Books and Good Reading About Dogs

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Comment by Toni on November 20, 2009 at 8:36pm

A Dog Named Christmas has been made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie for this Christmas season. It is a sweet story -- certainly a warm fuzzy with a few kleenex moments. The local shellter is sponsoring an "Adopt a Dog for Christmas" program, where families take in a dog for the holidays and then can return it after the season. A low risk commitment, although of course the shelter hopes that the families will become so attached to the animal that they will want to adopt it. Todd's dad does not want a dog and this seems to be a compromise. Todd promises that the dog will go back right after Christmas. Christmas comes and goes, and "a deal is a deal." Have the tissues ready!

The book was written by Greg Kincaid. You can visit his website at http://www.adognamedchristmas.com Although the "Dog for Christmas" program is fiction, he includes a letter from a small group that tried a "Christmas Foster" program and had trememdous success.

Comment by Sandi Fitts-Freeman on February 13, 2009 at 9:40pm

Hi everyone! I think one of my favorite books involving dogs is Dean Koontz's book "The Watchers". It facinated me. It's scary, but it has a "happy ending" and gave me a lot of food for thought.

Comment by becka on February 9, 2009 at 1:54pm

Merle's Door, Ted Kerasote
This is one of the best books I have read. While we do not all have the luxury of allowing our dogs the freedom the dog had in this book, we can learn from the high level of socialization and stimulation he received. Educational, inspiring and heart-wrenching, this book is wonderful.

Comment by Kate Davis on January 26, 2009 at 8:06pm

I hope you and Rushdoggie (the poster below you) love Edgar Sawtelle. I read Watchers. I can't remember what happened but somehow think it involved a beautiful golden retriever? Moral questions-always good fun!
Kate

Comment by Toni on January 26, 2009 at 7:11pm

I just picked up Edgar Sawtelle at Costco this weekend. I'm looking forward to it. I am in the middle of listening to Watchers by Dean Koontz. I picked it up because of the dog connection. I know it's been out for a long time, and they made a movie from it, but I had never heard of it. Parts of it are a little over the top, especially at first, but now that I am into the story it's pretty intense. I had to sneak a peek at wikipedia to reassure myself I wouldn't be too upset by the ending. It involves an experimental lab dog that escapes and forms a bond with the man who finds him in the woods. ONone level it's a light read, but on the other it raises some moral questions.

Comment by Rushdoggie on January 14, 2009 at 10:17pm

cool, I'll look for that, Kate...

Comment by Kate Davis on January 14, 2009 at 9:55pm

This book has probably been mentioned before, but "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" really moved me. It could be considered a 'boy and his dog' kind of story but it's also very much about relationships with dogs, and about dogs' unique personalities and the ways we communicate with each other.
It has made me look at my dogs in an entirely new way, and I have read LOTS of books about animal behavior. Mostly, I just laughed and cried and was very sad when it was over.
Kate

Comment by Rushdoggie on January 7, 2009 at 7:49pm

I own both, Lewis' book is more focused on how dogs learn that McConnells' book, its more training focused.

Its a pretty good book but I prefer Excelerated Learning by Pam Reid and McConnells' many books to this one.

Comment by Karen Lashenske on December 5, 2008 at 2:28pm

Has anyone read, "Smart Trainers: Brilliant Dogs" by Janet R. Lewis? Is it worth buying? It sounds like the book, "The other End of the Leash" which was a great book by Patricia McConnell.

Comment by Toni on November 12, 2008 at 10:51am

Sorry-- I didn't see this when I posted my discussion thread last night. I won't repeat what I posted there, but I see you have already been discussing a lot of the books I mentioned.

I was really moved by Merle's Door. I sent an email to Ted Kerasote (I've only ever sent one "fan letter" in my life.) I got a very gracious reply.

As a teacher I work with a number of autistic children. I got more insight from Temple Grandin's book than I have from many special ed trainings. Besides helping me look at things differently in the classroom, it made me literally try to see things from my dogs' perspectives.

If you enjoyed Marley and Me, another book you might like is Amazing Gracie. It is by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff. Gracie was one of the original Three Dogs of Three Dog Bakery and the main reason why Dan and Mark started cooking their own dog food.

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