ODE TO A FISHING DOG

Happy 6th Birthday Diesel

By Lost Coast Outfitters

March 23^rd, 2018

Calling Diesel a good fishing dog is akin to saying a Chateaux Margaux is good wine. When I picked up diesel at 7 weeks old near Redding, we headed straight for two days of fishing the Lower Sac and a day on Fall River (some of you reading this were there for this trip). He largely passed the time by sleeping in the gunnel of the boat playing with spent water bottles. When we got to the boat ramp he played in the water and chewed on a few sticks with a look on his face that said it all… he liked where he had landed.

From this day on Diesel and I have fished all over the west on foot, in boats, canoes and rafts. I often make the decision to drive over fly because trips are not the same without him. More than once I have found myself panicked that he has run off, albeit briefly, only to realize that I had flown and he couldn’t come on this trip. The thought leading to feelings of selfishness and regret for leaving him behind. It feels as though I am missing an appendage when he isn’t around.

I’ve had many other dogs growing up, who were all great dogs, but something about Diesel is different. He gets why we go. When the bags are getting packed he knows something fun is about to happen. When the road turns to gravel he lets out a wimper of excitement. When the smells change from city smells to country smells in the truck his nose goes up into the air and I often wonder if he knows where we are headed.

It’s not always fun fishing with your friend that thinks dead salmon is an amazing find and really doesn’t feel pain the way we do. He’s been stitched, stapled and treated for an innumerable amount of Labrador related trial and errors. Diesel is always game whether it’s snow, hail, no fish, lot’s of fish, long drives, traffic or the perfect day it doesn’t matter he’s just happy to be there.

I often hear “my dog could never do this” or “he is such a great dog where did you buy him?” I largely view both of these statements as off base. You don’t buy good dogs you train good dogs and your dog "can’t do it" because you don’t bring them. I trained D myself by following 2 rules if he can’t go I don’t go and a tired dog is a good dog. It may sound like I am taking credit, but the reality is that get out what you put in and it's often easier to leave your dog behind than to bring them.

It’s one of my greatest pleasures to be Diesel’s human and as today is his 6th birthday (born on a leap year he has only had one real B-day in his life) I realize I have reached the half-life of the natural lifespan of Labrador. I quickly force the tears from my eyes by remembering if I am lucky we have many more chapters and places to go. The devastation and loss of such a companion is best not dwelled upon. Until then I hope to breed him and take in one of his offspring and repeat the process knowing a little bit more about the process of training such an animal.