Meet my new best friend.
His name is Owen. My mom and dad keep calling him their sweet grandbaby… whatever that means?
He’s three years old and full of energy (just like me). He carries a duck call around his neck and blows it with all his might. I don’t always understand what he’s saying, but I know that when he calls—I want to listen.
We’re learning together. He’s figuring out how to be a little handler—telling me when to sit, when to fetch, and (most importantly) when it’s time for snacks. That’s my favorite part.
I’m learning how to be a good hunting dog—how to focus, bring things back, and watch him like he’s the only thing that matters.
Sometimes we mess up. He trips, I get distracted by butterflies, but we always try again.
That’s our thing—we don’t give up on each other.
They say one day we’ll be in the duck blind together, just like Poppie and my other siblings. Owen will give me the signal, and I’ll leap into the water like a rocket. We’re not there yet, but we will be. Because every great team starts somewhere—and this is our start.
Owen is my boy. I’ll follow him through puddles, across fields, and through as many duck seasons as he wants.
Forever, if he’ll let me.
This bond we’re building? It’s more than just training.
It’s love.
It’s legacy.
And I wouldn’t trade it for all the birds in the world.