Reba Living Her Golden Years in Dixon, After a Life of Hunting Bears

Reba had her days of glory. The Black Mouth Cur Hound Dog hunted bear all over Northern California while in her prime. She has one chewed ear after fighting with an opossum. She spent her first several years being so good at bear tracking, that she was used to train other dogs as well.

This breed of hound was the rootstock of most herding dogs in Europe, the Americas and Australia and were well-know for their multiple talents — they could herd and hunt just as well as be a loving, gentle family dog that would protect the home.

Their temperament is known to be loyal and they are very smart. As they age, their docile nature becomes even more laid back. That is why Reba now spends most of her time leisurely patrolling the house and grounds of the Koogler family.

"She's older than dirt," said Rose Koogler of her beloved pet that she purchased from a local rancher about five years ago.

Rose boarded her horse on the property of Reba's owner and had her heart strings tugged knowing Reba was kept in a chain-link dog run with a little dog house and infrequently adored. Rose had heard many great stories of the dog's bear-hunting days and knew the dog was no longer used for such lofty endeavors.

"I had just bought a house and wanted a dog, I thought I could be her retirement home," said Rose. She had already made a couple trips to the pound looking to rescue a dog but only saw dogs that were "out-of-control."

"I didn't' want to go through chewed furniture or potty issues," she said, so, the calm-disposition Reba came home with Rose. The two had some adjustments to make, though, as Reba had never been an indoor dog.

"She was really nervous at first," said Rose. "She didn't know about being in a house. She'd walk into the mirror closet doors."

Reba is a solid 50-60 pounds and eats a lot of senior dog food per month.

"She's real clunky, but she's really calm and well behaved," Rose said. "I still feel like I was rescuing a dog, though. I spoil her."

The Kooglers also have three daughters at home that help in that regards.

Reba is now all white-faced, going blind, and is "at least 18 now," said Rose. But, she's not lonely with this family. Rose's husband, DJ, brought his dog, Daisy, into the family mix a couple years ago so the dogs keep each other company. Daisy is a nine or 10-year-old black lab that was rescued and must weigh 90 pounds or more - looking as large as a bear that Reba must have once hunted.

The locals can rest assured, though, Reba is keeping Dixon bear-free.