To honor the little man, I set up a triathlon for him at 6:30 AM Friday.
Do what you love and love what you do. Plus, it helps to rope in an innocent bystander into being your cameraman:
Huge thanks to Flynn for not only being a good sport, but participating in our event.
Here goes:
Triathlon video Go big or go home.
In our case, we returned to the barn to start our day's work.
Meanwhile, Dax took the day to lay on his docking station to recharge.
Later on, his birthday presents arrived.
He's not spoiled.
He's 'special'.
After eviscerating his new squeak toy and mauling his other gifts, we take off after work for the next phase of our adventure:
The Wehle Conservation. Mr. Wehle wrote what was and still is the authoritative text on training upland hunting dogs. When I contacted Dax's breeder early in my tumultuous relationship with the Demon Dog, I was told to ditch all my other training books and to find a copy of this 1964 book. I diligently did as I was told, but as any of you who have met Dax can attest, I haven't made it very far into the book's teachings... Nevertheless, I have read it, not put it into practice yet, minor detail.
Here's the magic: Dax on his 1st birthday, got to lay paws on hallowed ground. Where generations of the best bred and trained dogs once worked and hunted. Maybe some of that spirit was absorbed into his being.
A family outing.
Before his passing, Mr. Wehle donated over 1000 acres to the Forever Wild Trust. His plantation in Bullock County is now forever safe and open to interloping admirers such as ourselves.
Allergic as he is to exercise, Garrett promptly jumped into Peter's wagon. Peter attempted to hike with us, but after 20 yards, he abruptly stopped and got in his wagon unassisted.
Never leave a man behind.
Next we went to Wiley's Pit BBQ in Smuteye, Bullock County.
Runner Up for the best ribs in Alabama.
The owner is gracious enough to give me a tour.
Delicous! Worth the hour drive to the middle of nowhere!
It's been an entertaining year with Dax in the family!
Dax is fearless.
David versus Goliath video
And, Dax is a bully who'll bark at you if you deign ignore his demands. Dax will take off in an instant if off-leash and make you chase him for an hour. My beloved F-350 had its radio chewed to death, lost three seat belt buckles and three gear shifters eaten to the canine termite... grand total over $1000. Let's not count how many hoses, shoes, socks, books, pillows he decimated. El Destructo. Yet, he's now capable of spending a whole day in the office or at home without demolishing anything, as long as Peter is beside him.
Dax's personality couldn't more diametrically opposed to Cole's, but Lord All Mighty, we love him anyway!
1 year compilation video
