Jake Owen admits that life on the road can be a dogged trail, but there's a traveling companion who helps lighten the burden—his dog, Merle. "I've always gotta have my dog with me," Jake tells CountryWeekly.com. "He keeps everybody sane. People pet on him and love on him and he just enjoys it. If you're having a bad day, he can cheer you up."

It must also be noted that Jake's wife, Lacey, also travels with him on a regular basis. That's helpful to all, as Jake and Lacey are expecting their first child, a daughter, due sometime in November. "She comes out with me all the time," Jake says. "We're able to spend a lot of time together."

Jake reveals that he tries to keep up with the news and current events on the bus. "I think it's important to stay informed of everything that's going on," he says. "It's easy to get caught up in what I call this 'submarine world' of music. When I'm on the road, I also try to work on something, a song or an idea, whatever it might be. If you don't stay ahead of everything, that's when you become complacent and you're not challenging what the good Lord gave you—your brain."

Read more about Jake, and catch a photo of him and his faithful pooch, in the Oct. 15 issue of Country Weekly, on sale now.