Category Archives: dog books

The art of racing in the rain

I’ve just finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and highly recommend it.  Add it to your reading list and buy it for dog lovers this Christmas!

The story is told entirely from the dog’s point of view.  Enzo is a sensitive soul, a family pet and confidante who observes a family’s struggle with cancer and the chaos that enters their lives as a result.  Owned by Denny, a race car driver, Enzo learns a lot about life from watching television and learns the race car driver’s philosophy – “That which you manifest is before you

I’ve read books before that have been written from the dog’s point of view and have been disappointed.  Not this one – there’s a reasonn that it made the New York Times bestseller list.

What’s its name?

Choosing the ‘right’ name for your dog and puppy is just as important as naming your children.   People will make assumptions based on your dog’s name and act accordingly.  Just ask a Bozo about being treated like a clown… Or wonder why people aren’t interested in petting Killer…

And let’s face it – most books of names out there are focused on naming of babies – so you’ve got the added problem when your partner/parents/friends think you might be expecting when really you are only after the perfect puppy name.

Here’s the solution:  What’s Its Name by John Gordon is a naming guide specifically for dogs.  The book contains ‘1000 ways to dub your dog’ and it was written in 1999.  You can still buy copies of it on Amazon.com and other outlets including used booksellers.

Forgive the language.  John is a New Zealander and some of his references are related to rugby.  Otherwise, it’s an essential reference book for the dog lover.

This book will make an ideal Christmas gift (it isn’t too soon to start setting aside gifts for the holiday!)

Target – Afghanistan war dog dies

News has come through that Target, a female shepherd mix who was credited with saving soldiers in Afghanistan from a suicide bomber, was killed this week.  She went missing from Sergeant Terry Young’s home in Arizona and an employee at the animal shelter where she was being held did not follow procedures and euthanised her.  The employee has since been fired.

Target is not the first dog that has befriended soldiers at war.   With conflict still occurring around the world, I hope she will not be the last.

Read about Target on this site

In my newsletter, I’ve previously reviewed a wonderful book from Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman about Lava, a dog he met in Iraq and worked to bring to the United States.    You can buy From Baghdad with Love from Amazon.com

Lieutenant Colonel Kopelman subsequently authored From Baghdad to America:  Life after War for a Marine and His Rescued Dog