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The Dog Who Took Me Up a Mountain: How Emme the Australian Terrier Changed My Life When I Needed It Most

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The uplifting story of two unlikely a man in late middle age and a fearless pint-sized pup who, together, scale Colorado's highest peaks.

By the time life had finished hitting Rick Crandall from all sides, he was at the lowest point of his life, both personally and professionally. Depressed to find himself facing a mid-late-life age crisis and watching his finances crumble as the tech industry bubble burst, he hopes his future isn't headed downhill. It was at this critical juncture in their new marriage that his wife Pamela made an astute and life-changing "Let's get a dog."

So begins the story of Emme, a 200-pound Saint Bernard trapped in the body of 5-pound Australian terrier puppy. Soon, Emme and Rick hit the hiking trails around Aspen, Colorado. While she is groomed to be a show dog, it's soon obvious that her heart is in the hills and with Rick, who decides to add more challenging hikes to the mix. Before long, they are scaling Colorado's "fourteeners," peaks with altitudes of over 14,000 feet. On one magical day, Emme climbs to the top of four "fourteeners," a quarter of the sixteen such peaks she will complete during her life without once being carried on a trail or on the rocks on the way to a summit.

In mountaineering Rick realizes he has found—in his late sixties—his life's new passion. This is where Emme has led him—out of the abyss and to the top of the mountain. She was never really walking she was nudging him along until he found his stride. Even after Rick understood the glory of climbing, it was Emme still doing the leading, until Rick learned how to lead himself.

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2019

24 people are currently reading
86 people want to read

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Rick Crandall

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Max.
939 reviews42 followers
February 15, 2020
Such a heartwarming book. You get exactly what you expect in this one - and that isn't a bad thing. It's a well written memoir. There was even a part that had me chuckling out loud (about Starbucks). It's amazing how a little dog can be so adventurous!

What I loved most were all the photos! There are quite a lot and they're all very nice and really complement the story. Plus, I just love me some cute dog pictures.
I wont spoil anything about the end. It gave me some strong feelings.

Thank you HCI Books, Health Communications Inc and NetGalley for an ARC in trade for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Clare O'Beara.
Author 25 books371 followers
October 7, 2019
Great tale about an author needing help through the recession and the tiny dog with a big heart who helped him. Together they climbed several mountains over fourteen thousand feet in Colorado, while at home, the terrier's pups were showing champions like their mum in her early life.

If you like dogs, the outdoors, an inspiration to get up and do something positive, or just armchair travel, this book will be a source of delight.

I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. The pictures didn't work for me but I am sure they will in the final version. This is an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Kelly.
780 reviews38 followers
December 4, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a heartwarming story of the relationship between a man and his beloved dog. I very much enjoyed the latter part of this book that focused on the hiking as Emme and I aren't real interested in the primping if dog shows that was the focus of the first part.
As a dog lover and fan of mountain hiking, I enjoyed this book
Profile Image for Shannon Rochester.
756 reviews42 followers
June 6, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will pretty much request most books that are about the attachment of people and their animals. I have read more books than I can count about the subject and it never gets old to me. I do have to admit that the first part of the book did not do as much for me as the second part. There are so many dogs that die in shelters everyday that I do have a problem with breeders sometimes...on the other hand, I also realize that there are many dogs that probably can only be gotten through a breeder. I personally have never even heard of this breed. The dog shows and the primping didn't do much for me either and I was honestly starting to wonder why they even gave this book the title they did if it was going to be about dog shows. Fortunately they did finally start hiking and we got to know Emme a little bit better as to who she actually is. She didn't seem to like dog shows anymore than I do. :) This dog was born to be outdoors and to be on the move. As I was actually born in Colorado, I have that connection with the book but I also never even tried even of the big mountains myself and moved away before I ever could. Emme AND her Dad are an inspiration in my mind. I am younger than the author so how can I ever use the words "I'm too old to do that?" He did it even when it might not be a good idea to do so.

What I did NOT like at all was that since this book was a digital arc, I did not get any of the pictures that the book seemed to be full of. Frankly, I feel a little bit ripped off. :) I was trying to look up pictures of what the author was talking about but I guess I will need to get it at the library when it comes out so I can actually see the pictures in the book. All in all, I would recommend this book to any other animal loving souls out there who love a good, inspiring story between a man and his best friend.
3 reviews
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May 20, 2020
Author: Rick Crandall
Title: The Dog Who Took Me Up a Mountain
Publication: Health Communications, October 8, 2019
Autobiography
Recommended Age: 15+

Summary
A man named Rick Crandall searches for the call of his life, and is uncertain on what or when it shall be bestowed upon him. He waits patiently and when he is about sixty-four, he adopts a puppy named Emme, who is the answer to his call. Rick begins to climb vigorous mountains, go on long hikes, etc, all starting by age sixty-four. His call is learned to be outdoor activities as they make him feel calm and relaxed, and he never would have been able to be a complete, fulfilled person without the help of his little companion, Emme.

Evaluation
The autobiography, The Dog Who Took Me Up a Mountain, written by Rick Crandall, is a very well-written and inspiring novel that exercises various literary elements. To begin, the author uses descriptive phrases and key situations to give the audience a glimpse into the world of Rick Crandall, which is a strength because the audience can easily comprehend the concepts conveyed by the author through his work. Also, when Rick and his wife adopt Emme and say that this dog is special, he uses foreshadowing by suggesting that this dog will be or do great in the future. Finally, I think that only two weaknesses were present in this book, which are that he ends the book rather abruptly and his writing is a little repetitive. All in all, I believe that the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, making this a great novel to begin reading.

Concluding Comments
Despite these issues, I believe that this was a great book and suggest for all enthusiasts to read it. I very much enjoyed this book, and I hope that you will to.
Profile Image for Ren.
1,290 reviews15 followers
August 5, 2019
All dogs are special, some are a little more so. All of us who have shared our lives with dogs have made an extra strong connection to a dog and Emme was that dog for Crandall. Emme sounds like a wonderful little dog and I love that she encouraged her human to get out and move more regardless of his age. I've been learning more about movement and the impact it has on our bodies. Dogs are wonderful for encouraging us to move more. I know my two little guys won't let me slack off. It's hard to say no to such exuberance! Emme was certainly an intelligent dog and I enjoyed getting to know her through Crandall's stories. Yes, it's sad in the end. Dogs never live as long as we'd like, but it's always worth sharing our lives with them and letting them teach us to enjoy life more fully. I did notice a bit of repetition in the writing, but it didn't take away much from my overall enjoyment.

Thank you to HCI Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
813 reviews15 followers
October 2, 2019
Loved it! This is a very good book well written and interesting. It is about Rick a man in his 60's that is re evaluating his life and where he wants to go from here. His wife suggests they get a dog to help fill in the missing spot in their lives. Along comes Emma an Australian Terrier and she changes his life for the better. Together they start climbing mountains in Aspen Colorado and along their lifes journey he comes to realize things about himself. Makes you look at life a bit differently after reading this insperational story.
Profile Image for Jean.
263 reviews
July 22, 2019
This is a wonderful story of a man and the love he had in the small package of
his dog, Emme an Australian terrier! It is such a good book of their time together
in the gorgeous mountains. I did cry at the end, these little guys aren't with
us long enough, but their memories remain for life. It is a very good book!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, the writers and the Publisher for giving me the chance
to enjoy this book!
Profile Image for Angela.
387 reviews22 followers
April 22, 2021
This is such a charming little book! I loved hearing about Emme's antics and fun, loving heart - it's usually the smallest ones that have the biggest personality 🤣

This well written memoir is a beautiful dedication to Emme, and it's an honest testament to how a dog really is man's best friend!

Thank you netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡
Profile Image for Amanda Edwards.
37 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2019
What a sweet story of a dog and her owner. I think every dog lover could relate to parts of this story. A man and his dog. The dog seems to understand the man. Such a cool way to bond with a dog. Loved the book.
Profile Image for Teresa.
805 reviews22 followers
December 20, 2020
This book was very similar to another small dog/middle aged man hiking/mountain climbing life changing experience tale that I had previously read. This one didn’t have quite as much humor as the other one, but I did enjoy it and the last half of the book was much more fun than the first half.
I wanted to hear about the hiking with Emma, I didn’t quite get into the dog shows. Once the story took off with Rick and Emma’s hikes up the 14,000’rs my interest peaked. It was very interesting to read how his health issues impaired his abilities and how he did specific training to increase his stamina.
My husband and I hike, we are in our 60’s and we also take our canines. It was so funny when he mentioned how excited Emma gets, and he had to make sure and feed her first before he went to putting his hiking gear on, our dogs do the same thing. They love to ride in the car and hike the trails in central Missouri. We see Colorado in our future.
This is an uplifting story and does make you realize the need for passion in your life. I congratulate the author on his accomplishments he achieved, especially being in his age range. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC from HCI Books and NetGalley for my honest unbiased review. This one comes in with 4 stars.
Profile Image for Alison.
2,466 reviews46 followers
July 14, 2019
This was a really fun story about the author, and his dog Emme a small Australian terrier who both fell in love with mountain climbing.
The author was at a turning point in his life, at the lowest he had ever been, and his work life crumbling, he was in need of a change.
His wife suggested getting a dog, and they ended up with a fearless puppy, who at first was being groomed to be a show dog. After having tasted the outdoors and the freedom it gave here Emme wanted nothing to do with Dog shows, and instead she and Rick started hiking when ever possible, and aiming to climb all of Colorado's "fourteeners, mountains with an elevation of 14,000 or higher.
The story was so fun to see how owner and dog, had such a close relationship, how they knew what the other needed or wanted.
So many great stories of the adventures they took through out the years and what it took to get them there.
My only regret was not being able to see the photos that accompanied the story. I would like to thank NetGalley and HCI books for the ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Ruby Aguilar.
4 reviews
May 8, 2025
I found this book while on the search of another book that was about a dog and this was a very happy accidental find for me. I had a dog that I am convinced had a human soul when I was younger and to read about Emme felt like home to me. I must disclose that I myself and the author come from very different backgrounds. I grew up in the Bay Area and I am a first generation Mexican American. Economically, my family was always in survival mode. His story takes place in Colorado a place I have never visited but his descriptions of the trails and the research he did about each climb really had me captivated. Initially I thought I was not going to be able to relate to this story however, to my surprise, I started to feel a lot of compassion towards the author's journey in this new phase of his life and how it is important to expand ourselves in ways we would have never thought(no matter our age). Thank you Rick Crandall for allowing me to indulge in your sweet moments with Emme. I do strongly believe she was one of a kind dog and I do strongly believe she was meditating on that rock :)
Profile Image for Chad Alexander Guarino da Verona.
450 reviews43 followers
June 11, 2019
This is the breezy story of Emme the Australian Terrier and her hiking adventures with her human Rick, a veteran of the tech industry who feels a bit adrift after the industry bubble burst. Rick finds Emme at a critical time in his life, and she helps him find new passion in hiking Colorado's series of "fourteeners" (14,000 FT mountains).

Emme, a champion show dog, is full of personality: 20 LBS at most but the boss of everyone and the unquestioned alpha. Crandall's warm (and nearly unbelievable) recollections of her taking charge of bears, other dogs, and bulls are humorous, and her impact on his life is inspiring. While the narrative can be a bit repetitive at times and the ending is a bit abrupt, this is a solid 3.5 from me (rounded up for Emme).

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to HCI Books.**
Profile Image for Teena in Toronto.
2,464 reviews79 followers
October 8, 2019
When Crandall was in his mid-fifties, his life changed. He was burnt out mentally, physically and spiritually. He had recently gotten divorced, his father had recently passed away and for health reasons he needed to leave Michigan and move some place sunnier. He met and married Pamela and moved to Colorado to start a new life there.

Pamela was an animal lover and they got Emme, an Australian terrier puppy in 2005. She was show dog quality but didn't enjoy it. Her passion, which she shared with Crandall, was hiking. Together they tackled many "fourteeners", which are peaks with altitudes higher than 14,000 feet. Emme led the way, pushing Crandall more than he thought possible.

This book details some of the hikes they took and the joy they had together until her death in 2015.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/10...
332 reviews3 followers
May 17, 2020
A heartwarming story of a couple whose live was changed by adding a dog to the mix. As someone getting close to retirement, and the thought of adding a pet or two, this book called to me. To be honest though, a couple of things turned me off. First off, when they decided on a dog, they searched for the breed to fit characteristics. I felt they were purchasing a car, instead of a pet. Not a fan of puppy mills or purebreds, sorry. Second, the humor, while at times funny, started to wear on me after awhile. I did enjoy the pups antics though, as it seems the smaller they are the more ferocious they are. Sadly though, dogs do not live that long. Would recommend, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
Profile Image for Janet Graham.
2,506 reviews11 followers
October 15, 2019
Wonderful Memoir of Man and Dog
This is a warm and wonderful memoir about a man and his dog. Remarkably, the author has not fallen into the pitfalls of making the story about him or other people. This book is all about his dog and what she was to him. His love for this rascal of a terrier is evident on every page as she leads him through a section of life that can be very difficult. She helps him find new passions and a more true version of the meaning of life. Anyone who has ever deeply loved a dog is going to connect with this book. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Nicole.
661 reviews41 followers
October 15, 2019
** I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. **

This is a wonderful book about the special bond between Emme, an Australian Terrier and her human, Rick Crandall. In his fifties and burnt out with his job, Crandall picks up his life and moves from Ann Arbor, MI to Aspen, CO. He remarries and his new wife promptly tells him she wants to get a dog. After much research, Emme is brought into their lives. With her strong personality and alpha-female attitude, she helps Crandall tackle hiking Colorado's mountains, including several 14-ers. If you love heartwarming dog stories, pick this one up!
Profile Image for Amy Morris.
686 reviews
August 6, 2020
cute stories. Author cracks me up, though: he tells us, hey, my dog is a champion show dog, but she's really above it all. As am I. But I'll make sure to tell you 18 times that she's a champion. Same thing with agility. Oh, this dog is too smart for rigid agility courses. But I'll make sure to tell you she handily wins agility contests.

I liked the book. Dog was cute and their accomplishments together are inspiring. But truly, it is like reading someone brag about their own, most special and smart kid in the world for a full book.
Profile Image for Tara Alemany.
Author 5 books12 followers
March 22, 2021
A truly enjoyable story of a pup named Emme and the effect she had on the lives of those who loved her most. If you're a fan of books about dogs, self-discovery or the outdoors, you'll enjoy this book!

I did receive an advanced review copy from NetGalley, and am thankful to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for it. However, the copy I received did have numerous design and editing issues that I hope were addressed before the final release of the book.
3 reviews
February 28, 2023
Very Enjoyable!

I have summited 15 fourteeners myself so far, so I was familiar with many of the peaks and routes described in the book. My first summit was at age 17, then I started my own quest of Colorado's 14ers at age 58. I'm 67 now and have several more to do. I have taken a couple of my dogs up some of them as well. I wish I could have met Emme. This book gives me encouragement. It was extremely well-written. Congratulations, Rick!
Profile Image for Cora.
486 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2023
Sweet memoir written about a special dog. Originally purchased by the author's wife in hopes of being a show dog, CH Lucky Lady Emme ultimately became the author's hiking companion (and often, leader). This book is well written and I'm sure can be appreciated by anyone who has ever loved a dog. Thank you Rick Crandall for sharing Emme's story.
Profile Image for Jolene.
307 reviews10 followers
September 20, 2019
A wonderful and touching book about the bond between a man and his dog. Once again we learn how wonderful dogs are and how they can improve our health and save our lives in so many ways. This book reminded me of another book called FOLLOWING ATTICUS. If you love dogs and want to better yourself, read this book for inspiration.
Profile Image for Kim R.
240 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2021
It was a slow start, borderline animal abuse at time (Emme clearly didn't want to be in dog shows) but ended on a high note with love, dedication, compassion and strength. Easy to read, but a little self gloating and pretentious at times, but I feel like we can all be that way at times. Overall quick easy read but not one I'll be eagerly recommending to others.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews165 followers
July 26, 2019
A book that made me smile and cry, heart warming and heart wrenching.
I liked the story, the style of writing and I'm happy it gave me food for thought.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Profile Image for Jo.
152 reviews8 followers
January 31, 2020
I enjoyed reading the story of Rick and his dog, Emme. Emme certainly seemed to have a larger-than-life personality. A sweet story full of adventure - great for those who adore their pets and anyone who loves to explore the outdoors!

Thank you, HCI Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC!
Profile Image for Witch-at-Heart .
1,575 reviews21 followers
March 20, 2020
Absolutely heartwarming story of the love between man and our faithful companions. Such a fantastic story. for any animal lover and I highly recommend it.

I received this book from NetGalley and HCI books for an honest review.
460 reviews2 followers
October 20, 2020
An amazing story

Crandall has painted an amazing picture of a tremendous dog and a true hero. Emme is a true super hero. She was a true mountaineer and a true adventurer. A great story.
Profile Image for Beatriz Pipkin.
3 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2020
What a great book, specially because I have an Aussie. I just finished reading the book and I still crying.

I liked everything, from the moment that that I saw the cover I knew that I was going to read it.
2 reviews
February 7, 2022
uplifting

Reminded me of my time in the mountains with our dogs who often amazed me with their trail sense. Could have used an appendix with suggestions for hiking with dogs but you can find this info from other sources.
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