For the first time in his adult life, Kenny
Chesney can finally say he has a dog.

"A friend gave it
to me and said, 'Here, Kenny, you have to learn to attach to something!' God's
honest truth!" Chesney tells PEOPLE. "Now, I love the guy."

The newest
Chesney is Pancho, a goldendoodle that joined the country star – who is
currently on the Brothers of the Sun tour with Tim McGraw – in January. "Next
thing you know, next day at PetSmart, I'm buying stuff, buying things and I have
no idea!" he says. "That's just a dog! I can't imagine having three kids [like
McGraw has]."

A dog will do plenty for now. "That little guy, he'll eat
everything in sight – whether it's edible or not – and he loves the water,"
Chesney says. "I took him down to my boat, and he jumps right off."

When
he's not out on the waves having fun, Pancho may become Chesney's newest roadie.
"The plan is to take him on tour," he says. "We'll see if he's got what it
takes."

For much more on Chesney and McGraw's tour and their
friendship – including a priceless photo of the boys back in the day – pick up
the new issue of PEOPLE Country, on newsstands now.

People.com