My ol dog Drake turned 9 today. Me and Jeremy got him as soon as we were in our own place after graduating college. I think we had this dog before we had furniture or cable hooked up. He wasn't a high dollar pup, just a $250 classified page litter from a family friend. We always had dogs growing up and knew we'd want one once we got in our own place so we went and checked out the litter and brought him home. We duck hunted and wanted him to be the best duck dog in the town so when drake was 9 mos old we put him with a trainer in Gadsden , Joe Migliore. Joe was a hell of a dog trainer and worked with him off and on for a yr or so with us going up on weekends for training days. In just a few months Joe had Drake rolling right along and to be honest we were amazed at the progress. We picked Drake up before hunting season in plans to take him back after season. We had a jam up first season with Drake and smacked some ducks that season. Our buddies got spoiled hunting with us. Lol. We returned Drake back to Joe after season and unfortunately the stay was cut short due to Joe getting sick with cancer and passing away. At that point I stayed hooked up with some of the other guys running around with Joe training and kept at it with the training fine tuning Drake the best I could. We earned our seasoned title in the spring May 2011 and our HRCH September 2011 and continued running hunt test up to several years ago when life caught up to me . The ole dog still does good tho, we don't train near enough and duck hunting has been few and far between the past couple years, but he's still got it and has no problems with anything the local lake or timber throws at him. One thing is for certain, he's never quit or complained on a hunt. We've run him till he picked up the 8th limit on below freezing morning, had hunts where we watch nothing but blue bird sky's for hours and not even fire a shot. I reckon all he ever really expected was an "atta boy", an ear scratch and some duck blinds snacks. The dog may be getting older but he still gets around fine and hasn't lost any of fire in him. One things for certain, he's been the best dog I could of ever asked for. I sure hope we have plenty of more years together, just something special about a good dog.

Our first hunt test

Drakes first hunt. Two banded ducks and two black ducks.








I think he now enjoys belly rubs from Ella more than just bout anything.

...Good pics...

Nothing like a good pup.

Hard to top any of that, especially that last pic with that little doll! You are blessed and so is Drake.

Travis, that's pure. Just pure.
Thanks.

Heck yea Travis! Great dog there. I wish you many more years together.

I have a soft spot in my ole heart for a good dog !

Looks like yours is a heck of a dog and friend!

Awesome story. I just got one question. How'd you get custody when you and Jeremy get you own places?

I was running around doing hunt test so it just kinda happened. I ended up buying the house we were renting from our parents and Jeremy bought one up the rd. I don't think there's a day we haven't not been on a duck hunt together so the dogs always hunted with us both. Luckily Jeremy lives about a mile away so if he wanted split custody it wouldn't be a problem

What a post! Thanks for sharing.

That pic of Drake in the back of the truck with all the ducks is awesome! Almost as good as the one with Ella!

If you asked Drake, he'd probably tell you that after nine long, painful years he's finally got the two of y'all trained!!!

You can see the love in that dogs eyes with that little angel. Beautiful dog Travis.

Awesome.

We're certainly a lot more tame now vs nine years ago a dog chasing tail would of described us perfectly

Here are a few pics that I've snapped over the years.

Before we decided to take Drake to Joe, Myself and a buddy had visited a trainer out towards Moulton. ( I think that was the town, maybe not.) my buddy had a female out of the same litter. The trainer had a few dogs out working with some of the dog owners there as well. After he finished up, he walked over to look at Drake. He asked about the dogs pedigree, he asked why we decided to go with a British verse an American lab and asked a few other questions. After I answered those questions the trainer all but told me that our dog wouldn't be worth training. He didn't seem very interested for some reason. I'm guessing the $250 lab without a stacked pedigree just didn't suit his taste.

After half a year of Training with Joe, Joe told me and Travis that Drake was the best British lab that he's ever trained. Joe was northern, and if memory serves me correct, he was from New York. He didn't sugar coat things and would give you a strait answer. Joe trained alot of dogs for a long time. Him saying that was very gratifying and I don't think he had any reason to lie. I wished I had a picture of every duck, dove and award that Drake has picked up over these years.... I'd send them to that first trainer.

A single man with a nice dog will get it done every time. Wimmens flock to the dog and then YOU have to go to work. Speaking from years of single life

Thanks for sharing, he looks like a helluva dog

once-in-a-lifetime dog - and relationship - right there. much appreciate the photo story ...

Great pics, thanks for sharing

Beautiful lab, congrats!