I've had my one great dog in my life. Yellow Lab, great breeding lineage. I trained him myself before I had kids and still had the spare time to do so. It was so rewarding hunting with him. Fetching machine. Watching him work, and looking back at my hand signals. He'd also post up in the tank during dove hunts and bring everyone thier birds with a soft mouth just for a head pat with a little instuction. Or chase a winged Pintail for a mile and bring him back. Or look underwater and find that Redhead hugging the bottom and root him out. We'd go to the lake every night and swim together and play fetch. I miss that the most. Rambunctious fucker though, first few years I needed an electric fence to keep him in. He'd break when we dropped birds and that was his only major flaw in the blind. He uprooted a few mangrove trees when tied to them. And he hated when I went wade fishing as only a Lab could. "Why aren't we playing fetch or killing birds?" He let all my neices and nephews ride him like a horse and poke and pull like kids do with grace. My best friend for 14 years through all life could send my way. Divorce, my dad passing and a few friends gone as well. He'd crawl into bed with me when a storm came in and snuggle up and fall asleep. But he'd leave as soon as the thunder stopped. Strong willed, gentle, caring Then he went fast and peacefully. I'll never top that. I spent 1.5k to get him tattoed on my shoulder. I love Labs with all my heart. All that to say my next dog will be something portable and chill and dumb but semi loyal. There is a quality to easy. Greatness is a lot of fucking work. I'd say I'm not sure how I got on that tangent, but I know. I just wrapped up yard work and I'm ready for a swim but don't feel like going solo.