So, most of you are familiar with Diesel the Wonder Dog, having seen our roving posts and the last one I did last summer, relating the passing of Big D. The majority consensus, by far, was to get another dog. I was unsure of such a move, particularly since the best dogs I’ve had were foundlings of one type or another. In fact, the dogs I purposely picked out did not work out for one reason or another. Diesel went for his final ride to the vet in July and I wandered in a funk for a couple months. I missed Diesel more than I’d thought I would, kept seeing the dirt spot on the wall by the door where he’d lean on the wall, and expecting to see him greet me in the evenings. I didn’t shoot, rove or even hike but once all summer. Just wasn’t the same. Took the little one, Daisy, for a walk around the ball fields, but it wasn’t the same. Between deep thought and reading the posts on Diesel’s last thread, especially the waller who mentioned having successfully traveled with a large dog in an RV, I realized I was a dog guy and needed a good sized canine in my life. I had not shared that, but one day at the end of August my wife, out of the blue, asked if I “needed a new hiking buddy.” Without a pause I told her yes. She was looking on line the next couple weeks, then while I was out of state on business, she visited the Rome, GA web site and found a lab mix marked remarkably like Diesel had been. She texted me photos and I told her to get him and named him Buster before I ever got home. This is Buster, a lab mixed with I don’t know what. Don’t know how old he is. The shelter and the vet think he’s over a year, but he very much looks and acts like a puppy. I’ve been working with him, getting him to come when called and to stay nearby off leash. I had not put any thought into the differences of a young dog and an elderly, trained one, and it has been a struggle at times. But he’s coming along fine and will probably be wandering the local woods watching me fling (and search for) arrows by spring.

I didn't forget the picture, I just wasn't sure the wall would take the post the first attempt.

Here's Buster. He's named for all the dogs a favorite uncle had. He'd call them, in turn, Buster or Smokey.

Nice pup!

Good looking dog.

Good looking pup! May u have many years of roaming and roving with him. I know your pain. I lost my wolf this past January after 11 wonderful years together. He was my best friend, and basically my son since I never had children. It's still very hard on me almost a year later. I considered getting another pup, but I work to much to train a dog right now. So having to wait. Thankfully, I still have my other pup. He is 12 now, and too old to go hiking and roving with me anymore. I have decided to wait until he passes to get another pup, I just figure it will be too hard on him. He and my wolf was raised together, with each other every moment basically. He had a hard time too. So I need to just wait. Good luck to you and your new companion. The picture of your pup made me smile.

Yea Man think he will do just fine

Handsom little fella

Let the roving begin (might loose a few arrow for awhile but worth it

He has good eyes- somebody in there look

I swear there were paragraphs in that text when I typed it. That photo was straight when I posted it, too. Thanks Andy Man.

I like him, he looks ready to rove. Enjoy your new friend and please share your roves with us.

That's a good looking dog. Best of luck with him.

Welcome to the LW Buster. John

Nice looking dog. Good for you, rescuing him. A good old dog can never be replaced but a new one sure makes it easier,and gives you something else to think about.>>>-----> Ken

Good on you! You will not regret your decision. You will at times think the effort of a pup is extreme, but good for you, regardless! I put down my 15 yr old GSP three years ago and my wife was cruising the web for a replacement. 4 months later we had a new GSP. I owe my fitness to the new addition! Would probably be 40lbs heavier without the required mile plus nightly walks. Thinking of the past GSP can make me emotional but the new blood is right there waiting for my full attention. Great post and Best o Luck!

Your post made me smile Gunz...good looking pup. Lance

to quote a movie cliche ... "this looks like the start of a beautiful friendship"

Nice looking boy there. Looking forward to seeing him grow up!

been almost 2 years since Kayla the duck hunting machine Chesapeake bay retriever went upstairs. I don't bird hunt much anymore & my pop always said a dog should earn its food so iv decided my next dog is going to be a blood hound trained to track deer

BEAUTIFUL DOG!!!!!!!!!

Great looking dog.

He looks like a hiking machine. My Taz, a lab mix, runs up to the gate whenever I drive home and lets me know he thinks I'm a good guy and he is glad to see me. He brings a smile to my face whenever I think of him. Hope Buster will do the same for you.

Great looking dog !

Buster has his face pressed to the window and is yipping when I pull up in the Jeep after work.??

Congratulations DaGunz. I'm sure he'll make a great companion.

Buster looks like he's ready to go 24/7! May the two of you spend many days wearing each other out!

Thanks guys for all the comments. He’s working pretty well. If I could just get him to come when called it would be great. I did not think fully through getting a young dog (puppy?) when we were used to a six year old, pretty well behaved dog.

Beautiful dog. Looks serious.

Here's mine. Rusty is 11 months old now and Jake the Golden, has taught him all about finding arrows. He's a cross between a Springer and a Swiss Mountain dog. Loves to hunt...goes nuts when I pull the bow and arrows out! I rubbed a little pheasant scent on the arrows to help him out at first, but he's got the hang of it now. Hasn't lost an arrow yet! Richard

I LOVE the happy look on his face!

Buster looks pretty smart to me. ;~)

He's a fine looking dog! The past pets will always have a special place in your mind and heart, but soon this one will be making new memories with you! We always adopt out of a shelter - don't know who is rescuing who, but just know that we need the love and companionship a loyal dog can give.

Ours came from a prison program in Fl., black mouth cur mix. Chasing squirrels is his passion, sometimes he goes a bit too far and wants to chew the tree down... that's bad...

Wonder if he has a twin here is the pup at my house Good looking dog. Widow

Does look like a twin

Saw Red Oaks dog at the Alabama pre spring arrow fling- those park squirrels were worrying him to death

Gotta love a Dog-unconditional love---------sorta gives a hit of Gods love for us

Hey Widow Sax, what kind of dog is that? Do you know? Buster came from the humane society so there's no telling. He's obviously a lab mix of some kind.

Yea! I would say Buster has realatives in PA

He was a rescue. Now I can not guarantee this but what I was told his mother was a lab pit mix and his father was a Rottweiler. I would say he has some of those dogs in him but there could be others or the percentage different. He is smart and knows how to use his nose even points some. He is the happiest friendly dog and all he wants to do is play it you come to the house no matter who you are you are his best friend. Widow

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