Another bonus of taking Guinness (my black lab mentioned above) is meeting nice folks on the river. Anyone who can't take literally five seconds out of their fishing day to say "Hi" to a wagging dog that stops by them to say "Hi" probably isn't worth me stopping to say "Hi", either.

For that matter, people probably talk to me sometimes because I must be OK if I own a dog as cool as Guinness!

On a local not-so-zipper-anymore yesterday I took Guinness out, and I was treated to four different stories about other four-legged fishing partners that had passed on in the last couple of years.

The storytellers looked a little sad when they talked about their dogs...but sure brightened up considerably when Guinness would shove his head into their hands and make happy sounds as they scratched his ears.

One fella said his dog of 14 years had recently died, and seeing Guinness out there made him realize that he was still a ways a way from getting a new pup, but another angler hasn't had a dog in a couple of years and was contemplating a last minute Christmas present for himself after meeting my dog. Both good stories.

Guinness is also pretty big on going in the DB, but it's a little rough for the first hour. He weighs around 100 lbs., so any shifting tosses the boat out of whack if we're pulling plugs. He can't get enough looking over the side, and man, does he get excited when fish are being played.

A friend of mine in B'ham used to call when I was at law school in Spokane and leave messages for Guinness asking when he was coming over to fish with him next. He would tell Guinness he could take me, too, if Guinness promised I would behave.

Fish on...

Todd.

the two best fishing partners I have ever had and will ever have!!A black lab named bear and a heeler named k.c.The lab sits by my side waiting for the hook set.She has taken her hunting instincts and applied them to fishing.I had to leave her home this last weekend and missed her dearly.I think K.c did too.My dogs do heel and when I get to the river I say "ok were going fishing now"and they drop into stealth mode enabling me to fish the smaler water I am used to.An out of control is a product of a bad owner,not the dogs fault.

Wow,

After all of the nice posts about fishing dogs, I guess I will be the "turd" in the punch bowl

It's not that I dislike dogs, ( I own two great ones) it's that I seem to have a mojo that other dogs hate.

I had a shepard come at me from over 50yds on a dead run with raised hair, trying to attack me, on a northwest oregon stream. I had to back that dog down with my lami, and the owner didn't even try to call the dog off. It was a scary experience.

On another river, I had a yellow lab (yes a good old lab, just like the one I own) come up to me with that look like most labs have (friendly and wanting to be pettted, tail wagging) I gave it a few nice words and reached down to pet it and got a nice "snap" and a growl at my hand. Then the hairs started coming up on it's back and it really started growling and coming after me. I ended up retreating across the river while the owner tried to calm the dog down. Luckily it was a smaller river and I could cross to safety. The owner apologized and said his dog had never, ever gone after anyone before.

My point is, I guess I just bring out the bad in dogs. These are only two of about 8 bad dog experencies I've had. I've been bit twice and had a few other close calls.

I don't dislike dogs, If I know them, but to be honest with you guys, I'm scared as hell of other peoples dogs. I seem to put off bad vibes

In my opinion, there's nothing better than having a good lab in the boat to share the day with, but a strangers dog on the bank, gives me the willies.

Aaron

I have a 7 month old lab pup, and she is well on her way to being the best dog I have ever owned. I look forward to taking her on a couple of rivers I fish. I'll only take her if she listens, and isn't a pain in the arse to other people.

A word of advice to those who take their dogs fishing. As I have mentioned many times, alot of our rivers are very crowded. Very common to see wads of line, hooks, etc on the banks. In the last year, their have been several posts on a Midwest board, about guys dogs swallowing hooks , or getting hooks in their paws, while walking the banks. Hard for a dog to pass up something stinky to eat. Keep an eye on your pooch, as it can be very expensive and painful as hell for your dog.

I saw Todds dog a couple of years ago on a river we were fishing, and he was a riot to watch. Unfortunately, Guiness was by me, because I was catching all the fish. LOL

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jelly head,

I have a black lab that wouldnt hurt a flea but has gone beserk on a few poor black kids in the neighborhood.I used to think that it was th e color and there eyesight but have learned since that it is the fear of the dog that she is reacting to.
It is that fear that they are reacting to!As hard as it may be next time you have a dog like that runn at you drop down to one knee and act submissive.smile and say nice things.Let the dog aproach you and smell ya before making any moves toward it.

I tamed a german shepard that was trained as a gaurd dog once doing this and a few other tricks up my sleeve.I was building a house for a doctor and the dog was trained to take care of the wife and kids.I got out of the truck and this ***** come running at me,hair up,barking.By the time miss's got out of the trailer Her gaurd dog was licking me in the face.She did not know what to think.Those shepards are a scary dog sometimes though.

It's not that my dog is not well trained, it's hum, well the fact that he gets a little excited......yeh that's it. My dog just can't wait to get into the drift boat, unfortunately he can't tell a Lavro from a Willie. The other day I launch, spot the boat next to this other guy's Willie boat. I go park and let the dog out who immediately sprints for the wrong boat. You get the picture....... my dog jumping all over this other guy's six racked out Loomis rods. Oooops! Sorry buddy, he gets a little excited. Now days I walk him to the boat on a leash.

I fish with Leadthrower a lot and he's almost as bad as the dog!

Hey Jellyhead,

I guess I'm kind of with you on this. I go to the river for as a relaxing time as possible and a dog on the bank doesn't add to my relaxation factor. Not that other things aren't distracting, but poorly behaved dogs just add to the equation.

OK,

One last question that I don't really expect to get much of an answer to but I'm going to throw it out anyway. Do dog owners enjoy dog drool on everything or do you just put up with it as part of the bad with the good? I've got friends who whenever my wife and I visit the dog insists on gobbing a big wad of spit/snot in your crotch as the owners kind of chuckle. That's gross. Don't you think? Add to that a wet shoe that gets chewed on when it is left at the door or the inside of truck windows covered with dried dog slobber and I'm sorry, I'm just not into getting licked in the face by a dog that's just licked himself. Or, as dog jumps around the truck cab it puts its tail end within inches of everyone in the truck. You get the picture. Some people are into that and some aren't. I'm one that isn't. But like I said, hope everyone has a happy holiday with their pooch. And how many of you enjoy that slobber thing?

I don't enjoy the slobber thing either,but my dog doesn't slobber. Unless you're playing ball then watch out cause you might get slimed. I don't like dog hair or cloudy windshields in my truck either,so she rides in the back under a canopy. I,love my dog,so I guess I just put up with some of what goes along with owning one.

Dan,
I know that cur and his fat ass master.
Same chit during the king season. I lost a nice king from that dog. A seal taking your fish is acceptable, but a dog releasing your fish for you is a no no.
I love dogs but never seen a well mannered dog on the river. Except for the ones on a leash tie to a tree, still there is the constant barking and yelping. I took my dog out once and he is worst than any of the dogs I encountered. Once is it for him unless we go to some remote hole where no people is around. And I encourage dog owners to do the same. Its suppose to be a relaxing activity.