Each month, Wild.com will feature a Minnesota Wild player or staff member and their pet(s), presented by PetSmart.
Assistant trainer Bob Woods’ pup is a twelve-and-a-half-year-old beagle and bulldog mix, known as a beabull.
Brandon Laxson: What kind of dog is Bauer?
Bob Woods: “He’s a Beabull: a mix of beagle and bulldog. They crossed the two breeds to get rid of the health issues that they both have. Bulldog breathing and joint issues that beagles have. He has the bulldog’s body, the beagle’s muzzle, the bulldog’s spots.
BL: How did you choose this name?
pc: “We’re a hockey family…our youngest son came up with it. It seemed appropriate, so we went with it.” The name Bauer suited him perfectly, because this dog loves to play puck. “Bauer loves hockey. He’s not very offensive, he plays strictly defense, but he loves to play. He loves when the hockey sticks come out.”
BL: When and how did you get it?
pc: “My son and my wife had been stalking me for a dog for a long time. With two boys playing hockey and stuff, we were pretty busy, so I struggled for a long time, but I was going home after a morning skate, and I thought, “I’m just going to stop by the store and have a look. I had no desire to buy a dog.”
My wife has always wanted a bulldog, but I was fighting this one because of her health issues. So they brought me this baby bulldog out, he was cute and all but I was just scared to go that route. I said my son wanted a beagle and the guy looks at me and says, “I’ve got exactly what it takes!”
So he’s getting me these two beabulls out. I played with them a bit and he said this one was the best personality. This is the one I finally got. My wife was wondering what was going on because I wasn’t home at my usual time. It was actually a Valentine’s Day gift for her.”
“Our son was home with a migraine,” said Bob’s wife, Mary Sue. “And Bob came in (with the dog). He bought it all! He bought it all!”
“Twenty two hundred dollars later, I had a dog with all the trouble,” Woods noted playfully. “I dropped it off at home and (the team was going) on a trip, so I said to my wife, ‘I’ll be away for a few weeks here. I expect it to be clean’. here there.’ I will be back.'”
“I wanted to kill him,” she joked.
BL: How are you when you’re on the road?
pc: “When I came back from a road trip, as soon as he heard the garage door open, he would come downstairs. His eyes were half closed. But he would give me a little ‘hello’ and run up the street. stairs. He will bring you a little treat every time, he will bring you a toy or something. He always welcomes you with gifts. No matter if we won or lost, he is always happy to see us.
The couple noted that Bauer is excellent on the road as well, handling a 40-hour road trip from Washington to Anaheim perfectly.
BL: What kind of personality does he have?
pc: “He likes to sleep. When (my wife) is out of town and I have to train early, especially in the winter, he doesn’t seem too excited to get up.
“His personality was the better of the two (from his litter). Personality was important to us. (We were wondering) if he was going to fit in but he’s been brilliant.
“He’s got a picture on the wall. We have graduation pictures for both boys and there’s a picture of Bauer right there. It’s amazing how much of a family they are. They take their own personality. He enjoys being with everyone.”
“He lies down and snores,” laughed Mary Sue.
BL: What is your favorite Bauer memory?
pc: “Once in Saskatoon they had a fundraiser. Bauer was supposed to go over there and grab one of the pucks, but as soon as the mascots hit the ice, he got more interested in them and chased them all. on the ice. There was also a fairly large crowd and the dads loved it. Oh, they were laughing as he chased those mascots. He didn’t care about pucks.