Kicker an Adventure Seeking Dog

Athlete and photographer Andrew Muse and his Golden retriever are an unforgettable duo. Kicker is only 1.5 years old and has a busy life adventuring.

How They Found Each Other: “It’s a tragic story with a happy ending. In 2015, I was on the road trip of a lifetime, filming a six-month, 12-episode series around the western states called Tiny Home Adventure with my previous and equally legendary dog, Booter. The journey was also taxing, with strict self-imposed deadlines and exterior obligations. On my way home to Utah, I ended up falling asleep behind the wheel and rear-ending an 18-wheeler. I lost everything—my home, my vehicle, my belongings, and my best friend, Booter. At the scene of my accident, I refused care and demanded that the paramedics help Booter instead, but he died in my arms.

“One of the firefighters came to me with a blanket and said, ‘I’m so sorry. I get it, man. I have six dogs.’ He was the only person at the scene of the accident who I connected with, and he helped me through the worst day of my life. I ended up getting his information so I could later show him the adventures I had with Booter. After almost two months of steady communication with him, he called me to say that his family now breeds golden retrievers, and that they had a puppy for me when I was ready. Once my life was stable enough, I took him up on the offer. They gave me a pick of the litter, which was incredibly difficult—I spent over four hours at their house trying to decide.”

Best Times: “While I was rebuilding my life, GoPro picked up season two of Tiny Home Adventure. Kicker and I spent an epic eight months on the road in 2016. He spent his puppy years living in a van with me in Alaska, riding big mountain lines and going on all kinds of other wild adventures.”

Secret Talent: “Kicker’s secret talent is being willing and trusting of me in literally any scenario—backcountry snowboarding, kiteboarding, paragliding, rock climbing, camping, skateboarding, you name it.”

Originally posted here: https://www.outsideonline.com/2161396/famous-adventure-dogs