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Holly's Pick of the Month:
The Dogs of Bedlam Farm
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Reviews
Book
Beyond Fetch
Holly gives this book a hearty 5 out of 5 bones!
Are both you and Bailey bored with throwing that same raggedy tennis ball back and forth? Does Champ have the winter blues? Is Rover giving you that look that fills you with guilt for skipping his walk that chilly day?
Then we have just the book for you! Pick up a copy of BEYOND FETCH by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D. This entertaining read is packed full of fun, interactive activities for you and your personal pack at home. With chapters on everything from amusing “Mind Games” to “Indoor Adventures” to “Backyard Athletics”, “Ways to Relax” and more, this helpful guide will give your bond with your buddy a boost! Not sure your canine can handle it? No worries, because this clever author even includes “abilities” notations to alert you in advance if you need to brush your pal up on training before attempting some of the activities. Not tempted yet? Here’s a taste of one entry…
BOWSER BOWLING: A Game of Finesse (SORT OF) on Pg. 53
ABILITIES: Chase or retrieve a rolled ball.
“Here’s a game where klutzy dogs have the advantage. It works just like regular bowling, only your dog is allowed to cheat. You’ll need 10 empty plastic soda bottles to use as bowling pins. You’ll also need a tennis ball or something slightly larger to use as a bowling ball. The object is to roll your ball toward the bottles, knocking them down if possible, and to send your dog after the ball in hopes she will knock down the rest of them. Just as in bowling, you get two chances to knock down all the pins. If you know how bowling is scored, you can do the same here. If not, just add up the number of pins knocked down.”
So pick up a copy to chase away those days of cabin fever! Fido will love you for it!
Doggone Good Reviews
from Holly Smith!
Holly's favorite reading material is anything about dogs, so watch out for a new review each issue with her take on the best in canine literature.
Back
To The Bookstore.....
Dogs 24/7
A Review by Maia Haeberle-Savard
"Dogs 24/7, an interesting book full of gorgeous images of our canine friends, features many unknown yet talented photographers, and is altogether an irresistible collection of beautiful pictures and writings. Divided into several parts, each one starts with a delightful essay which makes it even more enjoyable to look at the following photos, all of them accompanied by a descriptive caption. Dogs 24/7 is an
amazing combination of great pictures and interesting stories. Whether you want to buy it for yourself or as a gift, you will never regret your purchase."
BEST FRIENDS:
The True Story of the World's Most
Beloved Animal Sanctuary
By Samantha Glen
( with Introduction by Mary Tyler Moore)
Holly's Rating: 3 out of 5 Bones
One can't help but be moved by the inspiring story of
the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon,
Utah - unfortunately Samantha Glen's writing does not
do justice to this incredible group of people and
their vision. Although animal rescuers will be
interested to learn more about how the shelter was
founded by a group of friends committed to the cause
of animal rescue, much of the details surrounding that
aspect of the story are not shared until the second
half of the book. Yet, no one can deny the charm of
the anecdotes about the animals that found themselves
blessed by Best Friends rescue efforts. Despite the
somewhat dry narrative, the touching circumstances
surrounding some of Best Friends special animals
motivates you to read on and learn more about some of
the others fortunate enough to fall into their care.
It would be difficult for animal lovers not to be
drawn into the story of the small circle of friends
who started with a big idea born of love and turned it
into a reality.
Best Friends is now a widely-recognized and respected
sanctuary for animals of all kinds, requiring all
levels of care, and a wonderful reminder that no
matter what your dream may be, with perseverance and
a little help from some friends, it may just come
true! For those interested in Best Friends, you may
want to look into their excellent magazine for more
current information on the sanctuary, it's animals and
activities. Should you decide to get a subscription,
you'll actually be helping them continue their efforts
on behalf of animals in need. If you're interested in
more information, visit
Best Friends Web site at: http://www.bestfriends.org
The Dogs of Bedlam Farm
An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me.
By Jon Katz
Holly's Rating: 4 out of 5 Bones
THE DOGS OF BEDLAM FARM: By Jon Katz (4 out of 5 bones)
Jon Katz was already a well-established author before dogs entered his
life and he began shifting the focus of his writing to canines with the
books A DOG YEAR and THE NEW WORK OF DOGS. As with his other writings,
THE DOGS OF BEDLAM FARM contains a nice mix of practical dog advice and heart. Although Jon Katz reflects on the importance of dogs in our
lives, unlike many authors that write about animals, he maintains
respect for the fact that they ARE in fact animals, and we do our pets
no favors by falling into the easy habit of attributing human traits and
motives to their natural behaviors. Mr. Katz does not stray from this
theme throughout BEDLAM.
In this installment Mr. Katz learns to come to grips with how his
personality and sporadic training methods for his herding border collies
can positively or negatively affect their success and behavior. He also
faces the challenges of working with and caring for several farm animals
that greatly depend on him, particularly in the midst of a freezing New
York winter. One finds when reading of his adventures that they are
struggling along with him... trudging through deep snow in the early
morning hours to take a donkey's temperature or spending sleepless
nights during the lambing season waiting for the next birth or rooting for his
estranged dog Homer. Readers also share in his triumphs and may go away feeling that despite the hardships he endured, they too are drawn to the idea of carving out a life for themselves amongst hearty, caring, helpful friends and
neighbors in a small farming community.
Despite the allure of Jon Katz' writing style and reflections, this
title is just one shy of 5 bones, because for dog-lovers it may come up
a bit short. This is no fault of Mr. Katz' abilities as an author,
particularly since the title itself explains the various subjects he'll
focus on in the story. Yet, based on his more thorough coverage of
canines in his other writings and the fetching image of a border collie on the
cover, it's easy to think you will be reading more about his experience
learning to train border collies for herding sheep than his life on the
farm. As a result, readers may be disappointed by the fact that although
he speaks of his border collies frequently throughout the narrative,
more airtime seems to be given to his own inner journey as he plays out
the folly of purchasing a farm with little experience. Although that can make for
entertaining reading, dog lovers may find themselves hungry for some
more on the unique art of herding.
Yet, regardless of your expectations going in, this is sure to be a
satisfying read for anyone who enjoys non-fiction that temporarily puts
you in another person's shoes (or in this case, muddy boots) for a time.
Jon Katz' narrative gives the impression that he is a very likeable guy who recognizes his flaws and strives admirably to overcome them. The fact that he chose a remote farm to do so makes for a worthwhile, entertaining story.
