“This soldier, I realized, must have had friends at home and in his regiment; yet he lay there deserted by all except his dog. I looked on, unmoved, at battles which decided the future of nations. Tearless, I had given orders which brought death to thousands. Yet here I was stirred, profoundly stirred, stirred to tears. And by what? By the grief of one dog.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

Until his death, Napoleon Bonaparte was reportedly haunted by that image of a dog tending to his slain master in the field of battle.

It’s hard to explain the special relationship guys have with their dogs. Especially to women. Sure, there are plenty of female dog owners out there – but there’s just something about a guy and his dog. Something about that sense of loyalty, trust and companionship. It might sound crazy, but to me, a night out with the guys is great – but sometimes, a night out with my dog is even better.

Dino exploring the stream at the family farm

Case in point, my dog Dino and I recently escaped to our family farm to hike, shoot and camp. Granted, he’s not skilled in the art of marksmanship, but Dino loves to hike through the woods, chase deer, and explore. He’s a great outdoors companion. (Plus, I figured he’d be able to alert me to any coyotes who may have wandered onto the property while I slept. Thankfully, none showed up.)

It’s not that I have some distorted, anthropomorphic view of my dog. Again, if you’ve never owned a dog, you probably wouldn’t understand. He’s great company. In fact, he’s curled up by my feet as I write this editorial.

Hopefully dog lovers will enjoy this month’s issue. And maybe those who don’t know they joy of bringing a four-legged friend into their lives will gain a little understanding – and, perhaps, consider owning a dog of their own. It’s something that can certainly change both of your lives, for the better.

Pete