GLASTENBURY, Vt. (AP) – A pair of show dogs accustomed to strutting for judges spent 13 days in the wilderness after giving chase to a bear.

Magnum, 5, and Chili, a year and a half, are Doberman pinschers owned by Larry and Michele Lauzon of Bennington. On Sept. 6, the Lauzons took the dogs for a day trip to their log cabin near Glastenbury Mountain.

While the Lauzons were enjoying hamburgers their two dogs spotted a bear and immediately started to chase it into the woods. Their owners were not worried and expected the dogs to be back shortly.

They didn’t return and eventually a search was organized over subsequent days. The Green Mountain Club also offered assistance, collecting reports of sighting from hikers in the region.

Relying on reports from hikers, Michele said she, her son and others narrowed down the search to a six-mile stretch on top of the mountain, but were still unable to find the dogs.

Ironically, the search ended up very close to where it all began, near a place called Hell Hollow.

On Monday at 6:30 a.m. Michele said she got a call from a person who lives on the same road where the Lauzons have their camp. The neighbor said the dogs had recently been seen on the road. The Lauzons quickly left Bennington for their camp.

After yet another fruitless search, the family headed back toward Route 9. Seconds later, Michele said she saw the dogs walking slowly with their heads down.

The Lauzons took the dogs to the veterinarian, where the trauma that was clearly evident was measured. Magnum, 110 pounds before the ordeal, returned at just 50 pounds. Chili was 68 pounds when she left, but only 28 when she returned. Both were malnourished and dehydrated with damaged pads, cuts and scrapes. Magnum still has porcupine quills stuck in his face.

They are healing at home, said their owners, and Chili is even scheduled to compete in a show at the end of October.

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Information from: Bennington Banner, http://www.benningtonbanner.com

AP-ES-09-25-05 1313EDT