26/04/2026
People always talk about finding that once in a lifetime dog. I’ve never believed in that. I have been lucky enough to raise and train several throughout my life. As a matter of fact, I have two once in a lifetime dogs right now. It has always struck me as odd to think that way, that once you get a great dog, another won’t be possible throughout your life. Really, throughout the years, all the people I’ve met, interviewed, and built relationships with, when I would ask them what their favorite dog was, they never really had an answer. The people who have done this the longest always seem to have one they love in the moment. They bring the best out again and again. You have seen the historical figures I have worked with throughout my career, and without fail, they did not have an answer to that question. When I get a puppy, I commit myself to it 100 percent. Not for my ego, not for any outside reasons, but because in my heart I truly love dogs. When I get a puppy, I am still an excited little kid who loves their dog, and as I grow and gain more experience, I am able to understand the big picture. One day they are puppies chewing on a stick in the yard, and then you blink and they are a little slower and have quite a bit of white in the face.
Dogs do not live forever, but their memories do. My message resonates with so many people across the world because I, like most people, just genuinely love dogs. If you love dogs and are reading this, here is a reminder. Slow down, listen, observe, and soak in each memory. Never take a single second of life for granted. If you live life the right way and fully commit to your dogs for the right reasons, you will own several once in a lifetime dogs.
