A ‘roont’ reputation

To pick a puppy, my sister went to a breeder back East whose specialty was “strikers” -- hounds that spot raccoon scent from far away. In his house, the breeder glanced with contempt at a sleeping hound and said, “That dog’s roont.” What? “Let a coonhound in the house and he’s useless for hunting -- completely roont.” My sister’s puppy is now an 80-pound, slobber-slinging, completely ruined and happy dog.

Cynthia A. Smith

Venice