We Have a Winner! Rescue Me, Maybe by Jackie Bouchard Book Giveaway!

Congratulations to 

Ashley Matthews!

She was selected at random by Rafflecopter from 490 entries

as the winner of our 

Holiday Gift Guide for Dogs and Dog Lovers Book Giveaway and will receive

a signed paperback edition of Rescue Me, Maybe by Jackie Bouchard.

 

 

Thanks so much to everyone 

who entered our giveaway!

Want to make sure you know about all of our giveaways?

Fetch our Talking Dogs Giveaway Page 

or our For Love of a Dog Giveaway page and follow us on Facebook

You'll be the first to know about our next giveaway!

Right now we have another pawsome giveaway to celebrate the holidays! 

Enter the December For Love of a Dog Jewelry Giveaway!

 

 

ENTER NOW!

Stay alert! We'll be celebrating the holidays

with another December giveaway in the 

Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers at Kol's Notes!

 

Of course, you don't have to wait for a giveaway 

to enjoy a piece of my handcrafted jewelry!  

Shop For Love of a Dog

for barking good holiday gifts for pet lovers! 

 

Travels with Casey by Benoit Denizet-Lewis | Book Review

One of my favorite animal rescue organizations is Stray Rescue of St Louis.  In late July, I wrote about the Dream at Dreamfund to benefit Stray Rescue which was set up by Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author of the book Travels with Casey.  When Benoit's publishers at Simon and Schuster saw my tweets, they offered me a copy of the book. 

Since I knew there would be no actual traveling for me this summer, I was delighted to take them up on their offer.  I figured it would be fun to vicariously travel the US with Benoit and his yellow Lab.

New York Times Magazine writer Benoit Denizet-Lewis worried that his dog, Casey, didn't like him very much.  So Benoit rented an RV, lured Casey inside with treats, and embarked on a 13,000 mile road trip designed to help them bond. 

Along the way they spent time with wolf-dogs in Appalachia, dedicated stray dog rescuer Randy Grim, got pulled over by a K9 cop in Missouri,  visited Cesar Millan and so much more.  The result is Travels with Casey: My Journey Through Our Dog-Crazy Country.

"A moody Labrador and his insecure human take a funny, touching cross-country RV trip into the heart of America's relationship with dogs."

Part travelogue, part memoir and part informational, Travels with Casey made me laugh.  It made me cry.  It made me think a lot about dogs in general, but especially about my own dogs and my relationships with them.

I'd read some early reviews of this book that portrayed it as humorous.  It is, however, Benoit also tackles some very serious issue regarding canine health, pets of the homelessness, overbreeding, dog rescue and much more. 

At first I was disappointed.  I'd expected a light hearted story of a man and his dog hitting the road.  A compilation of their adventures together.

Instead I found a thoughtful examination of the relationship between this man and his dog.  As well as the human - dog connection as well.  Perhaps, as someone along the way suggested to Benoit, our dogs teach us to love.  I know mine have.

I'm delighted to thoroughly recommend Travels with Casey to dog lovers everywhere.

Travels with Casey ISBN-13: 9781439146934, published by Simon and Schuster,  is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at other booksellers.

All the best books have trailers these days!

Benoit Denizet-Lewis is a writer with The New York Times Magazine and an assistant professor of writing and publishing at Emerson College.  He is the author of America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life and American Voyeur: Dispatches from the Far Reaches of Modern Life.  He has contributed to Sports Illustrated, The New Republic, Details, Slate, Salon, Out, and many others.  He lives in Jamaica Plain and Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Casey is an eleven year old Labrador / Golden Retriever mix who likes all
humans, most dogs, and some cats.

Disclosure:  I was given a hardback copy of Travels with Casey by Simon and Schuster without any request for a review or monetary compensation for promotion.  This is my honest opinion of the book.

We Have Winners! Saved by Gracie Dog Book Giveaway

Congratulations to

Stacey Van Horn
and
JoAnn Stancer

They were selected at random by Rafflecopter from 460 entries

as the winners of our Saved by Gracie book giveaway

and will each receive a copy of this inspirational dog book

directly from the publisher.

Thanks so much to everyone

who entered our giveaway!

Want to make sure you know about all of our giveaways?

Fetch our Talking Dogs Giveaway Page and follow us on Facebook 
and you'll be the first to know about our July giveaway.

Of course, you don't have to wait for a giveaway to enjoy a piece of my handcrafted jewelry!  Shop For Love of a Dog!

Saved by Gracie by Jan Dunlap #Giveaway and Book Review

Saved by Gracie - How a Rough and Tumble Rescue Dog Dragged Me Back to Health, Happiness and God by Jan Dunlap.

When Jan Dunlap's teen-aged daughter began to experience bouts of insecurity that reminded her of her own increasing anxieties and depression, she reluctantly agreed to adopt a shelter dog.  You see, said daughter had fallen in love with a black Lab mix at shelter dog adoption day.

No matter that Jan didn't like dogs.  She was afraid of dogs and certainly had never wanted one of her own.

The resulting pet ownership growth curve resulted in Saved by Gracie.  

 Scroll down to the bottom of this post to enter to win your own copy of this delightful dog lover book!

Book Synopsis:

Author Jan Dunlap was suffering increasingly severe bouts of anxiety after a medical misdiagnosis slapped her in the face with an acute realization of the tenuous nature of human life. A degreed theologian, Jan found her personal faith in God and His promises severely shaken and her enthusiasm for life being replaced by growing fear and debilitating insecurity. Then a rescue-shelter black lab-mix by the name of Gracie came into her life as her daughter's new pet, and Jan determined to do whatever it took to provide both her daughter and the dog with the sense of security she herself no longer felt. 

She quickly discovered, however, that Gracie had her own agenda, and it was all dog. From chasing squirrels to jumping fences to the occasional roll in dead fish, Gracie taught Jan that life is for living, not dreading. As she began to realize that Gracie was helping her manage her anxiety, Jan also came to a new awareness of how a loving God provides healing through His own works of creation. Part memoir and part medical exploration of the truly healing gifts that God freely offers us through our interaction with animals and nature, Saved by Gracie is a story of God's redeeming love revealed at the paws of a dog

As this self proclaimed "dog hater" learns how to be a dog owner, she finds that her anxiety issues disappeared in direct relationship to her increasing dog ownership skills.  Through her growing relationship with Gracie, Dunlap rediscovered joy in life.  And got her life back.

Dunlap's experience made her a believer that animals can be powerful healers.  Plus, she discovered what so many of we dog lovers already know:  dogs are good for us.

Many are the mimes floating around in cyberspace about rescue dogs with the tag line: who rescued who?   Many are the dog lovers, like myself, who knew when we rescued our own shelter dogs, that those dogs were also rescuing ourselves.

Dunlap may have rescued Gracie from the shelter, but Gracie spiritually rescued Dunlap.  The result is a joyful book of discovery about the magic and joy of dogs.

Saved by Gracie is an easy, enjoyable read for dog lovers.  Plus, if you enjoyed Marley and Me by John Grogan, you'll definitely enjoy Saved by Gracie.
  
Saved by Gracie [ISBN-10: 1780782276  ISBN-13: 978-1780782270] is 160 pages and available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats, Barnes and Noble, and at Christian bookstores.  

Jan Dunlap talks about her book Saved by Gracie

Two lucky readers will will their very own copies of Saved by Gracie!

Giveaway Rules:

1.  There will be two winners chosen at random by Rafflecopter.  Each will receive a copy of Saved by Gracie directly from the publisher.

2.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.

3.  The winners will be announced on August 14 here on this blog, plus each winner will receive an email message from me.  If I do not receive a response to that email message within 48 hours, alternate winner(s) will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter misbehaving?  Sorry about that.  It happens sometimes.  Make sure you're looking at this individual blog post and then try refreshing the page.  OR click on the linked phrase "a Rafflecopter giveaway" (just above this paragraph) and you'll be taken to the entry form.
 

Jan Dunlap is a writer, speaker, birdwatcher, and mother of five children. A former Army brat, she currently makes her home in Minnesota while she devises plot twists in her humorous Bob White Birder Murder Mystery series. Her first novel in the series, "The Boreal Owl Murder" was named a finalist in the 2008 Midwest Book Awards and the 2008 Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards, and was nominated for the 2008 Minnesota Book Awards. Each additional book in the series has likewise been nominated for the honor. Jan holds a BA in English from Regis University in Denver, an MA in Theology from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, and an MA in English Studies from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Her humorous spiritual memoir titled "Saved by Gracie" recounts how her dog helped her overcome a growing anxiety disorder. 

We're participating in the Fido's Freebie Friday blog hop hosted by Dog Tipper, All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff and To Dog With Love. If you have a giveaway on your blog, join us!  

New Dog Book Author Raises Money for Stray Rescue St Louis

 Stray Rescue Founder, Randy Grimm, checks out the new dog book Travels with Casey by Benoit Danizet Lewis  ©StrayRescue

New York Times Magazine writer Benoit Denizet-Lewis worried that his dog, Casey, didn't like him very much.  So Benoit rented an RV, lured Casey inside with treats, and embarked on a 13,000 mile road trip designed to help them bond.  

Along the way they spent time with wolf-dogs in Appalachia, dedicated stray dog rescuer Randy Grim, got pulled over by a K9 cop in Missouri,  visited Cesar Millan and so much more.  The result is Travels with Casey: My Journey Through Our Dog-Crazy Country.

Benoit spent a full week with Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue of St Louis, his staff and volunteers, rescuing stray and feral dogs in East St Louis, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in our country.  Randy has devoted his life to the dogs society has forgotten.

Benoit has set up a Dream at DreamFund to benefit Stray Rescue of St Louis.  All monies raised will go directly to rescuing, feeding, and rehabilitating dogs helped by Stray Rescue.  Benoit hopes to raise $5,000 by August 20, 2014.

Check out this video of Benoit's time with Randy Grim:

Contribute to the Dream for Stray Rescue!

Learning to Live with Fritz: Book Review

Learning to Live with Fritz: Disgruntled Angel in a Hairy Disguise by E Rawlins has been a good summer read for me.  

Though I thought this book would simply be light reading, I found myself contemplating the larger issue:  dog as spiritual teacher.

I do believe that dogs have much to teach us, plus as our special friends, they have prime opportunities to deliver lessons about life and love.  So I was open to Rawlins tales of her dog, Fritz. 

According to the book's back cover:

An opera singer meets her greatest teacher in a Manhattan pet shop.  In Learning to Live with Fritz author E. Rawlins tells the story of how one crazy little dog changed her life.

A soon-to-be divorced soprano is mysteriously compelled to purchase a pup only days before saying goodbye to her unhappy role of California corporate wife.  Rushing back to Europe to save what is left of her flagging career, the decision to take along a twelve week old Maltese puppy is more than implausible ... it is insane.

Humorous and self-critical Rawlins tells the story of her chaotic adventures with Frizbee, an eight pound nut case who was in reality an ill-tempered angel in a hairy disguise.  Fifteen years of non-stop travel take the dizzy diva and her high maintenance mascot to Paris, London, Brussels, Tokyo, Vienna, Salzburg, Milan, and back to the Big Apple.  Along the way they pick up a handsome young baritone on his personal journey to international operatic celebrity.  As the drama unfolds the idea of love at first sight reveals itself to be anything but a romantic illusion.

Fritz continually upstages and controls his mistress through his rigidly enforced rules and regulations, his antics, his irascible charm... and his bizarre other worldly connections.  This is a memoir of a narcissistic would-be diva and a dog who is dead serious about teaching her how to give up her me-myself and I illusions, to live authentically... and above all to learn the meaning of unconditional love.

Fritz / Frizbee ©E.Rawlins

Part 1 of the book is a series of stories - some hilarious, some eyebrow raising (think Marley and Me) - that give you a very clear picture of this little dog and how he is in charge of his world.  And I do mean in charge. 

Fritz/ Frizbee leads his mistress on a merry chase of the good life.  With his bad behavior, huge personality, headstrong temperament, Fritz seems an unlikely match for a woman who describes herself as a Diva.

Yet, the two make quite a team in life.  The author notes:

Frizbee's sojourn here on Earth was the beginning of a personal transformation that I hope will continue for the rest of my life.  It has become a journey toward self-knowledge, fulfillment, and success through service to others.

Part 2 Learning to Live Without Him, was even more enjoyable for me.  I fully understood the author's heartbreak when it was time for Fritz end his 15 years of life here on earth.  More importantly, I enjoyed Rawlins' exploration of what she had truly learned from her beloved dog both before and after his death.  Did Fritz truly communicate with his mistress from beyond the grave?  I leave that for you to decide.

If you're not a fan of opera (I'm not), don't let this dissuade you from a fun, thoughtful dog book.

E. Rawlins is a retired international opera singer.  She is a metaphysical teacher, seminar leader, drama coach, poet, first time author and dog lover.  She resides in Switzerland.  Learning to Live with Fritz is available at IUniverse,  on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other major book retailers. 

Tiny Confessions Dog Art | Product Review

Ever wonder what your dog is thinking?  Why is your cat looking at you that way?  Christopher Rozzi is providing some answers with his Tiny Confessions.

Tiny Confessions are handcrafted prints of original paintings of dogs, cats, and other creatures.  In addition to the very charming artwork, Rozzi provides a few secret thoughts and a few guilty admissions!  A wide selection is available at his Tiny Confessions shop on Etsy.

We think the confessions are pretty dog-gone cute!  The artwork is truly lovely.  The expressions on the dogs is what truly captured my attention.  Rozzie is a guy who pays attention to the details.   Some are hilarious, some are sweet, and all are simply "truth."

We were offered our choice of art print in exchange for our honest review and chose the Labrador Retriever at Tiny Confessions.  Available in tan, green, blue or pink, it includes the confession:  I have information pertaining to the whereabouts of your shoe.   Hmmm, Rudy must have been talking to Rozzi!

Our art print arrived very quickly, carefully packaged in a high quality plastic sleeve and non-bendable mailer.  It is an 8x10 inch print of an original painting with a white border.  

The image itself measures 7.75" x 9.75" and is printed on professional quality archival matte paper with archival pigment ink.  Plus, it includes the artist's original signature.  Retail price is $20 plus shipping.

Tiny Confessions also offers these art prints in a smaller size (5" x 7").  Either would make a barking good gift for any pet lover, especially for Valentine's Day!

We love our art print from Tiny Confessions and highly recommend them.

 Perhaps best of all, two lucky Talking Dogs readers will win their choice of Tiny Confessions art prints!  

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling us which print you would choose.  Then be sure to take advantage of the Rafflecopter form for some extra entries!


Christopher Rozzi is an artist, writer, and comedian living in New York City.  Tiny Confessions are his way of combining comedy with art. His new book Tiny Confessions: The Secret Thoughts of Dogs, Cats and Everything,  will be released May 7, 2013.  Published with Perigee/Penguin, it is available for pre-sale at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound.

Talking Dogs was given a Tiny Confessions art print, plus two more for giveaway prizes, in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are those of Talking Dogs.

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Dog Days by Elsa Watson Book Give-away

If you read my Talking Dogs book review of The Love Dog by Elsa Watson, then you know that today we're launching a giveaway of her book Dog Days.  

In Dog Days, café owner Jessica Sheldon’s fear of canines hardly makes her a dog person. After the incident in her café the year before in which a dog almost destroyed her café, she’s been labeled the “dog hater” of Madrona, a town that’s famous for its annual dog festival, Woofinstock. 

Her life takes a turn at the start of Woofinstock when she rescues Zoë, a white German shepherd who can’t find her way home. When both Jessica and Zoë are struck by lightning in the town square, the unbelievable happens—the two switch bodies.

You can even watch a Dog Days book trailer at Elsa Watson's author site.

Enter now to win a copy of Dog Days by Elsa Watson!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Love Dog by Elsa Watson

This book should come with a warning.  

My review copy of The Love Dog by Elsa Watson arrived just a few days ago when I was multi-tasking:  shipping For Love of a Dog orders, baking a few holiday goodies, wrapping Christmas gifts, and so much more.

I made the mistake of opening the book and reading the first paragraph.  

From that point on my day consisted of juggling my to-do list with reading another chapter or two (or more) until I reached the end and sighed with satisfaction.

It is a dog-gone good read.

Here's the plot synopsis of The Love Dog from the publisher:

Fired from her job as a paralegal, Samantha Novak is in trouble. When Telltale, a Hollywood tabloid, asks her to write an expose on the reality television dating show, The Love Dog, Samantha is thrilled. She’s always dreamed of being a writer, and the fat paycheck won’t hurt. After being recently left at the altar, she’s not too keen on love either.   

Hired as the canine star’s handler, Samantha finds that digging up dirt on set is harder then she thought. 

Apollo, the show’s star, is a sweet golden retriever who takes his job as the “love dog” very seriously. He only wants to help couples fall in love and make everyone on set happy. Mason Hall, the show’s producer and leading man, is down to earth, charming, and... very attractive.

If Samantha doesn’t reveal to the world that the reality show isn’t exactly “real,” her new career will be over before it starts. But when she falls in love with Apollo and Mason, will she still have the heart to expose The Love Dog’s dirty secrets? 

This charming story is told from the point of view of Samantha Novak AND from Apollo, the "love dog."   I wasn't sure I would enjoy the first person narrative told from the dog's point of view, but I fell in love with Apollo immediately.  Truthfully, he reminded me a great deal of my own sweet dog boy, Jeffie, and I found his portion of the story delightful.

From Chapter One:

Popcorn?
Check.
Fuzzy slippers?
Check.
Skeptical attitude?
Double check.
I plopped down next to my sister, Cassie, and clicked on the TV just in time to see a graphic of a giant pink heart—made out of tiny paw prints—materialize on the screen. Schmaltzy music poured out of the speakers. The screen flashed with a close-up of a beautiful golden dog, while over its head formed the words we’d been expecting: The Love Dog.

This light hearted, humorous, romantic romp of a book made me laugh and smile, plus shake my head at some of the human beings!  A perfect read this winter while you're snuggled up with your own furry best friend, The Love Dog would also be a wonderful dog lover gift.

For those of you who are like me and worry about the animal characters - absolutely no harm comes to Apollo.

About the author, Elsa Watson:

From 1996 to 1998, Elsa Watson served as Peace Corp Volunteer in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, where she began writing novels, all in longhand.  She now lives on an island in Washington State with her husband, cat, and two dogs.  Her short work has appeared in the Writers Journal, Snowy Egret, and Renaissance Magazine.  Elsa is proud to live by the motto:  any day on which you pet a dog is a good day.

Elsa has always enjoyed speculating about what the dogs might be thinking, which led to her novel, Dog Days, and e-novella, A Christmas Tail.

The Love Dog (A Tor MM Original; $7.99) will be on sale to the public January 29, 2013.   ISBN 978-0-7653-6809-6  336 pages.  Available from all major book sellers.  I received my copy as an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.  You can pre-order The Love Dog at Barnes and Noble and Amazon now.

I'm pleased to give a very enthusiastic recommendation for The Love Dog by Elsa Watson.  Be sure to come back to Talking Dogs tomorrow for a chance to win a copy of Dog Days  (Elsa Watson's previous novel)!

Ruff Guide Travel Book Kickstarter Campaign from BringFido.com

America's leading pet friendly travel website BringFido.com has launched its first Kickstarter campaign, promoting the soon to be released book - Ruff Guide to the United States, featuring 365 of the best places to stay and play with your dog in all 50 states. 

Earlier this year, BringFido.com founder Melissa Halliburton and her dog, Ace, embarked on a 20,000-mile journey across the U.S. in search of the most dog-friendly attractions and accommodations. The book is a compilation of the best of the best and will be released in hard copy and e-book editions in May 2013.

"Kickstarter is the perfect platform for launching our book project because we can offer unique reward experiences to our supporters," says Halliburton, whose company has helped over 10 million dog owners bring their pets on vacation since 2006. Autographed copies of the book and one-of-a-kind themed experiences are among the rewards being offered to backers of the campaign, which runs through Christmas Day.

BringFido.com has tailored packages that will make any dog lover jealous. A few lucky dogs will set out on adventures that include kayaking, surfing lessons, skijoring, and jeep and flightseeing tours. A professional photographer will be on hand at each activity to capture the moment for inclusion in the book. 

For less adventurous pooches, rewards include luxury accommodations at top pet-friendly hotels across the country, doggie massages, and even a dog birthday party. For the dog (or dog owner) who seemingly has everything, the "Pupparazi" package includes VIP star treatment for two nights at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, complete with a dog-friendly limo ride.

BringFido.com features the world's largest directory of pet-friendly hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals. Dog owners traveling with their pets can book directly on the website or call 877-411-FIDO to speak to a pet travel expert. The company, based in South Carolina, can even help customers find pet-friendly attractions, dog events, and restaurants with outdoor seating areas.

Dog Trots Globe: Cyber Monday Book Sale

Cyber Monday special on the hardcover edition of Dog Trots Globe.  Just $9.95 for the hardcover edition at OIC Books and Amazon.  

That's a stocking stuffer price!

Don't miss this special opportunity to pick up multiple copies to kick off your holiday gift shopping for the dog lovers and Francophiles on your list.

Hurry!  This barking good price is good only on Cyber Monday.

We reviewed Dog Trots Globe: To Paris and Provence (Sheltie Goes to France) earlier this year:

A delightful travelogue told from the point of view of author, Sheron Long's, Shetland Sheepdog. Chula, the Sheltie dog, traveled from Carmel Valley in California to Paris and Saint-Remy-de-Provence over two months time. Beautiful photographs, recommendations of dog friendly places and charming storytelling abound...

Read our Talking Dogs full review of Dog Trots Globe.

Old Dogs Are the Best Dogs Book Review

Old Dogs:  Are the Best Dogs is, hands down, my favorite dog book.   This is less a book review as it is an opportunity for me to encourage you to consider this one of the best gifts you can give this holiday season.

A collection of short profile vignettes written by Gene Weingarten and photographs by Michael S. Williamson, this book is a tribute to senior dogs. 

The publishers state that anyone who has ever loved an old dog will love Old Dogs.  I beg to differ.  Anyone who has ever love any dog will love this book.

All of the dogs in this book were at least 10 years old when their portraits were made.  Published in 2008, many are now waiting for their human companions at the rainbow bridge.  Weingarten notes:

"If you ask us which of them [the dogs] are still alive, our answer is:  They all are.  May old dogs live forever."

Old Dogs begins with by far the longest essay.   Remembering Harry is a story about Harry, a yellow Labrador Retriever, the product of a Kansas puppy mill.  In telling Harry's story, the author shares observations about living with our best friends and life itself.  

" Old dogs can be cloudy-eyed and grouchy, gray of muzzle, graceless of gait, odd of habit, hard of hearing, pimply, wheezy, lazy and lumpy.  but to anyone who has ever known an old dog, these things are of little consequence.  Old dogs are vulnerable.  They show exorbitant gratitude and limitless trust.  They are without artifice.  They are funny in new and unexpected ways.  But above all, they seem at peace.  This last quality is almost indefinable.  If you want to play it safe, you can call it serenity.  I call it wisdom.."

Without a doubt, I promise you will find dogs in this book who will bring your own old friends to mind.  I suspect you'll fall in love with every dog in this book.  These beautiful black and white portrait photographs of the dogs will melt your heart.  Many of Weingarten's profiles will require tissues.

If you don't have a copy of this book, get one.  If you're a dog lover like me, you'll find yourself picking it up more often than you can imagine.  It is a meditation on the meaning of life with dogs and on love.

As a dog lover, in Weingarten you'll a kindred spirit.  This is a man who has instructed his family that he wishes to be buried in Washington's Congressional Cemetery, because it allows dogs to run free.  He wants his tombstone to read only:  

"Gene Weingarten, a funny man who loved dogs."  

and to be carved in the shape of a fire hydrant.



Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs, published 2008 by Simon & Schuster, 160 pages.  Available at major book sellers.


Gene Weingarten is a nationally syndicated humor columnist and a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer for The Washington Post.  He has written two books:  The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life And Death and I'm with Stupid (with Gina Barreca).  

Michael S. Williamson is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and works as both a photographer and photo editor at The Washington Post.

Book Review: The Fitzy Resolution by A.D. DeSena

If you enjoy political thrillers and think it might be fun for dogs to be the central characters, here's a fun read!

The Fitzy Resolution by A.D. DeSena and published by Dogged Publishers, had me hooked on the very first page with the description of the story's heroine, Casey.  

Casey is a three year old yellow Labrador Retriever who happens to be a Senator in the Central Canine Government and the head of the Committee of Inter-Canine Communication.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Set aside reality for a moment.  Open this book and you are plunged immediately into a world of dogs that is, quite possibly, like none you've imagined.  

De Sena notes in the Prologue:

The world of dogs has been obscure despite the fact that they live in plain sight of their human counterparts.  The following story reflects my efforts in piecing together various canine historical documents over a period of many years...

What follows is a tale of mystery and political intrigue old from the animals' points of view.

The storyline:

As conflict builds between the Central Canine Government and the Wilds, Senator Labrador-Casey is called to investigate the mysterious disappearances of canines in her district.  Meanwhile, Juniper, a shrewd veteran Senator, seeks to exploit every political opportunity, including Casey's investigation, for his own personal gain.  As her investigation leads her snout to snout with disturbing facts about her government and her world, Casey must race against time to stop Juniper from achieving his ultimate political goals.  The result is a battle that pits two political philosophies against one another and threatens the very existence of canine society!

A serious read, don't think you'll breeze through The Fitzy Resolution.  With it's highly detailed plot narrative, you'll want to pay attention to the details. As you discover the story is a creative tale about animal welfare, you'll truly appreciate the conclusion.

Though I usually am not fond of stories written in the voice of dogs (or other animals), the heroine, Casey, was immensely appealing to me.  More importantly, DeSena's story is a very detailed and highly nuanced serious read.  Think: Tom Cruise movie (with Tom Cruise as a female yellow lab) or Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (with dogs, rather than women, as the central theme.)

Spend some time with Casey as she discovers the humans to whom dogs have been so loyal are also a great danger to them.  Celebrate with this yellow lab when the Fitzy Resolution is passed and canine oppression is ended.

We're pleased to recommend The Fitzy Resolution as a good read for all dog lovers, including older teens.  You'll find The Fitzy Resolution available for purchase at major book retailers Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  You may also enjoy following The Fitzy Resolution on Facebook.

Book Review: Organizing the Care of My Dog

When my mother was recently rushed to the hospital and began what turned out to be an extended stay, she was lucky that we lived nearby and knew her dog very well.  With a myriad of health problems and the peculiarities common to older dogs, Andy requires quite a bit of specialized care. 

Though our own dogs are healthy, they, too, have their own special needs.  And, lately, I've contemplated what would happen to them if something happened to me and my husband.

That's where the Wise Up workbook, Organizing the Care of My Dog, comes in handy.  Morgan T. Orr and Penelope Orr Spry have authored this workbook to organize important information about caring for you dog - just in case.  In addition, the information is essential for your pet sitter.

Just as the title states, this is a workbook.  You fill in the blanks.  Sections include emergency contact information, health data about your dog, feeding and exercise information, your dog's daily routine, location of grooming and other supplies.   

In addition, you'll find good basic information about making financial arrangements for you dog, including the establishment of a legal trust.  As the authors note, Organizing the Care of My Dog acts as a lifeline document for your dog if someone other than yourself must provide your dog with care.

A few months ago I might have thought such a workbook silly.  As a DIYer, I know I could put together a file of information like this for my dogs.  However, having experienced a family emergency, I'm painfully aware this workbook could make things so much easier for someone who has to step in with pet care.

I highly recommend Organizing the Care of My Dog and the companion workbook, Organizing the Care of My Small Pet.  Keep all of your pet's vital information and your personal instructions in one very convenient place.

View the table of contents,  a sample chapter and purchase your copy of Organizing the Care of My Dog from the publisher, Wise Up.

Dog Book Review: Guardians of Being by Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell

A guest blog post by the Dog Daddy at For Love of a Dog - Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats - Book Review

A number of years ago I learned about Eckhart Tolle and began following his writings. The first book I read was “The Power of Now”. This book changed the way I see myself and the world.  

I have since read numerous books by Tolle and am amazed by his insight.  So, I was thrilled when my dogs, with the help of my lovely wife, gave me “Guardians of Being” for my recent birthday.  

The full name of the book is “Guardians of Being, Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats” The words are by Eckhart Tolle, spiritual teacher, and the art is by Patrick McDonnell, creator of the comic strip MUTTS. These two are truly inspired and work wonderfully together.  

In Tolle’s writings he often speaks about dogs and how they can teach us to be in the Now, so I was excited to read this book. I have already read it 3 times.  It will definitely be one of those books I keep close and re-visit. 

Anyone who has ever loved a dog or a cat will love this book and as you read you will find yourself saying YES! I know that! I knew that! I feel that!

Tolle teaches that all animals - dogs and cats specifically - as we live and love so closely with them, are in the original state of consciousness and are not encumbered by the human mind and ego which keeps us locked in the past or present and not in the now, where dogs and cats reside. So by observing our animals and being in the here and now with them we can learn to better experience the joy of life. 

“It’s so wonderful to watch an animal because an animal has no opinion about itself. IT IS.”   Tolle

“The vital function that pets fulfill in this world hasn’t been fully recognized. They keep millions of people sane.” Tolle

“I have lived with many Zen Masters, all of them cats.” Tolle

“Love is a deep empathy with the other’s Beingness. You recognize yourself, your essence, in the other. And so you can no longer inflict suffering on the other.” Tolle

The quotations above are just a sample of the great wisdom in this book and the great wisdom of our pets. The art by McDonnell which accompany Tolle's words, go along with these teachings to highlight the words and the wisdom. I would encourage all pet owners to read this book to remind you of the spiritual wisdom they possess and to assist them in doing their job of being Guardians of Being. 

Spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. At the age of twenty-nine a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating, and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. Later, he began to work in London with individuals and small groups as a counselor and spiritual teacher. Since 1995 he has lived in Vancouver, Canada.

Eckhart Tolle is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of our time. In 2008, A New Earth became the first spiritual book to be selected for Oprah's Book Club as well as the subject of a ten-week online workshop co-taught by Eckhart and Oprah.  Learn more at his web site www.eckharttolle.com

Patrick McDonnell is a New York Times best-selling author. He received the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year in 1999, and Mutts was named Strip of the Year in 1997. A dedicated animal advocate and Genesis Award recipient, McDonnell regularly lends his talents to animal protection groups and issues, including the Humane Society of the United States, where he serves on the national board of directors. McDonnell was also recently elected to the board of directors of the Charles M. Schulz Museum. He is a native of New Jersey.  Learn more at his web site www.MuttsComics.com 

Dog Daddy Birthday Gifts

The Dog Daddy at our house had a birthday recently and his favorite gifts were from the dogs!  In fact, he liked a couple of them so much that I thought I'd share them with you.

This yellow Labrador Retriever / Golden Retriever dog soap was a bit hit, especially since it came from Jeffie and Rudy!    This soap is beautiful and would make a fabulous gift for any retriever dog lover.  A great hostess gift, too.

Handmade by Tricia Samundsen / Scentability, each soap is hand poured using a detergent free glycerin soap base.  She offers her dog soap bars in black Lab, chocolate Lab and Golden Retriever.  You pick the scent from a long list of available scents.  The Dog Daddy's soap is Intuition for Men and smells great! 

Golden Retriever handmade soap from Scentability

These soap bars are generous in size - almost 3" x 4" - and very reasonably priced at $5.75.  We love supported small artisan businesses and are definitely partial to handmade goods.  Fetch your own beautiful dog themed soap from Scentability at their Etsy Shop.  Scentability also offers soap for dogs in lavender cedarwood scent and soaps in goat, lamb and pig themes!

Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnel's book Guardians of Being was another favorite gift from the dogs.   

With words by Tolle about the spiritual teachings from our dogs and cats, and illistrations by McDonnel, creator of MUTTS comic strip, how could this book not be a favorite?!  Watch for a guest blog post book review soon from the Dog Daddy who has some pretty good dog shoppers!

Book Review: The Dog Cancer Survival Guide

Talking dogs book review of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide:  Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality & Longevity.  Written by Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM with Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, Dip, ACVIM (Oncology).  Published by Maui Media, LLC

Some reviewers have stated that if your dog has cancer, you need this book.  I’ll go one step further and say:  if you own a dog, you need this book.  The majority of dog owners will be forced to deal with the heartbreak of losing a dog to cancer.  In fact, if you subtract euthanasia, cancer is  the number one killer of dogs. 

I can honestly say that I wish I’d had this book years ago.  I’ve lost three dogs to cancer, one only a few weeks ago. 

When my review copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide arrived, I was a bit intimidated by the sheer size of the volume.  I began to quickly flip through, thinking I’d set it aside to read later.  I found myself compelled to sit down and begin reading right away.  I’d fully expected it to be a downer, but it is the opposite.  As I read, I felt empowered by not only the detailed information, but the upbeat tone of the book.

As Dr. Dressler says:  “Dog cancer is an emergency, and if it is the tsunami you are facing, think of this book as your survival guide.” 

A massive compilation of medical and scientific information could be dry, boring, and over whelming.  It’s not.  The Dog Cancer Survival Guide is written in clear, straightforward, conversational layperson’s language. 

You’ll find everything you wanted to know but didn’t know to ask about canine cancer veterinary treatment, both conventional, as well as holistic treatment options, including botanical nutraceuticals, supplements, nutrition and mind-body medicine.  In addition, there’s a section devoted to how to work with your veterinarian to develop an individualized treatment plan for your dog.

This book has a wonderful balance of factual information about various forms of canine cancer and their treatment, plus a healthy dose of psychological and compassionate support for dog owners.

“The clearer your mind and heart are, the easier you learn," says Dr. Dressler. "The more you learn about cancer and how to treat it, the wiser the decisions you will make about your dog’s treatment. The calmer you are, the more likely your dog will be calm, too.”

The organization of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide is excellent and intuitive.  Each chapter includes flagged side notes which range from comments from Dr. Ettinger, examples of true stories of dog’s with cancer, further information and more.

Dr. Demian Dressler is a general practice veterinarian in Maui, Hawaii, who first published The Dog Cancer Survival Guide as an eBook sold to readers of Dr. Dressler’s blog www.DogCancerBlog.com.  Dr. Susan Ettinger is a veterinary oncologist at the Animal Specialty Center in New York City.  They first met at The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in the 1990’s.  In The dog Cancer Survival Guide they’ve taken their decades of clinical experience and thorough research of the current literature to explain dog cancer for the lay person.

Talking Dogs recommends this book without any reservation.  What a wonderful holiday gift this would be for anyone who lives with dogs.  Fetch a copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle or Nook.


Fetch a look at The Dog Cancer Survival Guide Table of Contents on our Good Reading page.