Those of you who have been Followers for some time may recall that Ray does not play very often and, when he does, it only lasts a few seconds. He didn’t seem to know how to play when we first met him, which we surmised was simply a result of him not being allowed to play in his earlier life.
Given that he showed no evidence of any training, and had no social skills whatsoever, there is a possibility that he was taken away from his Mom rather prematurely so he would not have learned too much from her.
At The Dog Rescuers Inc fundraising event this past weekend, he was given a new toy. A squeaky sausage thingy! The video is a compilation of 3 short videos taken over the course of about 5 minutes. Our beloved Ray is learning to play… slowly!
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Wow! Thanks Cattie. Nobody has ever sent me a card before! Woof! Ray.
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Kissy Kissy Kissy Kissy.
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Its such an unimaginable Pleasure to see a Dog playing about. They are so adorable. And Ray is a beautiful Dog. I love the Gray fur.
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Actually, the “grey” that you see is probably my camera and the lighting conditions. Ray’s upper half is black and brown (typical GSD), and his lower legs and underside are a very light beige. Before we had his DNA results, we were looking at his head shape, his ears, and all that very light beige fur and were thinking German Shepherd/Anatolian Shepherd! 🙂
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Oh , But he’s Cute.
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He wasn’t always like he is now. If you have not read his book, then you have no idea what turmoil he caused initially!
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ha ha ha ha
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That is so heartwarming! Hugs and pets for Ray!
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It really is wonderful to watch him “let his guard down” and just play. 🙂
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Ah, the unbridled joy of a squeaky toy!
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Absolutely! Sadly, squirrels also squeak under certain circumstances!
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Yikes!
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He looks so happy! Poor pup! Such a bad start but getting better every day.
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It is nice to see him “coming out of his shell” and just being a happy dog! 🙂
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That’s super! I can sense it must have been a fun game. Do play at it more often, Ray!
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I will try. Woof! Ray
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Way to go, R.! That squeaky sausage thing is a winner. And you are as goofy as the rest of us doggies.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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That’s a great compliment Cupcake. Thank you. I want to be like other dogs! Woof! Ray.
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That’s definitely playing. I find not all toys are viewed as equal by Bailey. She prefers stuffed animals inside and a natural rope toy outside. I have noticed that she is more interest in balls after watching her friend, Cas, play with them. Now, they play keep away with one another. Keep the playing up, Ray!
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🙂
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OH I love this! He looks so carefree, just like he should be! 🙂
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Absolutely! 🙂
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He looks like he is having a lot of fun! It’s sad to hear that “playing” is such a unique thing for him.
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We can only speculate his background of course, but just having fun does not seem to have been a part of it.
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That’s so sad. Every dog, every animal, every human should know how to “play”. After a few years in a safe, loving home you’d hope he would just let loose and play more often like he was in the video.
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Well he was rescued 4 years ago next month, and has been with us for just over 3-1/2 years, so he is getting there. It’s just slow progress. 🙂
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It sounds like you guys are doing such a great job with him! He’s lucky to have you! I’m just so sad for him, for whatever his past was, that he doesn’t play.
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He picked his adoptive pack well, and even the little playing that he does now is much more than he did 2 years ago. I have no doubt that, being the big puppy that he is, he will get more playful as time progresses.
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I hope so! 🙂
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I really don’t think that there is much doubt. He even “plays” when I go out with him around 7:30am. He pees, and then he waits for me to race him back to the house! 🙂
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Oh yes, that is definitely a form of playing! 🙂
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Absolutely.
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That toy makes you act like a little puppy! Hey, it’s the fountain of youth!! You found it!!! *ear licks*
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Hey Noodle buddy! Nice to hear from you again. Woof! Ray.
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WOW, Ray. Playing is the best, isn’t it?
I have a bunch of squeaky toys – some are smallish, some are almost too big for my mouth (it’s kinda’ tiny); all different shapes and sounds. I also have these antler things Mom got when I was teething. I still chew on them sometimes, but mostly I bowl them down the hallway. And BALLS – boy are those really fun (especially when they roll under something I can’t crawl under and Mom has to leave the computer to get them out for me).
Mom likes to play with my toys sometimes – but she is mostly into throwing them. I have to go “get it” and put them back into one of my beds so they are “safe.” I have a big frisbee and a little frisbee too – made ‘specially for dogs so they don’t hurt our teeth. I think Mom got them at some Amazon place in the computer.
We play the frisbee game every day, first thing – and I don’t even have to deal with that darned leash! She sails one into the wind and I get to chase it. If I want her to throw the next one – and I DO – I have to “bring it” and “drop it.” At first I got treats too – but now we just play frisbee and I get treats for little tricks that make her happy — like “sit” – “lie down” – “shake hands” – “sit UP” – “jump” and “high five.” I like that last trick especially because my Cheers bar friends laugh when I do it with them.
It’s hard work keeping watch over the 2-legs, and you know what they say about that: “All work and no play makes Fido a dull dog.” (I’m hoping to meet that Fido some day. I KNOW I could get him to play.)
Woof! Tink
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Thx Tink. I’m just not used to letting go and playing, but I’m working on it! Woof! Ray.
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Ya’ mean “playing on it” – right? The secret is to do it every day, so you don’t get lazy about it.
Have fun! Tink
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Oh magic. So lovely to see. 🙂
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Yes it really was. 🙂
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Bless him!
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I really think that he has “found himself” at last!
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So cute!
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🙂
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Look at all that happy! That’s a real testament to all your hard work!
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It really is so rewarding to watch him simply have fun and goof about!
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Wow, this is really playing! Funny how he seems to “practice” playing. But he seems to enjoy it! So cute seeing this big dog jumping around. He is so lovely!
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It is wonderful to watch him, as I see an 80lbs dog who just found his “puppyhood”! 🙂
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Yes, exactly… so sweet 😊
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🙂
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