Biker Dog Buck

Biker Dog Buck and His Driver, Colin Cassidy

story & photos: Colin Cassidy

Sometimes I think my dog is smarter than I am. Sounds pretty silly, right? Well, consider the following: He has no job, no bills, no debts, and no schedule to keep. He gets free food, a free place to sleep, toys, treats, and affection from everyone he meets. How did he get it so good? He must know something I don’t. We spend a lot of time together so I’ve had the chance to put a good bit of thought into the subject and I’ve come up with a list of things I’ll share with you. I call it, “Things I’ve Learned from My Dog.”

Focus. If you’ve ever played fetch with a dog who really enjoys playing you’ve seen it too. Laser-like focus. The ball is his entire universe and for the half-hour or so he’s trained me to throw it for him, the rest of the world melts away. Every so often I can channel it when I’m riding.

Listening to the sound of the bike, feeling the wind, and scanning the road ahead – everything makes sense. I’m not thinking about work or replaying conversations in my mind. I am totally focused on what I’m doing. My eyes, hands and feet working in sync to operate the bike. A seamless fusion of man and machine.

He has taught me to find joy in the little things. Happiness comes in small doses. It’s a milkbone, a toy that squeaks, or a bowl of cold water after a long walk. He has taught me how to be happy first thing in the morning; grateful for another day with my best friend. Waking up aching and sore is a gift – at least you woke up! I find joy in all kinds of places now. The feel of a new pair of shoes on my feet that fit just right. I’m grateful to be able to tie them. Or coming home after working hard and jumping in the shower. The feel of the hot water hitting the back of my head as I scrub the dirt off and watch it circle the drain and disappear. Stepping out into the steam-filled bathroom and drawing a smiley face on the mirror. Life aint so bad.

Buck has taught me not to feel sorry for myself. My dog has three legs. We were hit by a car last year and both of us got hurt pretty bad. After a handful of surgeries I made a full recovery. Buck didn’t. But he’ll be damned if a bum leg is going to slow him down! The boy ain’t got no quit in him. He didn’t let the crash change him. He still runs and jumps and plays with other dogs. Sure, sometimes he falls down. But he gets right up and keeps going. Don’t try and tell him there’s something he can’t do. He will outrun your dog without thinking twice. He will climb a set of stairs and come down just so he can go up them again. He jumps right up into the sidecar and waits for me to put his goggles on. He can do anything! Except dig. He’s really bad at digging. But that’s ok. It’s important to know your limitations. And it’s even more important to know the difference between knowing your limitations and feeling sorry for yourself. With the assistance of some steel rods and pins, I’m able to walk again. Yeah, it hurts. But I’m not going to let it stop me from living my life. Having said that, I’m not going to run a marathon any time soon. But that’s ok. I’m happy just walking my dog.

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I’ve learned a lot about resilience, too. Psychologists define “Resilience” as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, or tragedy. Webster’s defines it as the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape. The crash isn’t the only traumatic event in Buck’s past. He’s been attacked by aggressive dogs on three occasions. Most recently, a pit bull bit clean through his right ear. You’d think after these encounters

and His Driver, Colin Cassidy

that he would be more cautious when approaching other dogs – not knowing if they’re friend or foe. He isn’t. He recovers from his wounds and continues trying to make friends with every dog on the planet. A shortsighted person might see this as stupidity. “He hasn’t learned anything!” I take the opposite view. I am amazed by his ability to shrug off trauma and bounce back. You can’t let the past poison your future. As a young man I was hurt a time or two while trying my best to navigate the murky waters of romance. It hurts having your heart broken. Had I known then what I know now, I would have taken comfort in that fact that a bad experience has no bearing on future experiences. Once I found the fortitude to move forward,

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If your dog needs more booklearning to go with his streetsmarts, check out our dog training services at DogsListenToUs.com

For more from Colin and Buck, check them out on YouTube and Instagram @BikerdogBuck

I found a love worth nurturing and am proud to announce that I am now engaged to the woman of my dreams. Thanks Buck!

I approach life as a constant student. There’s always something else to learn. And Buck is happy to teach me. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that maybe your dog is smarter than you think. If you take the time to watch carefully you just might learn something, too.