We knew it would happen someday – the irresistible force meeting another irresistible force.  None of us knew what to expect.  Would the overwhelming natures of two of the most destructive dogs on this forum combine to make a "perfect storm", like an Axis of Insanity from which nothing could escape?  Or would it just be too much mayhem in too small a space, achieving critical mass and detonating in a mushroom cloud rising over the formerly peaceful city of Tustin.  

Earlier today, we finally found out.

Since Jim and Rene are currently visiting our neck of the woods here in Southern California, they came by our house for a visit this morning.  The plan was to have Bernie and Wyatt meet and get to know each other in our back yard, where there's an adequate supply of blunt objects, high-pressure hoses, and tranquilizer darts in case the mayhem reached the point where it threatened surrounding structures.  After a deafening serenade of barks from both dogs that has to have violated the city's noise restriction laws, we let them off leash to get to know each other.

Not surprisingly, they were instant best friends.  Mutual insanity creates an immediate and lasting bond, I guess.  Jim and Rene said they've never seen Wyatt form a connection with another dog so quickly.  They chased each other all over the yard, and spent about forty-five minutes wrestling on the lawn under our lime tree.  Plenty of brawling, chomping, and occasional Bernie-squashing occurred (I especially like the last photo).

Of course, Bernie got all dirty since the ground was still muddy from the recent rains.  So we wiped him and Wyatt off, then we loaded all the dogs up and caravanned down to Newport Beach for a boat ride in the harbor.  There's a business there called Marina Watersports that rents pontoon deck boats out, and allows dogs to get in on the fun.  This used to be our former tripawd Max's absolutely favorite thing to do.  He'd stand on his hind legs with his front leg on a seat cushion at the bow of the boat, puff out his chest, and savor the salty breeze blowing in his face.  Bernie is growing more and more fond of it as well, since it gives him a whole new world of things on the water he can be annoyed at.  So we rented one, wrangled the herd on deck, and I took us out for a couple of hours on the water.  

If you're wondering where our other dog Linda was during all this concentrated dopiness, this next picture answers that question.  Linda is only vaguely tolerant of any new dog, and she's only met Wyatt once.  So she did what she usually does in these situations – stuck close to dad and tried to avoid the getting sucked into the canine cyclone that is Bernie and Wyatt on a small boat.  The confined space did nothing to stop those two from wrestling when they felt it necessary, although they took plenty of time out to check out the scenery and occasionally bark furiously at it.  Bernie, of course, climbed all over Jim and Rene like they were an obstacle course.  I really like the picture of Rene, Wyatt, and my wife Diane watching as Bernie gives Jim an up close and personal molestation.

One great thing about the ocean is that it'll tire out even the most stubbornly hyper dogs.  They were all tired enough that they sat still long enough for us to get a doggie group photo on the ferry as we headed back to our cars.  It was a great day out, and hopefully Jim and Rene got some good photos of their own that they can post to this thread as well.  And best of all, the last photo shows what Diane and I love best – the sight of Bernie bin Laden unconscious and (at least temporarily) harmless on the floor.