Mom Sez “Rhys is Not a Chew Toy”

Three legged Shepherd Wyatt Ray learns not to chew on small dogs like Rhys.

Oh little Rhys, look, I promise, I won’t hurt you. You’re just so furry and fluffy, you remind me of my stuffies! I just want to use you as a chew toy!

Oh, don’t get offended, come on, don’t hide behind your Mom. Trust me, it’s nothing pawsonal.

I do it to all of the small dogs in the park, you know, the ones who are lovers and not fighters, the ones who don’t want to wrestle and bite me on the neck?

Your Mom is pretty cool for bringing you around, not once, but twice! I’m glad she’s not afraid of my extroverted pawsonality. So are my pawrents.

Rhys, did you notice I don’t try to chew on your big brother Dillon like I do to you? I never got to meet Spirit Peyton, but something tells me he and I would’ve gotten along great.

Little Puppy Lesson for the Day: Here’s a tip for you kiddo; stand tall like Dillon, and bruisers like me will leave you alone!

Uh oh. Mom says I have no bidness teaching you how to be a dog, when I can’t even control myself. I better shut up now, or she’s never going to let me go to the dog park or play with you again!

Later dude.

My Independence Day

Three legged German Shepherd dog Wyatt celebrates one year anniversary of his leg amptuation.

July 2nd, 2009. One year ago today, I broke free from the shackles of my oppressor. It cost me my leg, but the good people at the German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California made sure that I found the right pack to help me transition to the Tripawd lifestyle.

Like any self-respecting dawg would, I never looked back at my old life. Once I joined the Tripawds pack, I got swept up into foster care, and when my new parents took me in, I couldn’t believe my good luck.

No more being tied to a rope all day, no more concrete back yard in the ghetto. I busted out of hell and now, one year later, I know I’m in heaven.

In one year, I’ve learned to walk, run and create a ruckus on three legs. I’ve gotten to see a lot of cool places, and now here I am, living at Jerry’s Acres in Colorado.

Tonight as I stretch out on the comfy rug next to Dad, I really am pretty thankful. Sometimes I don’t show it, but now that I’m older (17 months tomorrow!),  I let Mom hug me and squeeze me and smush my face with her kisses. I didn’t used to let her do that, you know. I didn’t want any creepy humans to touch me, I wasn’t sure if they would tie me to a rope or what. 

But now, I think this good life is making me soft. And the Belt Buckle is teaching me that a strong pack is a good pack.

Mom said something about a big piece of beef waiting for me in the freezer for my ampuversary dinner. Yum! Gotta run!

Hoppy Ampuversary to Meeeeeeeee! 

Oh, if you’re wondering what kind of present to get me for my ampuversary, all I want is for more pups to find pawesome furever homes like I did. We dogs have a lot to teach you crazy humans, so get out there and help us find homes, will ya?

Who’s a Water Dawg?

How not to teach a three legged German Shepherd dog how to swim.

If I was meant to swim in water, I would’ve been born with webbed feet, or at least with a Float Coat strapped around me.

But for some reason, my pawrents think that I’ll have a good time if I get my fur soaking wet in ice cold water.

I tried to tell them when we were camped next to a river in Texas, but they wouldn’t buy it. “The water is so warm Wyatt, get in!” The begged me but I wouldn’t do it.

Then, last week we went to a dog park in Fort Collins that has a swimming pond.

There were a lot of crazy dogs there who loved getting in the water. Beats me why they thought it was so fun. But everyone there thought I should get in too.

The humans kept begging me to go in.

Then you know what they did? They took my tennis ball, and threw it in the water. “Go git it, Wyatt!” they yelled. I thought that was pretty mean. There I was, having a good time chasing small dogs with a tennis ball in my mouth, when all of a sudden it was grabbed away from me and I was expected to swim.

Ok, so I got in up to my elbows. And then I got out. My new buddy got mad, and yelled at me to get back in, but no tennis ball was worth it to me.

 Yeah right. I am a Shepherd after all! I was born to patrol water, not get into it and end up looking like that!

Sheriff Wyatt’s in Town

Three legged Wyatt travels the Southwest on his road trip adventures.

Talk about a find, look what I dug up in the desert~ Can you believe someone left this behind? Mmmmm, tasty. Way better than a road flare.

We walked around the desert a lot this winter in the southwest. I learned a few things, like, don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong.  

I wore my Ruff Wear boots all over the place, and I was glad I did. Shoes aren’t my favorite thing but sharp stuff stuck in my paws is even worse.

Since then, I’ve been to Arizona, New Mexico and now we’re in Texas, where we almost got washed away in a river.

I’m getting better at meeting new people and going new places. But I’ve got a long way to go. Sometimes things just hurt my brain when they don’t make sense. Which happens a lot when you move from town to town. So I just have to ask people why they’re doing what they’re doing.

My new nickname is “The Sheriff.”

” Though the miles lay long behind you
You have still got miles to go
How’s love ever gonna find you
If it ain’t here it’s down the road”

– Steve Earle, Down The Road

Slave to the Man

Three legged German Shepherd dog Wyatt Ray works hard as Tripawds ambassador.

When Codie Rae told me I was going to a new home, she did not tell me that it was under the condition that I work off my room and board. I think she was trying to get rid of me because she knew that Mister Perfect Travis Ray was coming for a permanent visit.

Since I’ve been a part of this crazy pack, I’ve made videos, worked in the blazing hot sun as an ambassador, gone on hospital tours and now, I’ve been subjected to starvation for the sake of another hinky Tripawds contest.

The other day my pawrents put my food bowl in front of me. Thinking that perhaps there was something edible inside of it, I jumped in and took a big bite of  . . . paper! They said I was picking a winner or something.

Geez. How low can they go?

Then again, I guess it ain’t all bad. We’ve left California and are now in another desert, in Arizona. I’ve never been to Arizona, so I guess there’s one perk of this Tripawds Ambassador job.

Hmmmm….I guess it ain’t so bad after all.