Climbing into my friend John's old "beater" Jeep on a recent cold winter day, I was pleased to find the seat warm. Shivering from my short walk in wet, blowing snow, I snuggled gratefully into the warmth, conscious that I owed my thermal comfort not to a built-in, high-tech seat warmer, but to Murphy, John's somewhat scurvy, but loveable black mutt, the seat's recent occupant.
"Back seat, Murph!" John had commanded, as he always does, just as he opened the passenger-side door for me. There was a time when I might have resented being offered a seat recently vacated by a hairy, sometimes smelly, four-legged passenger. But over the past few months I've realized that, hey, I may be John's best girl and frequent companion, but Murphy is his best friend and nearly constant companion. If I want a pristine seat in a late-model, luxury vehicle, I'll date someone else. If I want to spend time with John, I'll tolerate -- perhaps even appreciate -- the seat vacated by that warm-bodied, tail-wagging, duck-fetching, mixed-breed pup.
More Than A Warm Seat "Whew!" I breathed, relaxing into the warm, albeit frayed and somewhat broken-down Jeep seat, "Thanks for the seat heater." John knows me well enough by now to understand that this was not sarcasm, but a statement of acceptance and genuine gratitude. Attired in boots, old jeans, and the stained coat I wear to walk my own dogs, I was in casual mode and so was he. The truth is, John is a classy guy -- if the situation called for a clean car, he'd rent one or borrow mine. But when your best girl is stranded in the cold and needs a ride, your hunting rig -- warmed by your hunting dog -- will do just fine.
"You're welcome," he responded. "Ol' Murph is more than just a seat heater -- he's a vacuum cleaner, too." Indeed, not a stray French fry or morsel of trail mix was in evidence. "Good point," I observed.
Then I started wondering how many other functions a good hunting dog might perform that would replace costly options in a well-used, older car.
Anti-Theft, GPS, Entertainment Center Perhaps the most obvious function a good dog fulfills is that of "anti-theft device." Luxury car owners pay hundreds of dollars for a security system unmatched by a Rottweiler who doesn't like the look of you.
And what about Global Positioning System (GPS)? What dog doesn't know when you take the exit that leads to the vet's office? How different is that from the reaction you get when you round the corner to your own home or that of a friend with children, or a favorite hunting spot? Tell me THAT isn't GPS at its best!
Of course, there's the entertainment value of a canine companion as well. For companionship, clowning, and a non-judgmental listening audience, you can't beat Man's Best Friend in the passenger's seat. Try getting that from your CD player.
What A Dog Can't Do Some options, alas, must come from the manufacturer. Dogs can be champion window foggers, but the defogging function eludes them. Likewise, they can't roll the windows down (at least, my dogs nor Murphy can), but they do a great job of reminding YOU to roll them down.
In the end, I suppose a dog in the car is just a dog, primarily filling the function of co-pilot and traveling companion. But whether it's my (questionably) well-behaved pups fogging windows happily in the back seat or Murphy snuffling up apple cores and warming the front seats, what would we do without 'em?
Sally O'Neal lives, writes, and takes on the outdoors with her two Irish wolfhounds in southeastern Washington State. She writes weekly for sportsmansguide.com.