Every Job is a New Adventure: Matthew and Timber’s Life in the Woods

For many dogs, the jobs they take on aren’t always obvious. Timber has spent his whole life living on over 100 acres at the edge of Mount Hood National Forest with his human, Matthew Gamlen. It’s land dense enough with fir and hemlock that parts of it stay dark even at midday. Their nearest neighbor is a half mile away, and most days the only reminder that anyone exists is the occasional sound of bird song drifting through the trees, along with deer, elk, and other wildlife passing through.

At two years old, Timber has been steadily learning about these woods, tagging along for every task that needs doing – and on a homestead like this one, something comes up nearly every day. He is essential in more ways than one, and like most dogs, he contributes more than just moral support.

“Timber keeps bears and mountain lions at bay,” says Matthew. “He’s exactly the sort of companion I was looking for.”

Living in a remote place far from other people, it’s helpful to have a dog around who can stay aware and alert for elk, black bears, cougars, and bobcats, who are all fellow residents of the property, too. Timber is the perfect pup for the job. He has a supernatural sense for wildlife and means them no harm — yet keeps them at a safe distance with his presence. And he has enough energy and drive to rouse from a deep sleep at a moment’s notice, anytime his assistance is needed.

“He has no aggression toward any human or any animal. I always joke that he doesn't have a prey drive — he has a play drive.”

Living With The Forest

Land like this doesn't sit still. “A lot of it feels like keeping the forest from eating the home,” he says. Trees regularly come down across his mile-long gravel road, a few times most winters. The road itself is a constant, ongoing repair; hauling rock, filling potholes, and rebuilding the water bars that keep runoff from washing the whole thing out.

“Trees somehow love to fall across the road. Sometimes it's a really big project if it's a really large tree. It'll be the whole day, just clearing.”

Timber loves these kinds of days most of all, where he trots along ahead of Matthew’s tractor like a supervisor, obviously thrilled by a job that really only requires his reassuring presence. The daily chores of living on this kind of acreage don’t ever stop. There’s firewood that requires constant effort. Matthew burns seven or eight cords a winter, and each cord takes a full year of lead time. That’s felling, splitting, stacking, and seasoning the wood well before he needs it.

“You always have to be thinking a season ahead of where you are,” he says.

Matthew also grows food — vegetables he can cultivate and preserve easily. He harvests potatoes, along with beets and cucumbers for pickling, and basil that he uses to make pesto. He also keeps bees, which he says is one of the most important things he does. These staples aren’t just for him, either. He exchanges his pesto and honey for lamb or beef from his neighbors.

The Perfect Company

Maintaining the property and growing food aren’t the only jobs that Matthew and Timber get up to. Matthew is a commercial and documentary director, where on any given day he’s writing, pitching, editing, and spending whole afternoons in front of the computer.

The roles here may change, but Timber’s attitude to work and his ability to create balance within it continues unabated. He’s at Matthew’s feet while he edits, reminding him to get outside for a breather. Together, they go on long hikes that stretch 6-7 miles, and sometimes they go twice a day.

“He needs to move and so therefore I move, too. He needs consistency, and because of that, you show up and provide the consistency for yourself.”

That consistency matters more than anything. Long stretches alone with your own thinking can turn on you a little. “Out here, you think you're getting away from everything that's bothering you,” he says, “and then you realize it was all you the whole time.” A dog like Timber has a way of instilling a steady, daily routine that revolves around the kinds of activities that are inherently good for the mind, body, and soul.

“I’m just better when I’m in nature. I think Timber and I are similar that way; he wouldn’t like being in a city and neither would I.”

Learning More Every Day

At two years old, Timber is still discovering new things about the world around him and growing as a pup. He’s been accompanying Matthew on mushroom hunts since he was just ten weeks old, exploring the forest as they look for chanterelles hiding amid the sword ferns and vine maple.

Lately, Timber’s been taking on bigger lessons, like learning how to be comfortable around horses. The goal is to eventually feel good about running and walking next to them without spooking them, which is still a work in progress.

In this way, life continues to take shape alongside the natural rhythms of the forest. The land shapes both human and dog, while they both show up for the land in return.