When Jon Pardi comes back home after a long day in the studio or a few days on the road, he’s greeted by his best friend, his dog Bandit. The singer says Bandit is a mix of two purebred dogs – a Queensland Heeler and Australian Shepherd. Until Jon came along, Bandit wasn’t liked by too many folks. “Nobody wanted him ‘cause he barked all the time,” Jon explained. “He had a petition by all the neighbors in the surrounding area because he barked so much that he’d get like kicked out. And by the time I got him, like they were just ready to give him away…and the first time I got him, he sat on my lap, just never got off my lap, and we’ve been best friends ever since.” We’re sure when his owner goes on the road for a few days, Bandit is “missin’” him “crazy.”

Jon is heading up the country charts with his single, “Missin’ You Crazy.”

In other news, Jon and labelmate Eric Paslay wrote a major hit song (we are sure) together earlier this week.

AUDIO: Jon Pardi talks about his “best friend,” Bandit.

Jon Pardi (dog) 1 OC: …ever since, man. :34

“My dog is Bandit. He’s a Queensland Heeler and Australian Shepherd. He’s two purebred dogs — his mom was an Australian Shepherd purebred, dad was a purebred Queensland Heeler, and he was a big ole dude. And I got him at a year and a half. Nobody wanted him ‘cause he barked all the time. He had a petition by all the neighbors in the surrounding area because he barked so much that he’d get like kicked out. And by the time I got him, like they were just ready to give him away and the first time I got him he sat on my lap, just never got off my lap, and we’ve been best friends ever since, man.”

AUDIO: Jon Pardi says his dog, Bandit, made the trek with him from California to Nashville in the back of his pickup truck…and just recently, got into a bit of a skirmish with a skunk.

Jon Pardi (dog) 2 OC: …around their face. :52

“He stood up the whole time on the back. He was in the bed. And he’d  stay; sometimes we couldn’t sneak him into the hotel rooms so he had to sleep with all the gear and stuff in the back. But it’s good cause he’s very protective, like you don’t want to go and reach your hand in the back of the truck while Bandi is back there, ‘cause you will be bit. But he’s been a really great dog. He’s getting really old, and it’s kind of sad to watch him get old, but I still take him out when I can. He got sprayed by a skunk. He stinks, man. But I found if your dog ever gets sprayed by a skunk, listen up now, a whole bottle of peroxide, not a big bottle, the medium-sized bottle, a half a cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of like dishwashing soap, and that will clear it out. It’ll dry his skin out, and it will be good. My dog, Bandit had gotten whiter after I poured peroxide on him, but he don’t smell as bad anymore. Just don’t get it in their eyes or around their face.”