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Northern Arizona is a playground for the outdoor enthusiast. Overlanders, explorers and jetsetters alike travel from near and far to enjoy the diverse landscapes and thrilling adventures that this region offers, and while these things hold up on their own, they are best served with a side of companionship.

For J.J. McMahon, a guide based out of Page, his companion for the last five years has been an energetic and rock-obsessed heeler named Whitey. Together, they’ve trekked all across the Southwest and chronicled their journeys on YouTube for a growing audience of dog lovers, hungry for a change in scenery.

The channel, , is a travel guide of sorts. Each video features landmarks, parks and a wealth of information on their history and ecology.

Whitey and his “human chauffeur� embrace the region like it’s their own backyard, and their passion has resulted in a following of nearly 12,000 subscribers and a slew of sponsorship inquiries. But through the twists and turns, both expected and not, the pair’s bond remains resolute.

“When I’m with him, which is 90% of the day,� McMahon said, “there’s no anxiety about whatever: deadlines, taxes, investment portfolio, relationship, etc. He always brings me back to living in the moment, and that’s a wonderful place to be.�

But before YouTube and before Whitey, McMahon was navigating life’s choppy waters like the rest of us.

Growing up in Flagstaff, he gained an early appreciation for the outdoors and furthered that appreciation at the University of Arizona where he graduated with a degree in social behavioral sciences and followed a traditional path toward law school. Eventually, McMahon shifted gears and entered the biopharmaceutical industry doing sales and marketing, but he still felt like there was so much more to see.

“I woke up one morning and said, ‘Hey, if I don't travel now, I'm not going to,’� he said. “So I did everything I wasn't supposed to do, which was cash my Roth, 401K, everything, took all my penalties and traveled for about two years together.�

This brave decision was the start of many wild adventures. He worked with the Himalayan Development Foundation, started a nonprofit and even lost an eye, but despite both his failures and successes, McMahon always remembered the joys of living in the Southwest.

So, he returned to the Southwest, but rather than going back to the humdrum of his last job, he decided to shift gears again and work outdoors, starting at a wilderness therapy program for at-risk youth and ending up where he is now.

McMahon found his dream job, but by late 2019, his life was upended, marked by a series of significant personal losses, which all compounded and left him devastated at a critical time � not just in his life, but in all our lives.

He said, “My whole life, I've been an athlete... I never felt depression, and all of a sudden, I started going, ‘Wow, time to take a breath and relax.� I could always work out, do all these other things with my body, but I needed to take care of my mind.�

Brought up under the mantra “boys don’t cry,� McMahon had to work on himself, but he needed help.

Before they broke up, he formed a pretty strong bond with his girlfriend’s dog and wanted to reclaim that connection with a new dog, so he called Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, and told them to let him know if they receive a heeler.

A little while later, McMahon hears back.

“I remember the date, I’ll always remember the date,� he said. “February 18, 2020, I get a call, ‘Mr. McMahon, we got this little, almost one-year-old heeler. He's crazy, but you want to come take a look?� I said, ‘Absolutely.� So I drove an hour north and adopted him.�

Whitey found a new home, and McMahon, a new friend. While the challenges of the lockdown were undeniable, it gave the two an unprecedented amount of time to bond and laid a sturdy foundation for them both to grow on, and they did.

A few months later, a client suggested that he start making YouTube videos with Whitey, but McMahon wasn’t sure at first. He didn’t feel savvy enough nor did he feel like he could do justice to something like that, but his client persisted, even offering to review the footage and give him notes.

So, he captured some footage during a trip to Lees Ferry, and while the video was, as McMahon says, terrible, he continued to make videos and roll with it. This turned out to be a successful strategy because they started gaining traction; people from outside his circle began reaching out to let him know how cool this project was.

“Whitey’s World started off as a hobby,� McMahon said, “but now, more than 60 videos later and close to 1 million views and 30,000 hours of watch time, we’re blessed that something has resonated with both tourists looking to plan pet- and family-friendly adventures as well as educators in elementary schools.�

The pair are giving back too by organizing field trips and promoting the work of Best Friends Animal Society and other no-kill sanctuaries, which are fundamental to the establishment of their new business.

Muddy Paws Production is a platform through which they are securing distribution deals and affiliate links with renowned pet food companies and adventure outfitters. They are currently creating new videos for pet-friendly trips around Flagstaff and have videos in the queue for healthy pet recipes, pet friendly destinations and hikes near the Four Corners and so much more.

They hope to give anyone with pets looking to explore the Southwest all the resources they need to make sure everyone stays safe and has fun.

Whitey and McMahon’s story is a testament to the power of companionship and the unexpected ways life can redirect one's path through the unconditional love. The two have changed each other’s lives profoundly, and they want you to know that you have the power to do the same thing for others.

“I would like to convey the positive and profound effect that animal adoption can have on one’s life,� McMahon said. “If you’re looking for an adventure buddy, one who will provide snuggles, loyalty, laughter, fun and unconditional love, remember there are millions of pets in adoption centers looking for a loving home.�

You can subscribe to Whitey’s World on YouTube or follow McMahon and Whitey on Facebook at and Instagram . If you would like to learn more about Best Friends Animal Society, visit their website at .