The most painful day as a dog owner isn’t the pain of embarrassment when our agility dog knocks just about every bar on a jumpers course, nor is it having to come up with the cash to pay a rather large and unexpected veterinarian bill. I think each of you who owns a dog knows the most painful day I am referring to . . .
Today John and I said our final good byes to our amazing Border Collie “Buzzy.” Yes at close to 18 years old Buzz and I have shared a lot of experiences…more than 1/3 of the time I have been on the planet Buzz has been here with me. But even when you can clearly see the heart break heading towards you… it doesn’t lessen the pain that it brings when it finally hits.
As suggested above, his life was an “amazing ride” and he lived every thrill with zest right up to the end.
Throughout his entire long life Buzzy’s eyes remained remarkably clear … as if giving everyone he met an open window to his soul. That was Buzz.
He was never sick a day in his life. Would never miss out on a daily walk (even this morning we shared a short jaunt together) and Buzz never missed a meal … right up until last week. This past weekend he was very clearly letting me know, no food could tempt him to stay…he was ready to move on, ready to see what Stoni, Shelby and Twister were up to :). So I let Buzz go early this afternoon. Such a blessing to have kind hearted veterinarians at times like these, who will step away from their busy “heart worm” season to come to our house and allow Buzzy pass with ease and grace. I am so grateful to Dr. Kelly Ciggar and Tammy Frank for being here for Buzz and I.
I could use this blog post to brag about all of Buzzy’s accomplishments and tell you how amazing he was to live with and partner with in agility. But I’m sure many of you have already read Buzz’s story in my book “Shaping Success.”
I thought instead, I would share with you what I consider the five most powerful lessons Buzz taught me as a dog trainer. Of course there were LOADS of lessons. Buzz came to me during a massive transition period in my dog training. For the 4 years prior to Buzz, I had been “experimenting” with “clicker training” mixing it with the mild punishment I was routinely using in my training at that time (in the early ‘90s).
Buzz changed all of that.
With Buzz I attempted to walk the road of true reinforcement based training. For the first few months together I attempted to train with only reinforcement, not even using “time outs” or any negative punishment in my training. It only took a few months before I knew I need something to help me with his amazing energy so enter the use of a head halter and mild negative reinforcement. . . I am happy to say even through the struggles, I didn’t feel the need to go back to using “positive punishment” in my training. Today I realize that my frustrations early on with Buzz were due to what was lacking in me… in my mechanics and my understanding of how to be a reinforcement based dog trainer.
Buzz and I were in unchartered waters. Although operant and classical conditioning were not new, their application in competition dog training certainly wasn’t widely accepted back in the mid 90s. There was virtually no one having success with it in the world of dog agility, so I had to look to other areas of the animal training world.
With mentors like Bob and Marion Bailey, Buzz and I made our way and through it all, I grew exponentially in my understanding. Here are what I am selecting as the five most powerful lessons I learned from my life with Buzz.
LESSON NUMBER ONE:
The answer to every challenge is REINFORCEMENT. Look to the kind you are using, the way you are delivering it, the alternative ways the dog is obtaining it and your strategic use of all of the resources you have that the dog finds reinforcing. If you are thinking your training needs punishment because you aren’t getting the results you expect . . . re-think your strategy. It is very likely your training plan is flawed … reinforcement is the answer to your struggles.
LESSON NUMBER TWO:
If you are are “okay” with using negative punishment in your training because you have been told “time outs” are innocuous to our dogs . . . see lesson number one. Time outs are a crutch that we all use when we don’t know what else to do. Buzz took all of my crappy training in stride. The only stress he ever showed was spiralling higher in his drive to please. For years he was patient with my lack of understanding. My current dogs today are the great benefactors of Buzz’s tolerance during those early years in my reinforcement based training journey. My youngest dog Swagger, is a lot like Buzz in his drive for work. Buzz’s life with me is what made it possibly for me to have the amazing relationship I have with Swagger today.
I am not saying there is NO need for negative punishment anywhere in training, but I have a strong suspicion we may be able to get it down to a VERY mild form (like just a mild ‘response cost’ or withholding rewards while waiting for something better). Today, any time I give Swagger a “time out” I have visions of Buzz. Buzzy is there to remind me “you may have missed something in your training and that is why you are now giving this dog a time out.” Thank you Buzz.
LESSON NUMBER THREE:
Learn from your past but don’t be afraid to experiment while moving into your future. Buzz opened my eyes to the fact that we need to continue to look further away from “what worked with my last dog.” Not saying that we should discard everything we learned in the past, just that our history or past success in dog training shouldn’t pre-determine the future choices we will make for every dog going forward.
Buzz was the dog that got me started on this path.
LESSON NUMBER FOUR:
Your dog will be your greatest teacher if you allow him to be.
Funny thing, it wasn’t just my years training Buzz for competition that I was learning from him. As strange as it may seem, the learning became more powerful long after Buzz was retired. Kind of like when our dogs are failing at something over and over and we take a week or two away from training THAT behaviour …then suddenly everything seems more clear to the dog. My life with Buzz has been like that. The further away from “formal” training him I got, the clearer the lessons he taught me became.
LESSON NUMBER FIVE:
My last powerful lesson I learned from Buzzy is that growth requires vulnerability. None of us is expected to “know it all,” so drop the front and accept that you are only human. We need to allow ourselves the luxury of admitting that we “may be incorrect.” If we get stuck on what we think we know, we can fall victim to believing our dog isn’t learning because of something that is different or wrong with HIM rather than something missing in US. Without vulnerability as a dog trainer, it becomes impossible to have any major break through with our own understanding. We become that trainer that does the same thing with every dog, complains about the same shortcomings without considering that the solution is through YOU the trainer and not with the dog! When you label your dog as “stubborn” or “stupid” or a “bar knocker,” you have instantly limited their potential… the dog’s future has been defined.
Be vulnerable. Consider yourself as the source of your dog’s struggles, that you have challenges that require more knowledge. That should spark a hunger for education, for better mechanics or for more clarity in your choices for your dog.
When you get to that vulnerable place as a dog trainer, it opens up the endless possibilities for every dog each of us will ever own in the future . . . just like Buzz has done for Swagger and I . . . and each of my dogs I will ever own for the rest of my life.
Today I am so very grateful for the opportunity to have owned, loved and learned from such a very special dog. I miss you already Boo Boo boy.
Cedar’s High On Emotion aka “Buzz”
Sept 20 1996 – April 22 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful legacy he left in the path he forged with you, that you are now sharing with so many of us. RIP, Buzz. I never knew you but you have inspired me in so many ways through all your stories.
Godspeed Buzz. He had an incredible life but its never long enough.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Buzz and the things he taught you have been a great gift to us all.
Susan and John,
What a great Buzz saw ride! I remember Susan training young puppy Buzz wayyyy the heck yonder from all the agility rings – so much enthusiasm in that boy!
The ride continued with “Shaping Success”, then continued on many great agility runs at all levels.
Great that his joy for life continued to the very end.
Go yonder Buzzy and continue to inspire us all…
Hugs and Healing Energy….
It is never easy to say good-bye. Sorry about your lost,
Thanks Buzz for teaching Susan so that she could then teach us. My favorite dog related book is Shaping Success and it is all about you, Buzz, and Susan’s search to find a way to mold your behavior while honoring your try and enthusiasm.
Oh, Susan, I didn’t know… I’m crying for your loss. I am so very sorry… I don’t know what to say, but Buzzy had you to guide him to his greatest potential. You are an impeccable trainer and love your dogs to the end.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”
― Milan Kundera
Holding you and John in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Debra n snap
Thinking of you while tears run down my cheeks for a dog I never knew except through stories. I know that through the stories and through your growth as a trainer, Buzz touched the lives of many like me who never met him (and will continue to do so). Live on in our hearts and memories Buzzy!
So sorry, thoughts to you and John and to all who were loved by Buzz.
My condolences. 🙁 Such wonderful lessons learned and shared that we all owe a debt of gratitude for. May we all have his pure joy for life! Hugs to you and John.
So Sorry for your loss he was a great dog and I am so glad I got to meet him at a seminar I will never forget your words I’m going to smoke ya” and Buzzy reaction when he was in the garage still makes me smile to this day when I think of that RIP Buzz you have touched many hearts .
Great lessons. Thank you Buzz. Thank you Susan. And thanks to my Lucy, who has showed me how to be a better trainer by her very honest response to what works, and her direct way of ignoring what doesn’t. I’m so grateful to all of you.
Susan, So Sorry for your loss. And thank you for sharing Buzz with us for the last 17+ years. We have all benefited from what he had to teach.
18 years! what a great long ride. So sorry for your loss.
I’m sorry for your loss. My friends and I talked about him often, while reading your CR articles, your book and stories. He lives on in all our memories. Thank you for sharing him
Annie and Frank Yang
Thank you Buzz for sharing your life and lessons with me too.
What a great tribute to an amazing dog! My heart is heavy for you and John but I know he will always be with you. They all leave too young….
So sorry to hear of the passing of a true agility legend. Thinking of all of his people…
The Parable of Immortality
by Henry Van Dyke
Standing upon the seashore, a ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?” Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
As you know, just because you can’t see him, doesn’t mean he isn’t there.
Susan and John:
I am so sorry for your loss. He had such joy for life and you. The bad dog trainer video is my favorite! I will always remember him that way.
Hugs, Blanche & Brian
RIP peace buzz! you will be missed by many. Hugs to Susan and all who loved Buzzy. Time for the rest of the kids to love on Da Mama, she needs you.
The first time I saw Buzz was at USDAA Nationals in Cleveland many years ago. He was young and memorable. I remember you did a Great Outdoor Games one year. Going to break the announcer said when they came back they would introduce us to Buzz! I refer people to your YouTube videos especially with Buzz showing you as a bad trainer. I have Shaping Success and have recommended it to many people. What an amazing dog. He was fortunate to have you and you him.
Hugs, lovely message; thank you for sharing
I’m so sorry Susan. Hugs()
I was talking to some students about your voyage with Buzz just last night. He will live on in all our hearts and minds for a very long time. I am so sorry for you and John’s loss.
You are one of the most influential dog trainers alive today. Your impact on how we all treat our dogs is huge, even for people who have never heard your name. And Buzz was one of your greatest teachers, and through your book, _Shaping Success_, many of his teachings will continue to guide dog trainers everywhere.
This is a sad day. I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences, and godspeed to Buzz. Many dogs at the Bridge will immediately understand your games 🙂
My sympathies to your family on the loss of a wonderful dog whose impact spans the globe. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but I know I benefited from the lessons he taught you. His memory will be live on in the hearts of those who loved him and in the greater dog community who directly or indirectly learned from him.
He taught so much, to so many. Thank you for sharing him with us through your books and blogs. I am re-reading everything again with new puppy.
I love your post and reading about all that Buzz taught you. It is so hard to say goodbye to a constant companion and one that created such history with us. I had to do this last year and a piece of my heart went with him. Hugs to you Susan.
What an awesome tribute to Buzz. I only met him once but all I’ve read about him makes me feel like I really knew him. Thank you Buzz for all you’ve done for all of us who came after your lessons. Go in peace, my friend, go in peace.
So sorry to hear about Buzz, Susan. I feel very fortunate to have been able to see him in person many years ago as a young puppy at one of your US seminars. He amazed me with his energy, drive and love of the game. As I read Shaping Success I could visualize the dog you spoke of so dearly from memories I’d had. RIP Buzz, you are a legend.
Susan and John…my sympathies to you both on your loss. Buzz was such an amazing dog…unforgettable really. In fact, I was talking to someone about him this weekend! Thank you for sharing with us what you learned from him.
My deepest condolences on Buzz’s passing. His story gave me hope, and, indeed, you once compared my Koya to Buzz (the drive, high arousal). I considered it a great compliment and always try to remember when I am training her and getting frustrated that your perseverance rewarded you & Buzz with both great success and a wonderful partnership. Rest in joyous peace, Buzz.
Sorry you have lost your beautiful boy.What a wonderful life he had with you. X x xx
It is never easy to say goodbye, ever. I am so glad that Buzz was able to be with you for so long and bring you so much JOY! He was a truly amazing dog who taught me so much when I would watch you with him at the practice jump or around trial grounds. Thinking of you and John and sending huge hugs to you both.
One of Buzz’s greatest fans, Renee
Leave it Buzz to make sure you were going to have a house full of people and a building full of puppies when the time came for his goodbye. Always a party, no time for sadness. He was full of joy. Im so lucky to have known him for such a small part of his amazing life.
A teacher, a loving pet and companion. What more could anyone ask for in a dog? He took you places you had never thought you could go and started a dynasty of teamwork with great dogs that followed. My sympathy on his passing, Susan.
what a wonderful and amazing tribute. may we all take the time to learn from Buzz and Susan….blessed are we as humans to have the purest form of love right at our feet.
My condolences to you and all your family Susan both canine and human….RIP Buzz
So sorry for the loss of such a wonderful friend.
Run free Buzzy. Thank you for everything you’ve taught all of us. Big hugs to and your family Susan x
Big hugs to you, John and Buzz’s siblings. With Buzz, you indeed shared an amazing journey together, bursting full of love and joy. I’m so happy you two got to spend time together today, and he was at home when he departed for his new journey. He will be waiting for you all. Sharing tears with you.
It is never easy, and what a wonderful post.
What he has taught you has impacted many many people – me included. So I today I am thankful for what Buzz and what he taught you. {{hugs}} Anne
I am so sorry for your loss. 18 years. What a dog!
My heart hurts for you and John. We were all very lucky in the lessons that Buzz taught you as the ripple effect will go on for years to come. Thanks Buzz, you were one of a kind.
I’m so sorry to hear your sad news Buzz was an amazing dog and I’m sure you will miss him terribly, he sure taught you how to think outside the box. Buzz is at peace now running over rainbow bridge, my thoughts and prayers are with you all xx
As I put on your Facebook page:
So sorry to hear this Susan but man oh man did he set the tone and bar for all your future teachings. What a great dog!!! Because of him he will live forever in a little bit of all of us!!!!!
Buzz has an honorary picture up over on our Border Collie Crazy FB page. Hope you don’t mind!
A sad day for all of us who know you. BazookaJoe’s (my nick name for him) knowing eyes will be missed.
Susan, I am so sorry for your loss. Buzz was an amazing dog and you gave him a great life. It is wonderful that you have acknowledged the lessons he taught you in such a clear way. Each dog we have teaches us new things. You are in my thoughts.
Godspeed to a dog who helped you become the wonderful trainer you are. Your wisdom and grace with your own dogs help to remind me how lucky I am to have my own “teachers”. I will continue reading. I feel like I know you and I have known Buzz, although we have never met.
Hugs to you, as you said it best, it is NEVER easy.. Maureen Burke, Pa.