The other coon hunters like to tease Billy about his hounds. They note especially that the hounds are very small, and enjoy making jokes about this fact. They say,

"I never saw hounds so small, but I guess they are hounds, at least they look like it."

And,

"I don't believe Little Ann is half as smart as (Billy) says she is. She's so little those old coons think she's a rabbit. I bet she sneaks right up on them before they realize she's a dog."

And again,

"Some of these nights a big old coon is going to carry (Little Ann) off to his den and raise some little coon puppies."

Out of politeness, Billy plays along with the other hunters' teasing, which he understands is all in fun. In reality, however, some of their comments make him "fighting mad." Billy admits that his hounds, especially Little Ann, are unusually tiny; Little Ann can walk right under an ordinary hound, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for with her sweet nature. Old Dan, who is small too, is much heavier than Little Ann, and although he acts tough, he is really a friendly dog. Billy loves his dogs more than anything in the world, and while he is proud to be able to hang out with the other hunters and tell stories about his dogs' exploits, it angers him that they do not always take him and his hounds seriously (Chapter 10).