Written by Daniel Barnhill, narrated by Oakley Barnhill

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October 26, 2022

Well the forecast said it was going to be a Chitty day, rain and wind, so no wrapping boats and building a house. We were out of the house early and in the deer blind, as daylight broke I could see a deer walking down through the woods. It followed the deer trail and slowly meandered out of sight, a short while later two more appeared, made their way along the trail past us. I’m beginning to question Dad’s sanity as I’ve now watched a chit ton of venison walk in and out of my life. Along comes another, oh look Dad he had antlers, I use up all the toes on my front feet and determined he’s an eight point buck. I watch in anticipation as he steps out of the cover and into clear view, oh I can taste those back straps already. Dad looks through the scope and turns some knobs and makes adjustments, it’s going to happen, as I wait for the muzzle loader to bark out a loud report that will echo off the hills , the silence is broken by Dad’s voice saying, you’ll be a fine animal in a couple more years. At this point after watching 800 pounds of venison walk past unscathed I’m having a what the fawk moment, all my meals are still free ranging about the country side. I was thinking of better words to use to describe my feelings, I remember the day I ran Dad over with the side by side he yelled something about a crock sucker, I’m unsure if he meant the shoe or the animal so it probably doesn’t apply to my current situation.

We took the little M car and headed to a place called Feltzen South about an hour away. We raised a thousand dollars to donate to ElderDog Canada Lunenburg County Pawd at Tollermania so we headed down to deliver it. They were very excited to receive the money and said it would be put to good use!

You may notice the Buffalo chicken nuggets Dad had for lunch, I grabbed one before Dad could stop me, he suggested I Google the lyrics to Johnny Cash the ring of fire and before tomorrow morning.

After I ate my beef and carrots we walked back to the deer blind and much to my dismay watched three more deer walk past, I give up, I do not understand this while deer hunting process.

Off to wrap boats tomorrow, night everyone, love Oakley

October 25, 2022

Dad is still scratching his head about where this cute little fluff ball went , I explained you simply fed me too well and I’m not a 9 month old handsome brute. I am a lean mean eating machine , 48 pounds of pure muscle.

I also advised the powers that be my venison supply Is running low and someone should do something about it, I received “ if you didn’t snore so loud in the blind we may see one”! Well chit I said, you’re the guy who tried to set a Guinness world record for the largest kitchen party even held in Canada , by inviting people from ten countries, I’m still tried from reading and responding to a million peemails all over the DDR.

We had our final interview yesterday with Andrew Younger the host of A Dogs Life, it went well, it was all lights camera action! They even brought in  m

Mario Dedivanovic to do my makeup for my closeup, I hope all the ladies like seeing me on the big screen, I’m sexy and I know it ! They should have shot a clip of me walking off into the sunset, my tail swishing as I swagger away.

It’s 10:30 here, 11:00 in Newfoundland, I’m learning time zones, and Latin, Dad said Latin would be a good language to learn.

Night peeps. Love Oakley

October 24, 2022

Dad told me something once that stuck with me, he said the words that deep into your soul are the words that are whispered not yelled.

He also told me when Diesel talked people listened, and remembered, he also told me since Diesel passed the torch to me, now people listen to me and remember my words.

I’m going to talk about something nobody wants to talk about, particularly men. We saw an ad ” it starts with an open dialogue “ and Dad thought maybe if I told his story it would help someone else. See back before Diesel got sick, Dad went to work one day and couldn’t pee, so being a manly man he ignored the symptoms and endured the pain thinking it will pass, pardon the pun. It didn’t and he ended up at emergency, in excruciating pain. It took three different doctors to finally get a catheter in , if you’re not aware the human bladder holds 500-700 ml of urine , well 1840 ml later Dad was empty. After a battery of tests they couldn’t find anything and told him it was likely a kidney stone.

As we move forward through time Dad ended up going multiple times for a catheter, in fact towards the end they let him remove them himself. The global pandemic made it almost impossible to see a specialist.

A few weeks after I was born but before I was abducted and brought to the Diesel Dog Ranch, Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It’s one of those things no one wants to talk about, but maybe if we did it would save lives. If it’s caught early it’s usually easily treated. In Dad’s case it was not caught early, healthy PSA is less than 2, Dad’s was 25. A regular prostate is the size of a walnut, Dad’s is 6 times larger, being 6 times larger things like radiation therapy are not possible due to surrounding tissue damage, at this point they say he’s too young to remove it , so he goes for regular testing and biopsy’s, with medication his PSA is down to 17. So the moral of the story is don’t be embarrassed to talk about it, if you have symptoms seek help.

We had our interview today with Andrew Younger for “ A Dogs Life” it went well, he said he was in Texas to interview Laura White from the Toller Rescue and saw Tollermania on the news in Texas, imagine that ! Dad didn’t like being on camera, but I didn’t mind, they zoomed in so close to me my whiskers tingled like spider senses. We talked about how Tollers have pretty much made their way around the world, all the way from little Nova Scotia!

Night peeps, love Oakley.

PS, venison and veggies for lunch, roast beef and veggies for dinner.

October 23, 2022

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was a beautiful fall day and we decided to head out on the side by side for an adventure, and it was an adventure for sure. We stopped on a trail because there was a tree down, Dad jumped out to pull it off the trail, I jumped off my chair and landed on the floor, well I kinda landed on the gas pedal and Dad left the machine in gear, the machine lurched forward running over Dad, holy chit I thought I killed my Dad! I knew by the colourful slew of profanity he was alive, when he stood up and brushed himself off I knew he was not impressed.

I bet my eyeballs were as big as golf balls when got back in, he looked me square in the eye, and said, Oakley remind me to never exit the machine ever again with the engine running when you’re with me.

We went on a little tour, it’s still pretty here, especially on cool mornings when the air is cooler than the water and you can watch the Vapour rise.Dad hasn’t shaved since Tollermania, he’s looking like grizzly Adams.

I had Octoberfest sausage for lunch and venison and Mac and cheese for dinner. After lunch we started building the walls of the house, I fell really short standing next to a ten foot tall wall.

I had a bath tonight because I was a dirty dog! Dad said my whites and white again. We scouted out an area today that may be future expansion for Tollermania 2.0! I’m pretty tired, I was spooled up after my bath, and had a severe case of the ZOOMIES, so Dad and I played pretty hard for a while, he might be fast on a motorcycle or snowmobile, but on foot, I can outrun him! He slows down for the sharpe left into the dinning room, I just Tokyo drift around that bad boy, and them power through the chicane around the love seat. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Night peeps , love Oakley

October 19, 2022

So the peaceful serenity of my private playground, AKA The Diesel Dog Ranch was completely shattered last weekend as a sea of red swept over the land. I will say I was not impressed at first, but I actually started to like it after a while, I mean my right hind leg is twice the size of my left one now from lifting it so much to reclaim all my territory, but hey they were pretty cool. I actually got to know Denver a little and I think we might be pals now.

Now that everyone is gone is deadly quiet agin , I keep finding pee mails under every tree, one was from a girl who said she really liked my muscular body and sweet innocent face, meet me under the apple tree by the trout pond baby, I’ll dismiss your thoughts of innocence!

I received a giant red soccer ball, I think it’s awesome to play with, everyone else likes it because I can’t loose it under the coach!

So it looks like Dad has set the dates for Tollermania 2.0, October 14-15 2023 ! Depending on what we add to the venue there maybe some stuff going on on the 13th as well. We will be adding to the venue and there will also be some new activities for the Tollers.

Dad said at some point over the winter we will have a Tollermania 1.5 basically a small gathering for local Tollers ? Breakfast at the pavilion followed by a hike on the snowy trails and a photo shoot.

Dad said when Gerry and Sharen Bonner left the DDR they said they would return in 2024, but it seems they are already having separation anxiety over leaving beautiful Nova Scotia, and they may possibly return for Tollermania 2.0.

Nancy Davey also told Dad she’d return to 2.0, but she going to hire a formula one race mechanic to follow her around for quicker tire changes on her trailer, not sure why the tires looked good to me when Dad drove by towing her trailer with the Bobcat.

Emily Kan and Willow will return for 2.0 and maybe do some tricks , I think Willow should come to 1.5 for a little romp in the snow!

It’s funny how my token phrase is holy chit, and how chit is the favourite new word for everyone! There’s a case of innocent little Oakley corrupting peoples minds.

Dad said he looked for a bunch of people at the event he talked to online so he could put a face to the name, but he was buzzing around like a blue ass fly and never got to talk to as many person as he would have liked to.

We drove the E46 M3 today, why a grown man would every want a car like that is beyond me, I barely fit on the console of the X5 , clearly the console of an E46 was designed for teacup poodles, not muscular hunting dogs.

Well I still haven’t recovered from the weekend so I’m going to hit the hay! Night peeps. Love Oakley

September 15, 2022

The big pond project was the last big item on the list before Tollermania, we’ve been working tirelessly to get things done, well Dad has been working tirelessly, I sneak in a few naps through the day, you know a growing boy needs his rest. I was weighed today on a very accurate scale, I’m 20.2 Kg, that is 44.44 pounds for my friends south of the border. Dad said that’s a pretty solid boy for 7 months old. He said I’m lean and all muscle!

Dad cut the last of trees early this morning to clear where the pond is going. Then it was my turn to help, I did a through inspection of the big excavator, including the bucket and then fired it up and began to dig and shape the landscape. I remember Dad wanted it fifty feet square and twelve feet deep, so I went at it. I have to tell you, when you pull back on the sticks of an 80,000 pound excavator, chit happens ! Stumps that Dad couldn’t move with the backhoe, this puppy rolls them out for a joke! You say you wanna dig a hole, no problem two plus yards of earth every scoop! I know a few other Tollers out there will be jealous when they about this, tell them to talk to me, I’ll get them on track to be expert operators , on track, did you see my pun.

Dad said we can see clear across to Simpsons Corner now that the trees are off the bank. I’m hoping the pond fill up quickly, it was trickling in, but Dad said the water table is extremely low this summer, the lowest he’s ever seen it!

We received an awesome Toller blanket today from Vanessa for the auction at Tollermania, it’s beautiful!

This auction should be interesting, there will be some pretty amazing items.

I think it’s very important to have a trout pond / swimming hole in your backyard, Dad said he may build a dock for me to dive off of. Dad said maybe he will give fly fishing lessons at the pond.

I’m really tired, but I’m also very happy with the work I did today, I mean the photos speak for themselves.

Night peeps, another big day again tomorrow! Love Oakley

September 6, 2022

Dear Diesel

Hello, it’s Oakley, you know heir to your throne. I just wanted to touch base let your know we’re doing ok,and Dad still talks about you.

Although I’ve only been on the ranch for five months it feels like a

Lifetime, well in my case I guess it kinda is. Even as a tiny pup it didn’t take me long to figure out why you loved this place so much. I also know why you loved Dad so much, I mean beyond the amazing three meals a day! I mean the adventures, the experiences, the undeniable love, and I can’t count how many times we’ve been in scary situations where I was in full sphincter lock, literally terrified and Dad looked me in the eyes and his very calm voice said, you’re ok Oakley, nothing to be afraid of, and because of this, I’m a very confident pup. On Canada day he held me in his arm and we watched the fireworks together, boom, bang , explosions of light, I was in total awe but not a hint of fear because I knew I was safe, and that’s a great feeling.

I think sometimes Dad looks at me and sees you, we have similar habits and I’ve managed to find all your favourite places. Hell I even enjoy all your favourite foods! Sometimes when I run through the woods I think Dad sees you, I know I do because I see you running next to me. I also really appreciate when you visit me in my dreams and give some much needed insight or guidance, managing this crazy human is a full time job.

Tollermania, eh well that’s a whole other story, apparently you had a hand, well technically a paw in this, partly because of you we have people coming from seven countries to all converge on the Diesel Dog Ranch. We’ve been working day and night getting things ready, I can’t imagine the energy Dad had when he was fifteen years younger when you were my age, people come to him and ask where he gets the energy and can they buy some. He usually replies “ I have to teach my son a strong work ethic, because for the most part it’s fading quickly “. Did I mention how much I love it when he calls me son?

We built a beautiful building with materials all milled from logs off the land, it’s pretty awesome, it has a commercial kitchen and a wall dedicated to fallen angels, Dad says good morning and good night to everyone on the wall, your photo is top and centre, it’s the only one that doesn’t have a name on, Dad said the first person to ask who’s the Toller with the chainsaw will be personally escorted off the property by him, because if you don’t know who Diesel is you best pack your bags and leave.

I know everyone that met you told Dad how well he brought you up and how awesome you were, but I think you were the trainer, I think you taught Dad how to give unconditional love to us, as we give to our humans. He has a heart of gold, but make no mistake about it,he tells me if I do something wrong. I love my life at the DDR, I think all dogs should get to live like this, or at least experience it occasionally.

Well Diesel Dog Barnhill it’s been an honour to follow in your footsteps, I fully understand why you loved you life. Maybe someday I’ll be a legend like you! Thanks again for all the hours you put into training the man I lovingly call Dad.

Love Always, Oakley

June 21, 2022

Well for the first day of summer it was rainy, and generally not a nice day. We started out moving ground to prepare to pour the slab for the pavilion. After that Dad checked his email and found out he was high bid on Pitco 40 pound deep fryer. So we jumped in the X5 and a couple hours later we were in mosquito bite Harbour, no that’s not right, Musquodoboit Harbour. He put in what he called a stink bid and ended up winning , probably because no one else would be crazy enough to drive to the edge of the world to buy a deep fryer.

We stopped at DA Sign shop and picked up the Tollermania Toller T-shirt sample and the bandanna , the bandanna was supposed to have the Tollermania logo , not the DDR logo , but I’ll wear this one. Dad is negotiating with a very nice lady to make a batch of handmade Nova Scotia tartan bandannas, and we will have to Tollermania logo put on them.

I has a double cheese burger minus the bun from Rotten Ronnie’s for lunch, that’s what Dad calls MacDonalds incase you didn’t know, anyway it was not up to par with my fine dinning experience they I’m use to, since we were in the X5, I tried to use the I-drive controller to call Pamela Dunn and complain, but since we had driven to the end of the earth , I don’t think there was any cellular service, so my Tollermania swag became Toller pyjamas and I slept until we arrived back in the 644 hood, that’s what Dad calls New Germany because all the phone numbers start with 644. 

My dinner was more on par with my quest for fine dinning, it was roast beef with carrots and turnip, for desert Dad saved me a bite of Black Forest cake, I bet I could eat the whole cake, but sadly my ration was one itty bitty teeny tiny bite, but it was delicious

Well I need to get off the computer, it’s time for my evening case of the zoomies where I run around the house like an idiot.

Take Care everyone, Love Oakley

June 17, 2022

Was a busy day here at the Diesel Dog Ranch today, up at the crack of dawn and in the woods to harvest some red pine to mill into lumber for the interior of the pavilion for Tollermania.

I must say these giants shake the ground when they go down. One log today was 24” at the butt and 29 feet long, we hauled it out with the backhoe, I bet we set a new world record for longest wheelie in a backhoe, because the front wheels never touched the ground until we stopped.

We cut it in half as sawed out the cants and started milling boards. It’s very beautiful lumber, I’m pretty excited to watch this building come together.

I think there is an evil ploy going on to make me put my toys away, seems my most favourite toys are always way down deep near the bottom, so I have to literally pull everything out to find them. I know what they think, if I picked them up and put them away myself I could put my favourites on top, well it ain’t gonna happen.

Lunch today was chicken, strawberries and blackberries, dinner was grilled venison and mixed vegetables, oh and somewhere mid morning Dad and I split an apple. Just a moment ago, I had a little lick of Dad’s ice cream sandwich when he wasn’t looking.

Dad says there’s not enough hours in the day, I think if I had thumbs I could be more helpful with these projects.

Not sure what’s on the agenda for tomorrow, but I’m sure will we be busy doing something!

Night peeps, love Oakley

May 9, 2022

I want to open by saying this is bullshit, yes I know that’s bad language for a little pup, but I had gotten use to awesome adventures everyday with Dad, now for the third day in a row he’s left without me.

I think I’m officially putting myself up for adoption, if you’re interested please send me a note explaining in detail what fun adventures we’d have, and send photo of your cooking skills, unless your on par with Dad or better, the deal is off the table.

I understand Dad not wanting me there Saturday and Sunday , giant machines moving around, pushing tons of dirt, it was for my own safety!

However today he went to commission a yacht, did you catch my sophisticated accent , it’s pronounced Yaaacht, to emphasize it’s expensive! Translated it means he went for a ride on a fancy boat and didn’t take me, I’m shocked and appalled. I’m seriously considering a little poo in the shoe surprise for him later.

Anyway my day wasn’t total write off , my grandfather came to the house, I thought maybe he was taking me fishing , until Mom got in the truck with me. Turns out we had to return a piece of equipment Dad rented for the weekend. My grandfather bought me breakfast at MacDonald’s , I had a sausage patty, it was right some good.

Then we went to Canadian Tire and did a little shopping.

My afternoon nap was interrupted by footsteps, it was Dad returning home.

Mom showed Dad how much I like bananas , then went to the build site and checked out where the man marked out for the footings of my new house , exciting times at the Diesel Dog Ranch. Stay tuned folks to see if Dad gets the poo in the shoe treatment later!

Your disgruntled pal, Oakley

April 19, 2022

The more I know, the less I understand!

We got up as 6 am as usual , had breakfast and I assumed we’d go to the mill and mill some lumber , that’s been the routine right? Nope I was wrong.

We drove to Halifax and visited the Da Sign shop, picked up some Tollermania shirts and hoodies, dropped off a bunch of t-shirts and we are off again!

Dad said I had to be on my bestest behaviour because Barbara Walters wanted to meet me. I was feeling pretty proud of myself, I mean I knew I was getting popular, but skipping all the local media and going right to an interview with Barbara Walters, shit just got real. My ego took a slight hit when I found out there can be more than hooman with the same , it turns out this Barbara Walters is Dad’s sister , but she was really nice, and I enjoyed my visit with her., they talked about how much their mom would love me , she passed away last year after Diesel Barnhill, she was Diesel’s number one fan after Dad.

Next on the agenda, Dad took me to a live auction, we arrived early so I took the opportunity to have a quick nap on the console of the vehicle. The doors opened, lots of people and lots of noise , but I knew I was safe perched on Dad’s arm. Ones again everyone had to meet me, everyone had to touch me everyone had to say how cute I was , except now they all asked what item number I was because they wanted to bid, back off people I’m not for sale !

Dad bought a cream dispenser machine and another commercial coffee maker for Tollermania, we loaded up and we’re off again.

Dad said we’re having lunch on the run, we’re going to hit the electric boobs, the Golden Arches , sounded pretty exciting to me, turnns out it just a MacDonald’s drive through, or as Dad l called it rotten Ronnie’s. It had been six hours since I had breakfast, I’m a growing boy, so when Dad pulled a patty off his double cheeseburger and broke it in to pieces, I absolutely devoured it.

We’re off again, next stop Canadian Tire, Dad told me to keep a low profile after causing a ruckus last time when a lady screamed because she thought I was a teddy bear until I moved. We were mostly successful until we arrived at the cashier, who said OMG look at him, may I pet him, and we all know how this goes, they start rubbing my face,they ask to hold me, then every cashier in the store gathers round, and poor little Oakley gets passed around like the new baby at a family reunion.

I finally made it back to my Dad and we’re off again. Now he tells my we’re off to the Dog House! I thought he was buying me my own personal house, but it turns out it’s the name of the business where my Dad gets his ears lowered.

We arrived and the lady met me at the door , she too seemed very excited to see me, she said she’s been following my adventures on Facebook, she scooped me from Dad’s arms gave me some loving , but this time was different, she had bought me a toy, and got down on the floor and played with me, we had a great time, after twenty minutes she looked at Dad and asked if he was in a hurry , he laughed and said, carry on. I’m not sure what happened next, but she took scissors and was cutting Dad’s hair off , obviously he didn’t notice it falling to the floor, so I had to do something, I sprung into action and tried to eat the hair in the floor so I could take it home incase Dad wanted to put it back on his head , this did not go well for me, as I ended up tethered to a chair.

Next the lady asked if I could meet Grisewold , I thought to myself, here we go again. Much to my surprise she returned with a dog of epic proportions, I think he’s part moose, literally ten times my size at 140 pounds! I tried to bounce around and play but over exuberant Toller Nature left this mammoth beast getting up on a chair to escape me.

After a long day of new experiences we eventually ended up back at the DDR, Dad said big day tomorrow son, they are coming to mark out the foundation for your new house, I have no sweet clue what that means, it’s above my pay grade, but Dad seems pretty excited about it. So ends another day peeps , sleep well, your little buddy, Oakley