Hi Visitor!
My name is Colin Chappell and while originally from Peterborough (UK), I moved to Canada in 1975 and in neither country did I consider a dog for a pet. Dogs were in fact annoying; soiled areas that I traveled on; chased almost anything that moved; smelled a little when dry, and smelled a lot when wet. I was bitten by Sabre, a German Shepherd (Alsatian), who was probably protecting its owner from me. I was about 14 yrs old at that time and was only interested in trains so attacking big people was not a factor … but try explaining that to Sabre.
In a moment of weakness in November 2012, I started talking to our local Humane Society about dog ownership with the view to maybe, just maybe, I might like to adopt one. I was starting to believe that it could be possible to have a really rewarding relationship with a canine. History, and the resulting book “Who Said I was up for Adoption?” tells the rest of the story!
This Blog covers a number of Categories, which are intended to make your life easier should you want to look for Posts with a specific interest. There is a search by Category box on the right side of the screen.
Three of the categories are for each of my three books, and are also noted in the Header area. Those links (in the header) will open to provide a quite detailed overview of the book selected. All three books are available direct from Friesen Press (book cover images in right column will link to them), and in eBook format.
Thank you so much for visiting, and taking the time to look around. Perhaps we’ll see you again eh!
Although we’ve had cats in the past, I also enjoy dogs (as I get to know them in our neighborhood). Pets are simply extra special. Thanks for following Beach Walk Reflections. How did you discover it?
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Hi Frank – I have followed Monika and her therapy dogs’ exploits for a few years now. She just recently promoted you! 🙂
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Thanks for letting me know about Monika … she’s awesome. 🙂 Hope you stop by again.
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🙂
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So I realized today that I don’t think I had ever read your About page! I have only been following you for the past 3 years now, and what a journey it has been. LOL!
I did have to laugh at your reply to a comment that I saw as I was scrolling down. Have you put your glasses in the refrigerator again lately? 🙂 What a great comment for me to find, eh!
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There is a lot of reading on that page (About)! 🙂
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Yes there is and all good. 🙂
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OH and I almost forgot, did your glasses happen to get :”chilled” again? 🙂
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LOL!
I will just file away this tidbit of info. Have to take what I can get you know. 🙂
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🙂
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Oh Colin, what a wonderful blog! I so appreciate your adoption of Ray and love that you wrote a book about it. Thank you for finding me and you’re welcome at my blog anytime.
Many blessings to you (and to Ray!),
Debbie
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Hi Debbie, and thank you so much for dropping by. Please feel free to call again and kick of your shoes; find a comfortable chair … and browse Dog Stories, Just Thinking, Odessa Chronicles and any/all of the other categories. 🙂
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Colin…Hello! Loved reading your stuff here. Don’t know whether this will get to you, not up on too much tech’. This is Peter Read from King’s we in touch long time ago. If you wish do get in touch, if you on facebook you can find me there and, I have a group King’s School Peterborough Year of 1957/58. A few of us there my vintage and yours, we chat and remember, if that’s your thing.
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HI Peter. Will email you.
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Colin, was it your good self that recommended signing up to Scribophile?
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Not guilty! At least I don’t recall it!
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Thanks. Someone I know well across the ‘blogosphere’ recommended this writing forum and said that when you join up to let him know!! (I tell you what! This growing old lark isn’t for cissies! )
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You’re right there. I just found my glasses in the refrigerator! Life is becoming decidedly more challenging
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That was indeed a good one! Keep smiling and share the happiness! 🙂
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Thank you for making my day a happy day !!! 🙂 xx
https://decodinghappyness.com/2017/08/17/the-happyness-project-aug-15th/
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Always pleased to help your day become a little better Himali! Just enjoy all the positive support you get from Blogging, and life outside blogging, and feel saddened by those who deem it necessary to be negative. Have a wonderful day…. and keep smiling! 🙂
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Thank you for your words of wisdom Colin and Ray 🙂 I’m enjoying a sunny Saturday morning here
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Yay……… another day……… another opportunity for smiles!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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My pleasure! I will always try and support wherever possible. Of course I will also offer constructive criticism if it would appear necessary! 🙂
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Hi Colin. I’ve nominated Ray and you for The One Lovely Blog Award. Of course participation is optional but if you are interested you can get more information here on my recent post: https://goldenkali.com/2017/08/08/one-lovely-blog-award/
– Take care,
Mike and Kali
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Thank you Michael. 🙂
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haha! such a great story, our dog adopted us as well! and oh how quickly the adventures began
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Thank you Sarahn and welcome to my blog. Considering that we are supposed to be the higher developed species, it is quite amazing how we are manipulated by our dogs! 🙂
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You’ve found a loyal reader here…the pet lover in me is glued! 🙂 super cool blog!
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Hi Anisha and welcome. Whereas the Blog was started in Oct 2014 to tell stories about Ray, and share learning experiences, you have probably noticed that there are also a few other Categories of Posts, each of which can be selected as desired. I hope that you will feel free to wander around and comment as necessary. You may just like the pics, but then you may feel moved to Comment. Wherever your comfort level is… that’s fine. It is just a pleasure “meeting” you! 🙂
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I’ve briefly gone through the articles and I’m already glued… so be ready for non stop comments and blabber 🙂
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If you are prepared to spend time talking here, then I will find the time to respond back. 🙂
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I enjoyed reading your writings. Thanks for sharing them.
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You’re very welcome Joel. Hope you’ll drop by on a regular basis and Comment. 🙂
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Sure i will. Have a great weekend.
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🙂
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I just purchased your book. Can’t wait to get it! 🙂
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Well thank you so much and, if you enjoy reading all about Ray, please feel free to recommend it to everybody you know who likes dog stories in which the dog does not die at the end! 🙂
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I most definitely will! It won’t arrive for about 4 weeks. I plan to read it and then that will give me a better idea about the book itself, so I can discuss it. 🙂
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Knowing your perspective on animals, I am pretty confident that you will enjoy it! 🙂
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How can I not follow a blog which has stuff related to cute, understanding and lovable dogs. ❤ 🙂
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Welcome to my Blog. I like the way you think! The beauty about this cute, understanding and lovable dog (I was using many different adjectives to describe him 3 years ago!), is that he also has a book available in which, unlike many dog books ….. he is still alive at the end! All profits from the book (“Who Said I was up for Adoption?”) are going to the Humane Society that rescued him, and whose trainers spent 4 months with him in order to give him adoption potential! If you like my style of writing, and the stories about Ray here in this Blog, then please consider treating yourself (and everybody you know who loves dogs!) a copy of his book! Again, welcome!
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Yes sure.
I would love to do it.😍
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🙂
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Hello. You recently contributed a poem to the #PoetsforPeace collaboration. An online magazine liked the spirit of the collaboration, and asked to publish it. We need your permission to include your poem.
To give permission, please email: mzanemcclellan@outlook.com your name, and general location (city/state/country) and the ok. You can also leave it in comments on my blog, or tweet me @InZanesBrain or comment on ForgottenMeadows.com where the collaboration was compiled
https://forgottenmeadows.wordpress.com/2016/07/16/calling-all-poetscreative-minds-to-a-grand-collaboration-poets-for-peace
Thank you. Peace,
Michael
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Done. Thx Michael
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Got it. Thank you, Colin
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Nice blog!
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Thank you. 🙂
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Colin, I read your book (wonderful!) and want to put a shout out on my blog with your permission. I’d like to use the cover shot of Ray (or any other picture). Let me know if that’s ok.
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Hi Kate – I am so glad that you enjoyed it, and you have without doubt learned so much more about me and my buddy Ray! Any book promoting on your part would really be appreciated and feel free to use the book cover shot. If you need anything else (original pics, other pics etc.), just ask. Many thanks. Colin.
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If I need more, I’ll let you know.
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Hi
I have nominated you for an award you can find the details here
https://itsgoodtobecrazysometimes.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/the-liebster-award-2/
If you don’t do awards please just accept it as a shout out 🙂
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Hi Colin! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award. No pressure to do anything…but I just wanted you to know that I really appreciate you [and Ray] and I enjoy reading your blog. 🙂 Here’s the link if you want to find out more:
http://phoebemd.com/2016/01/20/the-birth-of-puppydoc/
With hugs,
phoebe
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What a lovely thought. Thx so much Phoebe. 🙂
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I have concluded that it is Ray’s face on your blog header? Super cute. He looks very huggable!
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Hi Terre – You have concluded correctly re the blog header and, yes, he is super cute and very huggable with us, but has not always been like that!
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I loved how you described your process of adopting Ray or say how Ray adopted you! I am blessed to have ALex with me in that matter, I still remember how she used to sleep in my lap as a month old pup! hehe.. Beautiful blog
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Hi Hemangini. Welcome to our Blog. Ray still tries to curl up on our laps, but he is quite big and weighs 75lbs so is a bit of a challenge! 🙂
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yep! Bigger they get the difficult it gets! Mine is 7 years old and still tries to sit in my lap every now and then! Nothing works on her, not even scolding!
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So happy to come across your blog.. I love dogs..!! Looking forward to reading your stories with Ray 🙂
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Hi “smilingnotes” (in the absence of a name). Welcome to our blog. We seem to have attracted a very interesting and friendly group of Followers (they play so well together) so I imagine that you will fit right in! 🙂
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Thank you!! And btw you can call me Shamira 😊
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Thx Shamira. That’s much nicer! 🙂
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Hi, I just nominated you for an award! Thanks for your wonderful blog! https://peacefrompanic.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/sunshine-blog-award/
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Thx Jenny. So glad that you are enjoying our blog. 🙂
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Thanks for commenting on my post. I’m excited to read your blog! I love dogs, and we have a very energetic, lovable, cuddly, lab. I look forward to getting to know you and Ray 🙂
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Hi Jenny and welcome. Since this blog started in Oct 2014, it has attracted a really wonderful group of Followers and, as you will notice from various comments, it’s often like chatting with distant family! Our family always welcomes new members so again, welcome.
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Thanks! I feel very welcome 🙂 I love that about blogging, getting to know other bloggers. Thank you for following my blog!
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There certainly are similarities although I am not sure that Ray would be quite as devoted as Hachiko. If you have not already done so, you may be interested in the Post “Hachiko Syndrome” – March 12, 2015 🙂
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Hi Colin and Ray! (or Hello whichever you prefer 😉 ) First, I’d like to say thanks for the Follow and while I was repaying by a visit here, I was intrigued to at the very least follow your Dog Stories. I am and always have been – a dogperson, which has resulted in many different dogs throughout my life, In 2014 I sadly lost both of my 2 senior dogs to old age, but just a week ago we (me and hubby) rescued a German Shepherd from SPCA Sweden. We are still getting to know each other but we already love him! He is estimated to be 2 years of age and rather smallgrown due to lack of food, but he’s been given a clean bill of health by the vet, so I’m convinced he’ll thrive in time. Looking forward to getting to know you and Ray! Greetings, Carina from Sweden
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Hi Carina – Welcome to our little part of a seemingly small world! I am so pleased that you decided to offer an SPCA resident your home, and a 2 yr old Shepherd at that ………… memories of our Ray who was estimated at 2yrs old when picked up by our local Humane Society. I hope you get as much pleasure out of reading our Posts, as we get out of writing them. Please feel free to comment, or simply join in some of the chit-chat as you feel so inclined. I have a core of very friendly and “sharing” Followers from around the world, many of whom are like good friends now. We always, however, have room for new friends……….. and everybody plays really well together!!!! 🙂
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Thank you! I feel welcome already!
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I adore dogs, but I’m a cat person at heart. Very nice to meet you! Thank you so much for following my blog. 🙂
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Hi Jennifer – You’re very welcome. I hope you enjoyed your visit here and, as you now know, my background with pets is cats and rabbits!
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Correction! You probably would not know, but Ray was/is my first dog! My past includes 5 cats at various times and 3 rabbits. My highlight (?) was having 2 cats and a rabbit running around our home together!
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That sounds delightful! I have two cats who are sisters. When they pass on (hate the thought, and if I don’t pass on before them!), I think I’m going to get a dog then, and a kitten as well so they can grow up together.
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If you get a chance, please see Post “Cats and Dog” – November 30, 2014. It will give you a “heads up” on what to expect! 🙂
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“While I was planning on possibly adopting a dog, Ray was planning on adopting me. His strategy was clearly better than mine because he moved in with us in March 2013”.
I loved this line Colin… Indeed, Ray has adopted your lovely family 🙂
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He certainly did. He made the first “move” towards developing a relationship with me. (ref. “Big Brown Eyes” – Jan 27, 2015.
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I just read that… I love Ray for that lovely gesture 😇
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As do I. During my history of 5 cats and 3 rabbits, not one of them made such a demonstrative gesture.
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Rabbits ! Makes me go wow !! 🙂
I think Ray is really SPECIAL 😇
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Hello to you and Ray…!
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Well hello to you as well! WordPress just advised that you are our latest Follower so thank you very much (Woof! from Ray!). I hope you get as much pleasure out of reading our “stuff”, as we get out of writing it. Actually I (Colin) do the writing while he (Ray) comes up with the ideas! 🙂
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I very much look forward to know more about you as well as Ray…and yes, you do the writing..I got the hang of it..:) ..I am Roopam by the way..
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Hello. Good to meet you both. And you both have a new follower. 🐩🐕
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Welcome to our Blog Chris. You presumably realize that I (Colin) am doing all the writing while “him” (Ray) just keeps me going with dog stuff to write about. His keyboarding skills are pathetic (and that is being lenient). I hope you get as much pleasure out of reading our literary efforts, as we get out of creating them. 🙂
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Well, teach him to touch type. There’s nothing like a bit of paws-on experience.
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Touch type (you’re dating yourself with that terminology!) is not practical. I’ve seen the size of his feet ……. and the size of my keyboard! 🙂
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Ah yes … didn’t think that one through. All the best.
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I LOVE the idea of your blog!! I am such a dog person and can’t wait to dig in to some of the stories you posted.
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Welcome …………. and feel free to dig around as much as you want. If you wish to comment on anything……….. bonus! 🙂
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Since you have become such a loyal friend I am happy to pass this award on to you: https://erikakind.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/dragons-loyalty-award/
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Thx Erika. Given all the possible Bloggers that you could have selected, we (me …and Ray by default) are flattered. Thx so much. 🙂
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I am, Colin and Ray, that you are constantly reading, commenting and liking my posts. Thank you so much!
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My Rocky was a Rottie/Shepherd mix and was a rescue. He was the sweetest, silliest, lovable oaf I ever met. In a sort of cosmic joke, I’ve switched gears and have gone from a giant goofball of a dog to a Westie. (shaking head) LOL He’s a good boy though.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and wish you and Ray many, many years of happiness!
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Yes it certainly is an interesting mix! So glad you are enjoy our Posts but I hope you realize that I am doing all the writing. Ray is a klutz with big feet and is therefore useless on a keyboard however, he certainly keeps me going with ideas for future Posts! 🙂
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Haha! 🙂 I understand.
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Lovely page about you, but where can I see a photograph of you? What about you and Ray both wearing the same hat? With all the lack of privacy, I’m going to start only sharing portraits of myself in dark glasses or wide brimmed hats.
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Given that we only have one Tilley hat between us, we both can’t wear it! The reason that I am not prominent in the pics is simply because this Blog has Ray as its reason for its existence so I suddenly become an “extra”! Hoping you are enjoying our stories enough to stay with us in which case I will sneak into the odd pic! Be assured it has nothing to with privacy, keeping a low profile, or similar reasons! 🙂
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Thanks for your speedy reply and the reasons why your blog about Colin and Ray features photographs of just Ray. I love Ray, so glad you share him with your readers.
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Ray has developed into a real “sweetheart” of a dog. He’s not perfect, but then neither am I, but I still had to share his story particularly as his history was assessed (background unknown) as very troubled.
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We too adopted a “challenging dog” with a troubled past. Sydney dubbed A.K.A. Sid Vicious by shelter staff & volunteers got labelled for “experienced dog adopters only.” At the age of one, he regularly bit and chewed the hand that fed him. His paperwork recorded having bit Vets and groomers. Plus he’d never been house trained. Of all the five adopted dogs I raised, Sydney came with the worst problems and habits. Yes, he bit us and groomers too. I muzzle, crate and house trained,etc. He’s one fun Snoopy happy dancer with a poodle brain!
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Awwww bless your heart for taking in a dog from a shelter! Funny how they can change your life, huh? 🙂 Thank you for the follow and I look forward to reading your posts!
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Yup! Life-changing is a good way of describing it! An education is also another good expression to use, not only in the areas of understanding him, but also in the experience of being groomed by him. Being groomed with the teeth of a Shepherd/Rotti is quite the experience! 🙂
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Definitely a blog after my own heart–and an owner with very much the same mindset to boot. I’ve owned a bucketload of animals in my life, some as pets and many as decorative lawn ornaments that required attention twice a day. But the hound I share oxygen with currently is the best animal I have ever met. I would give this guy a kidney. I adore him.
I will look forward to reading your adventures with Ray. He must be a pretty special fellow to have turned your heart around as he did. I wish him a long and healthy life.
Cheers
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I’m off to read “big brown eyes” now. I know I did read this page and usually comment when I follow someone. .. Anyway! Love your stories about Ray. He is so handsome.
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Handsome? Have to agree with you! It’s interesting to see how a Shepherd/Rottweiler mix can turn out 🙂
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Heheh. I’m adding to your nomination list as well. I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Keep those posts coming!
http://thetemporarydog.com/2015/01/19/versatile-blogger-award-nomination/
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Hi, Ray! Hi, Colin! Guess what? I just nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Check out my nomination for more information: http://noodle4president.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/a-blog-nomination/
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Aloha and thanks for visiting our silly dog blog. We enjoyed reading Ray’s latest stories and will catch up on his older ones.
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