Lighthouse Pacific's First SH
January 18, 2005 - December 8, 2008

Traz had a short but full life. He was a fine example of what Springer temperament outside of the field should be. He went by many names:

Trazinator/Body Builder/Genetic Freak - He was doggie version of Arnold. 61 lbs of solid muscle. He could run through anything. In the field, he had machine like precision in his pattern and could mark a fall over 150 yards out. Cyberdyne couldn't have built a better dog.

Blubbinator - He had an extremely long tongue. But rather than being a constant licker, he'd like to sneak attack a large wet one you. When he was almost 6 months old, Danno and Jill brought their daughter over. We sat them down next to each other on the couch. She would look seriously at him and he would blub her to get her laughing, looking all proud of himself. She'd stop and he'd blub.

Goofus - He was happy go lucky dog at all times and always had a toy in his mouth. his most special one being the truck duck. A stuffed duck I kept in the ESSUV that he'd scoop up as soon as he got in the vehicle.

I can honestly say he never met a person or another animal he didn't like. He had an energy about him that picked people up and a full blubby never hurt. Even in when he was in extreme pain or really wasn't feeling good. he would do what he was asked and try to pick those up around him. I got many "Really Nice Dog" from the different vets we had visited over the few years. At 61 lbs he was big but gentle and still thought he was a lap dog. He had such the "off switch" that he would literally go limp when he laid down. And you could do anything to him and he didn't care. Traz was the big cuddler whether it was on the couch or coming into bed. He should be listed under the definition of "Happiness is a warm puppy."

In the field, when we were a team, there was no better feeling (finishing his Senior Hunter in 5 straight events or getting to the 3rd Series at Ohio Valley). He also helped me get 2 major compliments from my mentor and friend Jason Givens. First, when I sent Traz to be steadied "You did all the puppy training right" and, after his passing "He made you a better dog trainer". Traz wasn't the easiest dog to train given his size and willfulness. I learned/employed many new and different techniques.

Traz taught me much in our time together. The final lesson being the hardest... saying good-bye. Traz developed a bacterial infection in the thoracic cavity. It was caused by a grass awn that broke up and passed through his lungs in 2 locations. The infection was so severe that the vets MSU could not even guarantee me a pet quality dog if we operated. I had to let him go, since I could not let him suffer any longer. He was the first dog I owned I had to put down. He will be missed but not forgotten.