Howdy,

I have had several best friends that have come and gone over my lifetime. I won’t mention them all here but the most recent ones are what lead me to start this blog. Without further ado, here is a little about me and my history with my best friends that will always be in my heart.

In retrospect, I probably should have created this blog about 14 years ago. If I had, I probably would have called it my Lab and my GSP. We miss Ella greatly, unfortunately, we had to put her down just before she turned 14. A degenerative neurological condition caused her to lose the use of her back legs. As a result, she went from energetic and larger than life to requiring help going out to pee and barely being able to stand. We miss her terribly. Ella thought she was my wife’s dog from the beginning, but I still loved her even if she loved my wife.

Crunch

I adopted Crunch as a puppy prior to meeting my wife. She was an accident-prone chocolate Lab, great dog and loyal friend. Crunch retrieved a goose my father shot on his lakefront beech. First dog of mine to retrieve waterfowl.

Bum Legs

When Crunch was about 6 months old, I took Crunch hunting for the first time. She did a great job on a grouse that I wasn’t able to shoot but she showed great promise. A bizarre accident couple of days later broke both bones in one of her back legs. After getting then screwed back together, a year and a half later she partially tore the ACL in her other leg. Two bum legs and she was only two years old.

My retired parents provide daycare for my beloved four legged children. I stopped to pick Crunch up and asked my parents where she was. They had me listen to the answering machine. “Hi it’s Warren, she is coughing up blood but I think that’s just what she licked up but I want to keep her overnight for observation.” My parents walked her on a seasonal use dirt road. About 3/4 of a mile down the road she sliced her wrist on a piece of glass. She almost bled to death. Mom tried to stop the bleeding with direct pressure. She put pressure on the pad not realizing that the blood was gushing from the wrist. Three bum legs by the age of 6 and the fourth was arthritic from compensation.

Gunner

When Crunch died I got Gunner as a puppy. It turns out, that I found out what I wanted in a dog. Before Gunner, I wanted a dog that would swim. With Crunch and Ella, I was expected to throw something all the time I was at the lake. Gunner points fish. He entertains himself for hours chest-deep in water, pointing fish. Every once in a while I have to call him back because he finds that the neighbors have a better fishing spot. But for the most part, I don’t have to worry about him when I am at the lake. Since Gunner is currently the only four-legged friend living with me now this blog is mostly about him and my daily life. Unbeatable as a bird dog, friendly to a fault, Gunner is my best friend till death.

Trigger Warning!

After debating long and hard about whether or not to include this. I finally decided inclusion is best. Jim Steinman wrote, Meatloaf sang “I know that I will never be politicly correct and I don’t give a damn about my lack of etiquette.” That describes me quite well. For the most part, I try to live by the idea of if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all. Having said that, my right to free speech trumps any right that you might think you have not to be offended. If you find what I say offensive, stop reading. I won’t stop writing.