Since she has been hogging the keyboard so much lately, I thought it was about time I got in on the act and had a friend over. Honestly… tap, tap, tap… ‘not now, girlie’ and ‘how did you manage to get the ball there‘ is about all I’m hearing at present. Apart from the odd rustle of cheese wrappers…
So, I thought I’d introduce you to my pal, Ray. Well, okay, strictly speaking, we haven’t met… but have you seen his pictures??? And he has a story to tell about how he trained his new two-legs. Ray is another rescue dog… so we already have something in common… but instead of saving his royalties for an automatic tennis ball launcher, his book… well, the two-legs has his name on the cover, just like she has on my books… the royalties will all go to help other rescue dogs. So, why don’t you read on while I go look at the pictures again…
Much love, Ani xxx
Hi! My name is Ray and, while I don’t get much time on the keyboard (I have big feet), my Dad has suggested that I write up a guest Post for Sue here!
So…. about me! I was rescued from a life as a stray and named after Ray Charles. The Humane Society that rescued me worked on me for four months, and then decided that I would then be suitable for a forever home. Eventually, I met Colin (my Dad) and, while he seemed very cautious about me, I sensed that he was somebody that I would like to live with. I eventually made my feelings quite clear with a decisive nose touch… but he had no idea what it meant! I think the staff there explained it to him because he was much friendlier after that and the rest is history. I found out later that he had been bitten by a German Shepherd many years earlier which, with me being a German Shepherd mix, could explain his initial reaction to me!
It took me a long time to train him to live happily with me because he has a bit of a stubborn side (as do I), but it just takes perseverance and patience. He is still a bit of a “work in progress”, and probably always will be but, as he has often said to other people “I’ll expect perfection from you as soon as I can set the example. You’re quite safe for the immediate future!
What is really cool is that Colin loves me so much now (and I do him), that he has written a book about his first eighteen months of living with me! It was what he calls “an emotional roller coaster ride”. I really don’t know what that means, but humans seem to understand it!
I have also been in our local newspapers promoting heart-worm prevention and for fund raising for our Humane Society. I have lived with Colin since March 2013, and it has been a really interesting time!
Perhaps I should tell you about Colin? Well, he was born in England and moved to Canada when he was about 30 (a long time ago!). He had experience of two rabbits and numerous cats as pets, but had never had a dog! Then he met Carol, who had a history of living with dogs, and things started to change!
When he started contemplating the idea of perhaps adopting a dog from our Humane Society, he did not say anything to Carol just in case it didn’t work out. He was visiting the Humane Society on a regular basis to look at various dogs and talk to the staff there (as he really didn’t have a clue!) but then, one day, it all came out into the open! Carol had wanted to go there to make a donation to them and, as Colin was apparently now on first name terms with a number of the staff, he decided he should say something before anybody called him by his name!
Now I have to find a couple of pics for Sue to consider adding, and I almost forgot… links below are to his Blog which is mainly about me, and his (my) book at amazon with reviews!
Find and Follow Ray and his two-legs Colin
WordPress blog: A Dog’s Life?
About the author’s two-legs, Colin Chappell
Having been bitten by a German Shepherd when 14, I was indifferent to dogs until 2012. I had met a number of friendly dogs by then, and decided that perhaps there was room in my life for one! While I was looking to adopt a large, even temperament, self assured, sociable and huggy kind of dog… Ray was looking to adopt me.
His plan was clearly more successful than mine because he moved in during March 2013.
He was not socialized; had no house training; was afraid of anything that moved; lunged and barked without warning and did not like to be touched. He did, however, meet my criteria in size! At 75 lbs, he was most certainly a large dog!
Ray was my first dog!
Who Said I Was Up For Adoption?
Colin Chappell
Is there any expression of FRIENDSHIP as endearing as a dog voluntarily touching its nose to yours? When Colin Chappell contemplated the idea of adopting a dog, he did so warily, for he had seldom spent time with dogs and one of his primary canine experiences came when he was bitten by a German Shepherd at age fourteen. He certainly was unprepared for the complexities of caring for the seventy-five pounds of rescued, furry attitude he encountered in Ray. But perhaps what he was even more unprepared for were the emotions he would feel once Ray invited him to be his friend. Who Said I Was Up For Adoption? tells the evolving story of this adoption (though it remains unclear just who did the adopting). Funny, heartwarming, and emotional, Colin and Ray’s story is really two stories, for part of learning to let an adopted dog into one’s life is learning to see from a perspective other than your own. True to that knowledge the book is narrated from parallel, alternating viewpoints-Colin’s and … Ray’s! All net profits from sales of Who Said I Was Up For Adoption? will be donated to the Oakville and Milton Humane Society, a remarkable organization that rescues and rehabilitates dogs (and many other creatures) and matches them with suitable, loving humans.
“It’s a must read for any dog person especially if you’ve rescued one. Even if you don’t have a dog (I don’t), it will tug at your heart strings.” Extract of Amazon review by .
Amazon.com Amazon UK Friesen Press
Reblogged this on ENLIGHTENMENT ANGELS.
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Thanks Sue for sharing your Blog to promote mt beloved Ray and his book (the book was much easier to work with than Ray!). 🙂
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It was a pleasure to have you both over, Colin 🙂
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Hi great to meet you Ray and your two humans! I am Ruby I live with willow and her husband ( my hero). I am a friend of Ani and a retired guide dog. I am impressed by your training of Colin it sounds like you are doing a good job! Nice to read about you. Here is a a post willow wrote about me when I ate a mince pie at Christmas (who would think anything so yummy could be deadly?!) Keep well. 😋xx Ruby. Ps willow enjoyed this post greatly too. xx
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Hi Ruby – We have Dog Guides Canada training place just around the corner, and I walk with all those guide dogs once a year as a fund raiser for them! Guide dogs are so cool to walk with when (like me) you are suspicious of anything that moves, because they are so secure and behave so well. They really helped me develop some social skills.Did you forget your link to Willow’s Post? Woof! Ray.
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Silly me Ruby’s Good News – http://wp.me/p1EXFu-5mh
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Thanks Ruby. Woof! Ray.
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Will be in touch soon willow is cooking right now
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🐶
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This is such a nice post. Always great to read about happy families of four legs and two legs.
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Thanks Robbie. He certainly changed the dynamics of this family, but I wouldn’t change anything! 🙂
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I’ve had several great canine friends who were rescued by SPCA. My dearest friend Rudy also needed four months to recuperate before he came home with me. It’s great to read about you two finding each other. 🙂
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Hi Lynette. Having a Shepherd/Rotti nose pushed into mine was the deciding factor. That’s how we “found” each other! 🙂
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❤️
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If that was for me… Thank you! If it was for Ray… Woof!
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For both you and Ray, Colin. I’ll take a woof and a thank you!
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🙂
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Love this guest post, and I was already a Ray fan. Well done !!
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Great guest post! Hi Colin and Ray!
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Hey Ritu… we get to meet on somebody else’s Blog. Cool! 🙂
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I loved your guest post ❤
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Thank you so much Ritu. Your support is always appreciated. 🙂
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😚
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Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
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🙂 xx
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Thanks for the re-blog. 🙂 (and Woof! from Ray).
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I love your blogs, Ani! Hugz! @v@ ❤
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Tell her that, Viv…she won’t let me at the keyboard lately 😉 Hugs ❤ xxx
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Check out this guest post by Ray the dog on behalf of his human, Colin Chappell from Sue Vincent’s blog.
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Thanks Don for the re-blog. Ray and I appreciate the additional publicity! 🙂
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My pleasure.
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Hi Ray, I’m Ani’s friend Dante. I’m a german shepherd mix too. My Dad was a collie and Mum was a german shepherd. It’s great to hear about you and want to talk more about your forever home. Much paw love Dante.
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Hi Dante – I have to smile at humans when they see me! Their first reaction is “What a gorgeous dog. German Shepherd right? But what else is in him?” When they are told Rottweiler, they sometimes smack their heads as in “Duh!” Humans can be very odd at times eh! Woof! Ray.
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I find them odd indeed. They always say german shepherd for me and sometimes they cross to the other side of the road even when I;m on lead. I gets confused with them. much woofing joy barks, Dante.
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Reblogged this on BOOK CHAT and commented:
If you love dogs the way I love dogs, this just might be the book for you (I’m adding it to my TBR). Check out this guest post over on Sue Vincent’s blog.
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Thanks for the re-blog. The book includes much training information in the context of working with a dog with trauma in its past. (Ray was both a challenge… and an education!)
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Truly my pleasure.
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Great story! Ray is gorgeous ❤
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Hi Cathy: It is a good story, and Ray is lovely… but he is the only one that gets any attention!!!
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You’re lovely too, Colin 😉
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Awwwwwww…. thanks Cathy! I won’t tell Ray. 🙂
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What a wonderful post.
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Hi Jacqui; It was lovely of Sue to offer me some space on her Blog, and it has been great meeting you and many of her other Followers! 🙂
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Hey Ray – it’s Tink. Mom and I missed this earlier, but Mom saw one of those Related links somewhere and called me over to say hi. She hasn’t read your book yet, but she told me to tell you that it is on some list with initials – TBR I think.
GREAT to see you getting around – thanks to Sue and Ani for letting you tell your story here.
Woof! TINK
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Hi Tink! Yup… I am getting around. Quite a few people tell me that I am the most well behaved dog they have seen (they actually say “What a good boy.”, but that means the same ‘cos I then get treats. Right? Woof! Ray
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Treats – did you say treats? Mom’s started giving me treats when other dogs come around now.
Except for when I bark at dogs (and the noisy kids next door who come over to play catch in MY front yard just on the other side of my porch and call my name), everybody always says I am very well-behaved too — but I don’t get treats when they say that — what’s up with THAT?!
Woof! Tink
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Hi Tink – I bark at people who come onto my turf as well! I didn’t invite them – I don’t know them – It’s my job to protect the pack right? I bet you understand! Woof! Ray.
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YES! Now I just have to get Mom to understand.
Woof! Tink
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Thank you for sharing this blog Ani. I’m going straight over to follow Ray and Colin now. I’m right with you about the balls. My life revolves around them too. I have done some extensive research on those automatic launches and unless you go for the v. v. v expensive ones it looks like they are a waste of money. I’ve trained my person as my automatic ball launcher and she’s not bad, with the help of one of those long hand held throwers. I’ve got a big park where we play and you should see me go. Good luck with your book, whatever you spend your pennies on. Love Ben xx
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I’m after one of those really good ones… ’cause I can already bring my balls back and put them in a bicket, so it would keep me happy while she writes and when she goes all groany and stiff 😉 xx
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🙂
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A DIY job, great thinking. And groany and stiff, tell me about it… xx
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😉 xx
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