🏕️ Would you skip a trip if your pet couldn't come?
“I started with a camera mount on a tennis ball, but he's obsessed with tennis balls so he just chewed on it. Then I tried a spatula, so it could hold out a little bit farther… But then I ended up just building the mount.
He always has something in his mouth... So I think holding the camera was pretty natural.” - Ben
If you’ve ever taken your dog on an adventure, it’s easy to see their pure joy and curiosity as they run around and explore somewhere new.
But what if you could experience those moments from their perspective?
Is it even possible?
When Ben and JaAnna brought Willy into their lives, they knew they wanted to bring him along when they headed outdoors.
What they didn’t realize was that this goofy dog would end up being the literal face of a movement: Bring your dog…
All because of a secondhand 360 camera from Facebook marketplace.
The dog they thought was a scam
“There were dogs running all around. One had a mouse in his mouth and the others were chasing him… But Willy just came and laid right on JaAnna’s feet.” - Ben
“I picked him up and was like, ‘Yup, you’re mine. We’ll take you.’ …It was definitely a spur of the moment thing.” - JaAnna
Having both recently graduated college, Ben and JaAnna had talked about getting a dog someday, but neither was seriously looking.
Until… JaAnna saw a posting in their local digital newspaper: A handful of Golden Retriever mix puppies needed a home. $450 per dog.
Initially, they thought it must be a scam. It wasn’t far away though, so they decided to go check it out.
Before they left however, they already had a solid idea of what dog ownership would look like for them.
Ben and JaAnna had both grown up with dogs, and interestingly, their experiences were pretty similar.
Ben’s family had a Golden Retriever and a yellow lab and he had fond memories of these breeds.
And while he didn’t have a particularly close relationship with the family dogs, that love of their companionship was definitely instilled from a young age.
JaAnna’s family had various dogs, including a German Shepherd, but growing up in rural Montana, the dogs weren’t often nearby.
“I remember always wanting them to cuddle me in bed, but they weren't my dog. They were the family dog. They were often roaming outside and I was like, ‘I can't wait to have my own one day.’” - JaAnna
Neither had the experience of a close bond. And any time either of their families went on a trip, the dogs always stayed behind.
Their shared experiences led to an easy agreement: Any dog they welcomed home would be treated like part of the family.
And the moment Willy came to JaAnna and sat on her feet, it was a done deal. He chose them.
“With Willy, we don't go anywhere without him. Plans won't happen if dogs can't come.” - Ben
A mindset shift around being outside
“At first, it was like ‘We have to take him out.’ Then, it started becoming, ‘We get to take him out.’ Now, it’s like, ‘What can we do to get him outside?’” - Ben
Though they both worked 40-hour weeks when they first brought Willy home, Ben and JaAnna always loved being outside.
Whether it’s hiking, paddle boarding, or just spending time at a local park, they made sure to set aside time in their schedule to stay active.
But when Willy came along, they quickly realized they wanted to be outdoors even more.
Every weekend, they now go out to new places simply with the purpose of spending time with Willy. Being in western Montana, there’s an endless amount of places calling their name.
And currently, they’re privileged with flexible schedules that allow them to take time off to travel and explore places a little further away too.
“We’ve done a lot of stuff locally, like long weekends and camping trips, but we’re definitely trying to dive into more road trip adventures.” - Ben
Looking to the online community for suggestions and resources, they’re able to make plans with full confidence that dogs are allowed.
“We try to find as many dog-friendly things as possible, but it can be restrictive in some places.” - JaAnna
Taking the time to plan ahead pays off. They’ve been able to visit various landscapes, hidden gems, and fun places where Willy can run, or hop, free.
“He’s got very quirky hops. He doesn't run… It's just very much like a bouncy, quirky hop. He bounces like a rabbit.” - Ben
And it was this very quality that gave them a great idea.
Willy’s perspective: Bring your dog
“I've always been into video editing and photography and my first two jobs out of college were in social media. I saw a video of a dog holding a stick with a camera clamped on the end and I thought, “It would be so funny if we could get that for Willy and capture those crazy hops through the field.” - Ben
Just a week or so later, Willy was outfitted with his very own custom-mounted camera that held up no matter how many bounces it took it along for.
From there, it started as entertainment.
Maybe they could get a cool video during sunset or at a new lake… And the list of ideas grew.
But one of the first videos they made filled Ben and JaAnna with so much joy, they just knew others had to see it.
“He was jumping through a tall grassy field and it was raining. His face was soaked and he started doing his hops. I think it was one of the first times we got his actual hops on camera and it was just so goofy.
I'm like, ‘People have to see this.’ We just wanted to share his personality and his goofiness.” - Ben
They created Willy’s Instagram page, and desire to entertain quickly turned into something deeper.
Seeing the closeup of Willy’s face as he experienced pure happiness was a constant reminder of why they decided to treat him differently than the dogs they grew up with.
By sharing his videos with others, they realized more people might need to hear this message too: Bring your dog.
We live in a time where pets are treated more like family (of course they are!). And with endless information at our fingertips, finding opportunities for dog-friendly activities is easier than ever.
“They're more than ‘just dogs.’ You should include them. I think that’s our whole purpose behind it now. They want to be outside and it doesn't have to be this extravagant trip. Just take them to the park or on a hike.” - Ben
“Since we got him, all we've really said is, ‘I just want to spend more time with him and cherish this time that we have with him.’ And that turned into ‘How can we spend the most time with him and what would that look like?’” - JaAnna
In the end, it’s a chance for our dogs to do something new with their human. And that will only build our bond even more.
The impact of doing things together
“Willy reminds me to slow down, be present, and be patient. Whenever I’m out with him, I know he’s here to help me remember that this life is short… There’s so much gratitude that I have for him being in our lives. He’s been such a rock in our family in so many ways.” - JaAnna
When we intentionally include our dogs, there’s endless opportunities in which we can feel closer and more bonded with them.
Long, “boring” road trips give us a chance to stop and see new things along the way, which we’d likely miss if we didn’t take the dog and flew to our destination instead.
And for Ben and JaAnna, it’s not just the adventures with Willy they love, but it’s the quiet moments afterwards too.
“He'll go paddle boarding, swimming, hiking… and he's always so excited to be around us, which makes us so happy. Then he gets home and he's tired and ready to cuddle. He'll hang out at home and really relax with us. He really does it all.” - JaAnna
Willy’s presence is also a reminder to get back to the basics.
“If I’m stressed with work, just taking him to the lake and slowing down is like, ‘This is really what life is about.’ It doesn't matter what we're doing. Willy’s always just happy to be there. He comes and comforts us.” - Ben
They’ve noticed he helps them experience life in a new way too. For example, when Willy flips them off a paddle board (yes, it happened!), they have a choice.
Do they get upset at the accident? Or do they see him splashing in the water, enjoying life, and use that as an invitation to do the same?
Sharing his videos online not only allows others to share these fun moments with Ben and JaAnna, but it’s a way for them to document his life and hold on to so many memories of the times they spend together…
Something they encourage others to do every single day.
And if you love their simple, yet powerful, message “Bring your dog,” Willy’s got some merch!
Bringing them along, no matter what
When you include your pets in so many parts of your life, they get used to being part of the family!
But if you had to step away for a few days, would someone know exactly what to do to keep them happy and safe?
If something happened, could someone confidently step in and take your place?
Putting a Cotl plan in place ensures your pet is taken care of, just the way they’re used to, no matter what.
Discover how the process works or book a call directly with Sean, our founder and CEO, to see what a plan could look like for you.
