty well used. She was dainty and insisted on going on virgin territory.

One day I came in just as she assumed the position. I immediately yelled at her and swatted her butt. I hooked her up to the leash and walked her for over an hour. She would not go. She had learned her lesson...Daddy don't like to see dogs poopin'. I knew she had to go...badly...she was walking with her butt squeezed tight...but she wasn't about to risk getting Daddy mad again. As soon as we got home and she was off the leash, she ran to a secluded corner and dumped it all. For the rest of the time we had her, she would not make a drop in my presence.