Ralf

by Anne Crawford

Ralf the Giant Schnauzer was once a small puppy with a big barking problem. He was facing an uncertain future until Caroline Lovick and her loving family came along. They rescued Ralf from Tasmania and welcomed him into their family home in Melbourne. Ralf was the recipient of daily cuddles from Caroline's four children, who would spend hours playing with him. He became an important part of their daily walk to school and a celebrity at the school gates where children would stop and pat the friendly visitor. One day Caroline and her family took Ralf to compete at the Royal Melbourne Show. It was here that his potential as a therapy dog was first spotted. Shortly afterwards, Ralf began working at Trinity Manor nursing home, followed by The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, where he became an instant hit with children and their families. Soon Ralf was a permanent fixture, earning fans far and wide. Ralf's story is by turns heart-warming and inspiring, and is full of the amusing antics of this endearing animal. It is a true tale of how the love of a human owner can change a dog's life and how the love of a dog can bring hope to those who need it most.

Genres: Nonfiction

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2015

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads first reads. Having come across the troubles of getting the dogs into the hospital was a drama in itself. It is such a great read. Love every bit of it. Bit sad that one of the dogs had been mistreated and had to be destroyed, it was heart wrenching. Not my usual type of book but I would recommend it to anyone.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww who doesn’t love a feel good book about children and dogs. This has been on my TBR shelf for years and I’m so glad now to have finally read it. Based on a true story about Ralf the giant schnauzer who became not only a show dog but a therapy dog on the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Just shows the value of having animals in your life - oh and he still finished up down the pecking order with two cats in the house on the top of the order! Light hearted and heartwarming 😀

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear that I read every single one of the new animal books that end up with a more mainstream printing. Just a casual look in the books at Big W- yep, I'm buying this!

This story was awesome! Of course through my many wanderings of animal memoir and literature I've come across therapy dogs before, but every single one of them is special and makes such a difference that I have no qualms reading about it again. Ralf bringing joy to people will never get old, nor should it.

I liked the writing in this book, and the author knew how to tell enough information to keep the reader's interest while still building up the story. I was glad to see Ralf as just a pet also, because even working dogs need to chill and be one of the family too.

A great book for animal lovers, and I highly recommend buying/borrowing it and reading it!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super adorable book! As a dog lover I loved this! Lots of stories that'll make you giggle, a few that made me tear up and a whole lot that just make you purely happy.
Ralf is a wonderfully charismatic dog, and these stories are proof that some animals can be more human than humans...

[Laura Bish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about my gorgeous stepson Zeke and his journey with Ralf.
Anne has done an amazing job bringing RALF's story to life in this incredible book!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet book about a giant schnauzer therapy dog and his family.

[Catsalive · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book & a brilliant dog, or should that be the other way around, with the emphasis on lovely dog. Ralf sounds absolutely brilliant, or sounded, he's probably gone by now, the beautiful boy.

This book is very easy-reading & is full of interesting stuff about how Ralf got to where he was as a Therapist in the Melbourne Children's Hospital. Delightful!

I'll never understand why it took the 'experts' so long to realise that pet therapy is vital to some people & good for most. My parents wouldn't move into assisted-living because they couldn't take their pet with them. How ridiculous to be forcing elderly people to give up what to many is their raison d'etre. Pah!

I did have to suppress a growl of my own over dogs being killed if they didn't didn't meet showing standards. Grrr! I hate bloody people!

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My standard Schnauzer, Franki, is a therapy dog in the oncology unit at our local hospital. I related to this story and it made me feel very emotional. Nothing makes me happier than to see how many therapy dogs are found in the hospitals in Melbourne today. The joy that it brings to patients and staff alike is so wonderful. Watching my little Schnauzer work leaves me in awe every time she goes to work. Well done Ralf. You are a legend.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a massive schnauzer fan, and someone who works in a Hospital, this is a great story! I found it very informative about the history of giant schnauzers in Australia as well as the growth of therapy dogs in hospitals.

[Melanie Hawkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! Great story. I want a dog like Ralf now!

[Tomiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tearly

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about a Giant Schnauzer pup becoming a wonderful therapy dog. I have a 6 month old Giant Schnauzer
pup that I hope will become a therapy dog and be as good as Ralf.

[Joy Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 just because it wasn't til the 2nd half that it got really interesting for me when he started visiting the hospital. Ralf and his mum are equally beautiful

[Mohamed Zaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-touching and inspiring book ever.....

[Teao · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story of an amazing therapy dog who helped countless children in hospital.

[Helen Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book could have been condensed into 1 chapter, then maybe we wouldnt be told breeders put pups down if they have a conformation fault (I know lots of breeders and they certainly don't, the put their heart and soul into each pup and find them loving homes where they won't be bred from). IMO the training part of the book was antiquated so didn't add any value. The 2nd half of the book where Ralph was at work was where the story should probably have started. You don't find out until the end royalties go to Royal Children's a Hospital and to Lort Smith so for that reason I would say purchase the book, and if you know anything about the dog world skip the show and training chapters and you will enjoy it - I took away a star rating for each of those chapters

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it a bit hard to rate this book. I loved reading about Ralf and the chapters about him doing his therapy work made me really emotional. The reason I couldn't give it more stars is because there were chapters in the book that I felt really didn't need to be there. I wanted to read about Ralf, which was the reason I borrowed the book, but the author kind of lost me in the unnecessary chapters, one being about the dog trainer's life for example.

Having said that, Ralf sounds like the most gorgeous dog, and the Lovick's sound like a truly amazing family. I would sincerely love to meet them all.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book twelve months after my Oscar ( gaint schnauzer) died; recommended by a man who walked his dog at the same park. I cried and laughed my way through this book. What stood out for me was the uncanny similarities in Ralf that Oscar had too. His way of tapping his head on my thigh or hand twice as if to say 'I'm here'. His incredible perception of those around him and his protective devotion. Lastly, and what leaves a smile for me, his way of 'looking into your soul' it is wonderful to think a spirit can so freely lift the hearts of others in the way Ralf did. I identify with this so keenly having been blessed with Oscar's beautiful soul in my life.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book straight through in one day. Loved it! Ralf is a Giant Schnauzer, which I had not heard of before, with a wonderful personality and a great gift for loving sick people especially children. His owner is also a beautifully compassionate woman, and together, they make life much easier for many others. A lovely book, which I highly recommend.

[Kirstie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is gorgeous and Ralf is a legend, but structurally this book could have been better.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book full of lovely stories. It's great inspiration for people who have the perfect pet for this kind of work.

[Alison Copley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written but makes you love your dog!

[Anna Ciddor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable story about a therapy dog