I didn’t tell my parents when I decided to get Gunner.
I was home from Ole Miss for Christmas break when I got the call from a breeder that a dog was available. I’d been begging him to cut me a deal on a Chocolate Lab because I didn’t have enough money, and he promised me that if there were any males left on picking day, he’d let me come down and get him. I immediately scrounged up some cash and drove down to Alabama with my sister. When I got to the breeder, Gunner walked up to me before any of his other littermates and I knew he was the one.
My parents took the new addition to our family pretty well. When I got home that night, my dad asked, ‘Who’s this?’ I just answered, ‘This is my new dog Gunner.’ I might have missed out on going to the Cotton Bowl with my friends that year since I had to stay home to take care of Gunner, but it was worth it.
Gunner was the first dog who was really my dog, so it was all kind of new to me. I taught him how to sit that first night, and the next day I took him along with me to a dove hunt. Since he was just a puppy I didn’t expect him to retrieve anything – I just wanted him to be around other dogs and experience the hunt. Toward the end of the hunt I threw a dove out a few feet wondering if he’d get it, and he ran right up to it and brought it back to me. I knew right then that Gunner was a pretty special dog
It’s fitting that Gunner was born in October, right around the corner from duck season. Whenever I’d grab my shotgun and start packing up my truck, Gunner knew it was go time. He’d jump into my truck the second I opened the door, even if we weren’t leaving for a couple of hours – he’d just sit there until we left. He was always so amped up.
The first time we ever went on a duck hunt with just the two of us, he was so excited that he started barking at all of the ducks that were coming in. He scared them all away, and I remember calling my buddy to see if I should give him some puppy anxiety meds or something like that. Luckily, it just happened on that one hunt.
Gunner always turned into a completely different dog when we got out in the field. As soon as we’d get there, he’d go straight to the dog stand or wherever he was supposed to go with no distractions. He’d always bring me the duck and I’d throw it into the ground blind, and he’d be by my feet until we’d start shooting again. The moment we did, he’d pop up– he was always locked in.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be half the Old Warrior that he was, but gosh dammit I’m going to try. Gunner all I can say is thank you. My world wouldn’t be the same without you.
