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The Thinking K9 The Thinking K9

Saying Goodbye to a Hero

barb-batman-trial

“Batman is the reason TTK9 exists. Through his love, tenacity, & kind heart, he changed countless lives & inspired a community of handlers to achieve the extraordinary.”

Barbara, owner at TTK9

Barbara & Batman before winning a 5K Race
I apologize for the late announcement. I’ve been overwhelmed & making it official feels all too real. I have been unable to determine where to begin. How do you say goodbye to a hero? How do you sum up a life that touched so many? Batman profoundly affected every soul he met, & he was my absolute everything.
Batman and his Family

With his family by his side, Batman (born February 9th, 2014) unexpectedly passed away on Christmas Eve 2024 due to natural causes.

Batman (boxer) & Doodle (spaniel)
In less than a year, I went from three dogs to one. I lost Doodle (Cavalier Spaniel, 2/9/2009–5/1/2024) just months before Batman (2/20/2014–12/24/2024). When we brought Batman home as a pup, my gut warned me they would leave the same year, resulting in one of the hardest years of my life. Despite 11 years of forewarning & sharing my fear with many of you, nothing prepared me for the emptiness or heartache. Even the energy of Bonsai, our Malinois, cannot fill the void in my home or heart. …or my second home, at the facility.
Batman helping Dog Safety presentations
All dogs are amazing, but few are life-altering. Even fewer change the lives of many across the entire US. Batman helped dogs heal, learn proper play skills, made people feel safe, taught scared dogs to trust, trialed in many events, traveled to 16 states (including Disneyland), did service work (saving my life), taught Dog Safety to school children, & shared his sense of humor with everyone he met.
Opening TTK9
Batman gave me many years of love, guidance, & purpose, while his service work made it safe for me to achieve great things. Although I began training 34 years ago, he founded TTK9, built a remarkable community, & ignited a passion so fierce that I overcame travel anxiety (attending school in CA) & public speaking fears, enabling me to teach all of you. He’s not just the reason TTK9 exists; he’s the reason I do, too.
Batman, AKA "Twinkle Toes"
Losing Batman shattered me. I couldn’t walk into the facility without seeing the tacked-up curtain where he’d lay on his bed with his “twinkle-toes” hanging into the ring. He was always there—silently watching (The Silent Stalker, as we endearingly called him), staring, snoring, or… farting (much less endearing). He made TTK9 what it is; I was just the idiot on the other end of the leash, following his lead. And he never led me wrong.
A journey with a boxer
Without Batman’s guidance, I felt immensely lost. When I came to the realization his spirit lives within us all, I looked inward; He’d steer me back to where it all began—continued education to reignite my passion & drive me forward. This led me to a Biopsychology course, which challenged me more than anything in years, consuming all my time during this hiatus. I also attended a Canine Cognition & Detection seminar, joined by Rebecca, whose dedication through this has been beyond words. She managed classes, supported students, & carried TTK9 forward. She’s one of the most selfless, driven people I know, & I’m incredibly fortunate to have her as a best friend & teammate. As with everything great, Batman is the reason we met, too.
The many faces of Batman
This break allowed me to look inward, to heal, & to grow. I’ve been quiet, but far from still. Moving forward, I will focus exclusively on driven students wanting to work with their dogs beyond just taking an obedience class. We don’t focus solely on showing & titles, but on following our dog’s lead to achieve extraordinary things together. For some, that includes showing/titles, others just want fun, and for a few, it means opening a dog training facility. Regardless, it’s always about new discoveries.
Batman the Service Dog

I miss working with the community TTK9 evolved into, as well as the exceptional handlers inspired by their dog, thereby accomplishing feats they previously thought impossible.

Dogs show us how short life is, & I want to spend mine doing things that bring me joy & the emotional fuel to move forward. Please be patient as I get back on my feet & navigate life without someone so central to my… entire existence.

Batman & Barbara winning a 5K race

I’m excited to return with new, upper-level courses & bring you everything I’ve learned, & honor Batman by continuing the work he inspired. While this wasn’t a detour I planned or wanted, there is something good in every heartache if you look hard enough—or work hard enough—to find it.

(Pictured: Barbara overcame major physical hurdles *just* to run alongside Batman, achieving the “impossible;” 1st place 5k finish)

Batman breaking all the rules
Thank you for being part of Batman’s story & mine. I will be releasing many photos & videos later, as I’m only capable of working on it in small chunks. I know many people, including myself, will love seeing his extraordinary journey.
Losing Batman-- The bond between a dog & human is a sacred one, & when a dog is gone, a part of us goes with them.

Batman; Hero to many, & savior of one—Me.

Barbara, CPDT-KA

Batman's Tribute at HSSW

UPDATE: Thanks to many kind donations, Batman has a large brick at HSSW. Thank you all who donated!

“A hero doesn’t just live; they guide, inspire, and leave a legacy in every life, and heart, they touch.”

Barbara, owner at TTK9

February 1, 2026
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