The intrepid spelunkers get ready to enter the cave. What planet is this? You'd never guess it was southern Indiana. RELATED STORIES Essential Advice Caving in Marengo

To our surprise, Dudley was allowed to join us underground.

Caving may have been Dudley's strangest adventure yet. At first, we didn't think Dudley would be able to come with us — it just seemed too dangerous. But Deb reassured us that there was little chance of losing our little guy in the cave. She said that dogs tend to lie down and wait if they get lost rather than wander deeper into the cave, so we decided to bring him along.

As per his usual reaction in new situations, Dudley was a little nervous going into the cave, but he trotted dutifully along through the mud, as if to prove to us that four legs are better than two. Through some of the cave, however, his closeness to the ground hindered him. Even though he is almost completely over his fear of water, the low air and water temperature in the cave would have made for a very cold little dog if he had to slog or swim through the wetter passages. So, Dudley rode on our shoulders as we trudged through the hip-deep water. Lucky dog.