IKE: the dog who saved a human

by Jason Dorland

Based on true-life events, the dog who saved a human , follows the transformative journey of author Jason Dorland, a Canadian national team rower left bitter, ashamed, and lost after his crew finished last in their final at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Dorland retires from rowing and, as a way to cope, adopts a golden retriever puppy named Ike, who is destined to be a guide dog for the blind. While Dorland struggles to redefine himself and find a new purpose in his life, Ike takes on a new role. Removed from the guide dog program at nine months for health reasons, Ike becomes Jason’s own guide—his teacher. Through many adventures together, Dorland eventually discovers that love is not something you chase but something you give away.


Jason Dorland is an Olympian, father, partner, coach, entrepreneur, and storyteller who dedicates his life to pursuing excellence in himself and those he supports. He is the author of Chariots and Life Lessons from an Olympic Rower and Pulling A Coaches Journey to Uncover the Mindset of True Potential . When Jason is not running with his dogs Oakley and Bella on the trails or swimming at nearby Thetis Lake near his home on Vancouver Island, he’s sharing experiences and life lessons through keynotes and work-shops with his wife, business partner, and fellow Olympian, Robyn Meagher.



“Ike is a beautiful tribute and an honest love story. A book any animal lover
can relate to—a great example of how we truly don't deserve dogs.”

— Kevin Bieksa, CBC Hockey Night in Canada Host & former NHL player


“This heartfelt book will make you feel alive from start to nish.
The world needs Ike!”

—Alexandra Howard, CEO Mind, Mood ALIVE!

"Ike hits you in places you don't expect, scenes lodge in your mind
when you put the book down, keep you reflecting and draw you back
in to see what's coming next. Ike provides a powerful perspective on
us as humans that charms you one minute and challenges you the next.”

— Cath Bishop, Olympic Silver Medalists, former Diplomat, Author, Consultant/Coach

“This is a heart-warming, gentle read of profundity. Ike, the dog and
the story, are a study in perspective and uncomplicated clarity that
guides the reader through lessons of friendship, family, redemption,
forgiveness, determination, laughter, and all that make a life whole.
Ike, with his unconditional loyalty and old soul wisdom, offers the
beacon of light and hope that illuminates the path from the wreckage
of Jason’s Olympic dreams through healing, understanding, and love
in all its beauty. You will laugh, cry, and cheer as Jason discovers and
carves his path forward in life. This story is uplifting, honest, funny,
and meaningful. Enjoy the read.”

— Ellen Smoor Foster, Ph.D., Author

“There’s something wonderful and beneficial about living with a creature
that unwaveringly loves you. It’s something that has been studied.
It’s measurable. But we don’t get a dog to become a better human. The
story of Ike and Jason however, is exactly that. I found it to be powerful,
captivating, and truly lovely. It’s a story that people will relate to on
different levels, as I did.

466 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2022

About the author

Jason Dorland is an Olympian, father, partner, coach, entrepreneur, and storyteller who dedicates his life to pursuing excellence in himself and those he supports. He is the author of, Chariots and Horses: Life Lessons from an Olympic Rower, Pulling Together: A Coaches Journey to Uncover the Mindset of True Potential," and, most recently, IKE: the dog who saved a human.

When Jason is not running with his dogs Oakley and Bella on the trails or swimming at Thetis Lake near his home on Vancouver Island, he’s sharing experiences and life lessons through keynotes and workshops with his wife, business partner, and fellow Olympian, Robyn Meagher through their work at Your Mindset.

After a decade of offering their brand of holistic high performance coaching to professional teams, as well as corporate and educational organizations, they are now ready to offer it directly to you! Learn more about what it means to thrive at work and in life at Your Heart Space!!

Reviews

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to the author, Jason Dorland for a review copy of this book vi BookTasters.

‘Narrated’ by Ike himself, Ike: The Dog Who Saved a Human (2022) is the heartwarming and emotional story of the author, a former Olympian, entrepreneur, coach and writer among other things, whose life changes when a Golden Retriver named Ike enters it. Jason is left bitter and lost after his eight-ember rowing team comes last in the Seoul Olympics of 1988. He has quit rowing, is full of anger and bitterness (much of it self directed), and some rather questionable beliefs and is back to student life. Always having wanted a dog but unable to afford one, he volunteers to be a ‘puppy walker’—people/families who foster dogs in training to be guide dogs (in this case for the visually impaired) for a year where they must follow strict protocols and expose their charges to a range of experiences, and then of course return them. And it is Ike who ‘picks’ him when he arrives to ‘choose’ a pup.

Things start off well, but because of his own nature and experiences, Jason doesn’t at the start truly connect with Ike even though he looks after him well and does all that Ike needs. He has supportive friends and a wonderful family but his own bitterness and beliefs are the biggest impediment in pulling himself together, letting go of the past, and starting to live. Ike’s arrival in his life starts to change some of that, and after some time, circumstances arise whereby Ike is found unfit for the guide dog programme, and Jason is offered the chance to keep him. With some reluctance, he does, and the effect of Ike’s presence is apparent as he finds friendly responses from those at university (though he isn’t very outgoing himself) and a wonderful partner to accompany him on hikes and camping trips. Another equally significant change comes into his life when he meets the woman who is to be his wife, Robyn. Also an Olympian (a runner, not a rower like him), Robyn’s philosophy and approach to life are exactly opposite to what Jason has believed and continues to, and this not only gets him to face up to his own flaws but to start to make some meaningful changes. But Jason’s is not the only life that Ike changes, he brings joy and comfort to many, whether Jason and Robyn’s friends and family or their business partners, and even the students that Jason coaches later in his career. The book is Jason’s journey from the time Ike enters his life until the inevitable—the time when he leaves it.

The book, in a sense, qualifies as autofiction in that while it tells the author’s story, not only is it told from the perspective of Ike, we also get insights into Ike’s thoughts, there are also little conversations Ike has with the other dogs he meets, whether his brothers and sisters or those he visits.

While this is a story of the bond between human and dog, it is also the story of the author’s personal journey dealing with the rather toxic mindset in which he was trapped for years, and with which he approached his sports and more broadly, life as well. That he opens up and shares these difficult parts of his personality is both courageous and admirable (I certainly wouldn’t want to); he is helped to break out of this in a large part by his meeting with Robyn (who I think is a real angel; I see myself as quite an accepting person, but she is able to deal calmly with much that would irk even me). The journey is not an easy one, nor is it ‘instant’ or ‘magic’, yet he does slowly make efforts (many a time reluctantly) to change this and can feel the change. His experiences are not only encouraging for others on a similar journey but reinforce how doing something well or being in a competition (whether in sport or in life) ought not to be a ‘battle’ whether one is simply seeking to outdo (or rather ‘crush’) one’s competitors; done with a healthy attitude, things can be both enjoyable and rewarding.

Ike himself was a lovely lovely animal. I enjoyed learning about his life—how his temporary home became a forever one, and one where he was loved and happy. He had many adventures with Jason and Robyn and found friends in nearly everyone he met whether human or animal (may be not a cat or two). Not only did he bring love and joy to many lives, he also was a rather miracle dog as you will see when you read the book.

And now for the hard part. The story opens with the last moments of Ike’s life and is told in retrospect, and one knows of course that this is what is coming. Still those last days (and one knows when the first signs appear that it is time) really had me in tears (not just tearing up) and I was crying long after I’d finished the book. This isn’t meant to discourage anyone from reading it, but I know those like me would like to know in advance.

At around 450 pages, this is not a short read, but it was one that held my attention all though. This is a wonderful read which any animal lover in particular would love, but with life lessons any reader would find value in. The author has also included plenty of pictures from his and Ike’s life!

4.5 stars rounded off

[Rosemary Iggulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who is a dog lover, or not, will love this book!

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the March Mini Challenge of the 52 Book Challenge I needed to read a book that was told from the point of view of an animal. I reached out to Booktasters who said they had the perfect book that I would absolutely love. As soon as they sent me the Amazon link I fell in love with the cover. I reached out to the author to request a copy for review since I don't have Amazon Unlimited (where you can read the book as part of their program). I started the book and couldn't put it down.

The book starts at the end and then moves through memories of Ike's life with his human. I don't want to give too much away but Jason was an older student who wanted to train a service dog. When it was clear Ike wasn't going to qualify, Jason made accommodations to keep Ike and have as many adventures as possible.

There was humor, some tears, and a lot of soul searching in this book. If life is a journey and not a destination then this book certainly pointed that out. And at the end of the book are a few pictures of Ike and Jason. It was clear he had a good life and they were lucky to have had that time together.

I would like to give a shout out to Robyn who had just as much positive effect on Jason as Ike did. She was really a bright light that shined. It was interesting reading Jason and Robyn's different motivations for competitive sports and how they handled winning and defeat.

There are other things in this book that are covered but it is better to journey through the strong friendships, close knit family, supportive mentors and overcoming adversity through Ike's point.

This book would make a great buddy read or book club selection. It also fits the following 52 Week Challenge prompts: Starts with the letter I, The title has a subtitle, and From an animal's point of view.

[Alyssa Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The stories we as readers get to hear about Ike are just amazing. They make you laugh, cry and stop to think about the importance of being with your dog. Any dog lover, people with service animals, any animal lover in general will love this honest and funny book about what it means to live a wholesome life.

[Betty Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming story captures the essence of the joy, hope, healing and growing that love without judgement can bring to a hurting heart. We all need an Ike in our lives but so does every person we meet. The author shows how we might be Ike for another person as various characters interact with Jason, the troubled main character. The final chapters were especially moving.

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.)

This book is not “just” a book; it’s a profound comment on life, the universe, and the depths of the bond between humans and animals. Seen through the eyes of the Golden Retriever, Ike, life takes on layers of new, richer dimensions. Colors are vivid, if different, people more friendly, there’s always something to sniff. This is life if you’re a dog, and Dorland also confirms my suspicions that 1. Dogs are much smarter than we give them credit for and 2. There probably isn’t really any such thing as a coincidence.
Jason, our author, is a nice guy – smart, clean, responsible college student. He decides, for several reasons, to sign up to be a Puppy Walker, one of those people who spend a year socializing and training a puppy to prepare it for more advanced training later. He’s told that he will have to give the dog back at the end of the year and he understands and accepts that part of the deal.
Things don’t always go as planned. After nearly a year of being inseparable, Jason and Ike are off to the vet for a final health check but then Ike fails the medical exams. He has kidney problems that hadn’t been spotted earlier and he’s out of the program. Now Jason has to decide whether to keep Ike as a pet, which he’d never considered, or turn Ike back in to the service dog agency to be rehomed elsewhere.
Years of adventure and growth follow. There truly is no guru like a dog. When they met, Jason was young, angry and could be very prickly. A major, dream-shattering, loss by his college rowing team had become an obsession, one that threatened to push Jason even deeper into his emotional pit.
Never underestimate the power of the pooch-Ike just wormed his way into Jason’s heart and started sniffing out the sore spots. Once Jason learned to really listen to the dog, his outlook started to change and his world seem brighter and more promising.
Keep some tissues handy for the end of the book, you’ll need them. A dog’s only flaw is the brevity of his life, but if we give ourselves honestly to that bond between ourselves and whatever animal walks beside us through life, even that brevity just adds a certain sweetness. It won’t last forever, so be present for life as it happens, love with your whole heart, and don’t ever listen to anyone who says “It’s just a dog.”

[Adriana Castañeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you been in the middle of thousands of chores that emerged suddenly and the only thing you want to do is reading a book? Well, this was my case with Ike, the dog who saved a human, every day something came up and I couldn´t read at my usual rhythm.
This is a story which hooks you from the beginning to the end, not only because its well written but because it makes you think a lot about who we are, the beliefs which we grew up with and sometimes impede us to love the person we are, with our strengths and weaknesses, abilities and limitations. Through the pages you are a witness to unconditional love and the connection between a dog and his human dad, Jason; how their paths crossed, and they started to walk together on this journey through the adventure of life.
Many other beings (humans and others too) are coinciding with Jason and Ike and fill this adventure with something special, and nurture their lives. Jason has a lot to learn about himself, the first years with Ike, Skeet (Jason’s nickname) is in a standby mood and don´t know the path he wants to go, and the person he wants to be. He had a bad experience some years ago that left him stuck. Little by little he realized that with Ike he can be vulnerable, he can be himself and started to see life in a different way. He opens his heart to the love of a wonderful person that, along with Ike, helps him to be more indulgent when judges himself.
Me, as foreigner no Canadian and dog lover, the book let me know more about a country I like very much and enjoy all the anecdotes with this marvelous dog, laugh and cry with the different events that happen. Thanks Jason for sharing your story with Ike!
#LoveReadingIke

[Carol Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an autobiographical story, but the twist is that it’s told from the viewpoint of the author’s Golden Retriever, Ike. It tells of the growing bond between the two as Jason sheds the trappings of bitterness, anger, and self-reproach. His leisurely (it’s quite a long book) journey through life is guided by Ike, who unquestionably gives him support and affection. Ike is approachable and in no way judgmental, and that outlook begins to rub off on Jason. The gradual self-awareness Jason learns from Ike is supplemented by others who come into his life, honing and healing his overall outlook. Dog lovers especially will appreciate this often-humorous story, and Ike’s passing is wisely laid out at the beginning so that the reader is more prepared for it.

Content advisory: liberal use of the F-word

[Tina Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ike is a story told from the viewpoint of the Golden Retriever, a guide dog in training. Writing from the animal's point of view is extremely difficult and can often read and sound childish. There are a select few that I feel it has been well executed. A trick to make sure this doesn't happen to you as a writer, is to read out loud your own story. It's a great way to hone in and correct those kind of problems. This also could be applied to your human characters.

Ike is a very long novel and is inspiring as well as heart-warming. However, I do feel it would read so much better, if it was shorter in length and tighter in narrative. There was one scene where it had been written very much like an earlier passage, and it kind of confused me for a bit!


In summary, Ike is a good book to read if you love Goldie's and stories of unconditional love.

[Het · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful journey. We always read about dogs being best friends to humans but this book beautifully showcases that and some more. Ike helps Jason through his self healing journey, which goes far to show that we only require non judgemental and unconditional love.
But obviously there were things that didn't work for me -
The length, there were some excessive info dump and unnecessary scenes that could have been done away with.
It would have been better to have it from the author's point of view. Cause you can't actually know what was going on in the dog's brain, so it logically makes it all childish at times and very assumptious.
Overall a good read but would have loved it if it was from the author's point of view.

[Stephanie Land · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Somber but Uplifting Tale

A somber but uplifting tale about a man going through one of the worst periods of his life and the dog that helped him get through it.
This novel is a slow build of a relationship. Through the changes of life and how it can come out of the blue. The handling of emotions in this book is done in a quiet way that left me feeling sad right along with it.
It is a roller coaster of emotions and a nice reminder that healing is not linear and takes time.
In conclusion this was a wonderful read that I won’t forget soon.
4 stars
-Stephanie Land

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely lovely. Very heartwarming to read, funny, and it also tugged at my heartstrings - I was emotional after reading the first few pages. I enjoyed the fact that the story was told from Ike's point of view. I think that a bond between any pet and their owner is a very special and unique bond, and books like this help to celebrate that. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it all the more special too. If you're a dog person, or just an animal lover in general, you'll probably love this.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven’t came across many books that are in this particular POV. I enjoyed Ike’s antics and his personality. I loved the energy he emitted throughout the entire book.

[Lauren Laginski]

The ending got me.