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From Publishers Weekly
The story line of Katz's latest book can be summed up very simply two dogs die and two new ones join the family but its charm comes from an intricate blend of witty anecdote and touching reflection. Katz (Geeks, Virtuous Reality) has shared his affection for years with two low-maintenance Labs, whose "chosen work was to reflect on the state of the world, lick neighborhood kids, and accompany [him] through midlife." So it is somewhat surprising that he next adopts a frenetic and demanding border collie he occasionally refers to as "Helldog." His life turned upside down; his writing schedule disrupted, he learns to center his life around a dog's needs rather than vice versa. After adopting the homeless Devon, Katz adopts his second border collie, Homer, because Oprah Winfrey urges him to. (He appears on her show for his book about his Labs, Running to the Mountain.) He's fallen in love with the breed's intelligence and curiosity. In fact, both breeds seem to touch something in his soul the Lab his centered, peaceful side; the border collie his troubled side. Over the course of the year, Katz reflects on the importance of devotion to and understanding of any animal taken into the home; ways to live peacefully with border collies; and even the problems of midlife crisis. "Once in a great while," he muses, "the right person is fortunate enough to get the right dog, to have time to take care of it, to connect with it in a profound way."
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Katz's smooth, flowing writing style and engaging manner of describing the personalities of his four dogs will captivate even reluctant readers. That he unobtrusively conveys lessons about dignity, discipline, and trust along the way is a bonus. In the opening pages, the family has two golden Labrador retrievers (Julius and Stanley) of tranquil and stately demeanor who have meshed perfectly into the rhythms of the author's daily writing routine and are beloved by neighbors in their suburban NJ locale. Then, he takes in Devon, a high-strung, two-year-old Border collie "with emotional issues." Surmounting the challenges presented by this beautiful and intelligent (but willful and anxious) animal, bonding with him and restoring equilibrium, fill many an entertaining chapter as the author cajoles Devon into accepting his new owner as the alpha male in the pack. Further adjustments are necessary as illness prematurely claims the lives of both Labs, and a Border collie puppy, Homer, is introduced into the household. In final chapters, wanting to satisfy the collies' native instincts as working dogs, Katz seeks out a training opportunity for them to experience herding sheep, and is rewarded by appreciation for their aptitude and high-energy intensity on the job. Throughout the story, adventures are touching, humorous, and winsome.
Lynn Nutwell, Fairfax City Regional Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Lynn Nutwell, Fairfax City Regional Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
He was a two-year-old border collie of Australian lineage, well-bred but high-strung, and in big trouble. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
He was a two-year-old border collie of Australian lineage, well-bred but high-strung, and in big trouble. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
TWO'S COMPANY -- THREE'S A CROWD,
By Nancy Martin (Pennsylvania (orig. NY)) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me (Paperback)
I really wanted to love this book. How could I not with a picture of a Border Collie on the cover? After all, I am a border collie owner....an owner who adopted an abused border collie six years ago. To say that my life has changed for the better since then would be an understatement. Of course, these aren't feelings only reserved for owners of border collies as all of my friends who are dog owners feel the same way. There is a magic in having a dog in your life and I'm just happy to be so blessed.With that said, it caused me to read this book with my own dog in mind judging the author's own decisions along the way. I just couldn't reconcile the idyllic life he had with Julius and Stanley (his Labrador Retrievers) and then bringing Devon (his adopted Border Collie) into the fray knowing full well that it would overturn the applecart. Once Devon arrived, I felt like Julius and Stanley were pushed to the side and relegated to the backyard, while Devon occupied all of their owner's time. Was this their reward for years and years of loyalty and companionship? Yes, it was great for the new addition to the family but at the expense of two dogs the author supposedly loved above all things. As if that wasn't bad enough, Stanley begins to get sick...not sick enough that he wasn't enjoying life any longer. I read the section, where Jon takes all three dogs to the mountains so that Stanley could enjoy his last trip there, with a knot in my stomach knowing full well that, upon their return, he was going to have Stanley put to sleep. There's no way I could spend a glorious weekend romping in the woods with my dog, having him retrieve the ball he so loved knowing that his days were numbered because of a decision I was making. Perhaps I'm being too critical but these two things took away from the overall enjoyment this book could have given me. In no way could I look my beloved border collie in her one blue and one brown eye and tell her not only that I was bringing someone else into our home who would change her life forever (and not for the better) and, as if that's not bad enough, there's no way I could drive her to the vet and put her down when she wasn't even close to no longer being a functional and loving pet. I know the author did a good job justifying these actions but this reader and this dog lover just didn't buy it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
I love dogs, but...,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me (Paperback)
This book made me very uncomfortable in many ways. I wanted to like the book and I wanted it to be heart-warming, but everything this author did caused more heartburn than warm fuzzies. He was perfectly happy with two yellow labs and a routine that suited them all but he couldn't help but adopt a border collie and ship him to his home in...suburban New Jersey!? My stomach turned. His "education" of the dog was a tad rough by his own admission, throwing metal choke chains and physically striking the what, 30 or 40 pound dog? I was a bit embarrassed for him for admitting it publicly. He put his yellow lab down when he still had many good days of playing and companionship ahead of him and was not in pain. His choice, but I felt a bit queasy. He caved in and brought a second border collie into the house against his better judgement. I wanted to scream. This must be a man who can't say no to all of those telemarketers. I am very happy things worked out for him in the end, but I still need antacids to get over the angst this book has given me.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Midlife crisis for Katz: Dogs suffer,
By Lucy Schneider (Upper Montclair, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me (Paperback)
Rest in peace, Julius and Stanley. Too bad your master couldn't have shown you the loyalty you showed him in your old age. But then, you were dogs, he was human -- and an expert on dogs, at that. You didn't have a prayer when he brought in the bratty hell dog. And one of them wasn't enough to keep him interested. He was bored with you guys. Had I known your plight, I would have dog-napped you. You could have lolled around with me and my Springer (we're both unemployed!)and lived out your last years with dignity. Talk about dog stress. You had it in spades just at the time of your life when you didn't deserve it--your golden years. Maybe in the next life, Katz will be a dog and you can be his master!
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