Took Pepper on a 7 hr service call yesterday and she did great. She was chilled out when ridding in the truck. Was great when she was off leash in the shop, lots of new distractions and smells (diesel shop)she stayed right next to me the whole time. I let her out of the truck at the truck stop off leash and she explored a little but stayed very close and came when called. She met quite a few new people, sniffed them, let them pet her and then she was indiffrent towards them. The overflowing garbage can was teh only thing that jammed her up all day. Coonhounds are slaves to their noses.

Sam, I think letting your dog out, off lead at a truck stop was a HUGE risk. As you say, "Coonhounds are slaves to their noses".
There is no way you can control the odors in the air but, for sure, your dog will find them. If the dog finds an odor that's attractive then your in deep fast.
Great to see your getting some response but a hound off lead is a bad scenario.

Happy it went so well. I'm with Bob though I'm very careful where my dogs are off leash at . It only takes a split second for tragedy.

Sam, I hate to see everyone jump on you over having your dog off leash when you were just tryng to share your good experience with her spending the day with you. I'm glad to hear the day went well. However, I have to echo their concerns. For the sake of your dog as well as for the sake of anyone else in the area with their dogs, on leash, who your dog might want to take off after, please keep her on a leash in public places like that. I can't tell you how many off-leash dogs have charged us at rest stops, in public shopping areas, parks, etc. and it can result in injury to both handlers and both dogs, or at least very uncomfortable situations.

It was a truck stop in rural ND, more like a gas station with a few trucks parked out back on a 20 acre lot with empty farm fields around and the temps were close to 0*f. When its that cold she goes doesn't like to be out for more than 5 minutes or so before she wants back in the warmth. As for her charging people, well they may get licked to death but thats a risk I'm willing to take.
Also she was wearing a garmin GPS tracking collar at all times when she is off leash outside. No way this pup is getting away or in any danger at any time. Summer time she probably won't be off leash.

Sam, I don't think you are quite tracking with what Greg was saying...

Not everyone wants to be junped on or licked by your puppy. I have a good friend that was attacked by a dog as a child and is TERRIFIED of all animals... getting licked by your loose puppy would trigger a major panic attack in her....

When your dog is off leash, you have a great responsibility. You have to respect other people that are in the area- I live in a rural area and while most of us farm hicks that go to the local gas station would not mind your puppy, business people that are travelling through the area may not be so understanding to having wet paws on their expensive suits, someone with allergies may not be so thrilled to have the puppy licking them. Again, it may be a risk you're willing to take, but it's not YOUR risk to take- its the other people in the area...

Also, you never know when anothe dog will show up that's not friendly to a jumping puppy. Hell, my dog Toni was attacked in my own yard out in the middle of nowhere by a Great Dane. Things happen so fast, and being off lead makes it just that much harder to control.

I'm glad you are having fun with your puppy! Please don't think that we are trying to pee on your parade, we are just a bit more cautious with some things because we've had bad experiences and try to prevent others from going through what we've been through.

--Kelly

"I'm glad you are having fun with your puppy! Please don't think that we are trying to pee on your parade .... "

Thank you, Kelly, for saying much better than I did that everyone here really wants to get this across without sounding like we're attacking ..... we all want to prevent the kinds of serious mishaps that we've seen.

I know we all want Sam's pup to be happy and healthy, and that he does too.

And this
"we are just a bit more cautious with some things because we've had bad experiences and try to prevent others from going through what we've been through."

Bingo.

We do sound like a wet blanket sometimes but I think that is because most of have years (DECADES EEK) of dog ownership experience and probably all have a brutal memory or two.

It sounds like you a having a blast with your pup and getting her out and about in the world which is wonderful! I use to bring a dog to me with work and it was great.