Sydney is the reason I am a dog trainer.

Found in Houston wearing Lubbock, Texas tags (600 miles difference), Sydney was taken into Aussie Rescue and assessed for adoption. At a year old, he lacked social skills with other dogs but loved his people. He was the Tasmanian Devil (picture the cartoon – slobbering and twisting and twirling and snarling) at the end of the leash.

Right off the bat, old fashioned/out-dated training techniques (choke chains, prong collars, jerking, popping, etc.) did not work with this dog and I strived to find a better way.

Over a three year training period, we developed our social skills and tried out different experiences. We ultimately earned our CD title in obedience. That was a great day. We also tried flyball. For a dog that was extremely leash aggressive, it was such a thrill to have him off leash and listening to mom – as long as I had his flippy flyer. We also tried tracking, which he truly truly loved. He also earned his CGC and passed his herding instinct test.

He LOVED to be dirty and muddy. He hated baths, but LOVED the “toweling/drying” part afterwards. He was afraid of guns and of fire. He liked to play with his housemate Pepper. He loved to squirm on his back while I scratched his butt. He was devoted to his people.

I came home from the APDT conference to find him with almost no mobility in his back end.  After rushing to the vet, we found out he had a bulging disc pressing against his spinal cord. Options included treatment with meds to keep him comfortable, or a risky and serious surgery. At 13.5 years old, surgery was not an option.

That night we decided to bring him home from the vet. It was a rough night; Sydney could no longer toilet by himself and in the morning he was shaking with pain. I asked him if it was time and he said yes.

On October 25th, we helped him cross over.

I asked my grandfathers, my spirit guide, and other pets that have gone before him to be there to welcome him and to show him the way.

He has been our good boy, my shadow, and words can’t express the sorrow we feel now that he is gone.