A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me Reviews

• TWO'S COMPANY -- THREE'S A CROWD

  
  By A8WX6M9VK4EXR on 2003-05-23
  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.
  
  

• Julius, Stanley, Devon and Homer- The Dogs!

  
  By A1TPW86OHXTXFC on 2004-12-08
  "He was a two-year-old border collie of Australian lineage, well-bred but high-strung, and in big trouble." so starts this glorious book. I heard Jon Katz on NPR discuss his newest book, and knew I had to read his work. I decided to start with an older book of his to get the flavor of the writing and his message. This is a "cannot put down" book. A book filled with humour and fun and sadness and death.
  
  Jon Katz believes strongly that if we are to take a dog into our lives, we must treat them as dogs, not as humans. Dogs do not know human behavior, and we should not treat them as such. And, if we love our dogs we will have them trained by someone legitimate, someone who understands dogs. Dogs need to learn to live in our people society.
  
  Jon Katz had two lovely Labrador dogs, Julius and Stanley. Everyone loved them. They were the kind of dogs who are peaceful and contained. They loved everyone and actually liked to lick children's faces. They went everywhere with Jon and were well behaved. So, then, why did Jon feel an urge to bring into their lives a border collie who was untrained, wild and had not succeeded in his previous environment? You will come to understand. Jon was approached by a trainer who had read his books on dogs to take in this animal. Devon arrived from Texas on a wild and wooly night via airplane at a New Jersey airport. Jon waited for him and when his cage appeared, he unclasped the lock and zoom the dog was gone. Jon and the security guards spent the next 45mins trying to capture Devon. Finally, he was corralled and thus started the trial to tame Devon. Devon was a border collie, intelligent and curious, but he was the master and no one had been able to train him successfully. He needed to herd and he would run into the road trying to herd garbage trucks and buses. This just didn't work, He would run away and just at the time Jon started thinking it might be time to send Devon back to Texas- a miracle occurred.
  
  Julius and Stanley were not loving Devon's arrival, but they tolerated him. Jon and the three dogs would go to an isolated area in New York State on a small farm and run free. Finally life seemed less stressful, and then the unexpected. One of the dogs becomes ill, and one of the most moving dog experiences I have ever read occurs. Tears dripping down my face I finished that chapter. And, then on to the arrival of Homer another border collie.
  
  The lessons learned from this book about loving and living with dogs are significant. This is one of those books that help us to realize why animals are so important to our lives. So well written that I feel I know Jon Katz and I certainly know Julius, Stanley, Devon and Homer. Unabashedly recommended. prisrob
  
  
  

• I love dogs, but...

  
  By on 2003-10-10
  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.
  
  

• Reflective musing on man and dog

  
  By A1S7BFT0HDF3HA on 2002-05-28
  Do not make the mistake of thinking this book is a training guide or how-to book for dog owners. Mr. Katz is, by nature, a story teller, and in this compact book, he weaves together observations and anecdotes during the course of a dog year, a year he pretty much devoted to his four dogs, a pair of aging labs and a pair of young border collies.

  The striking differences in the dispositions of the labs and Devon, a troubled border collie he adopts sight unseen constitute much of the book's premise. Mr. Katz must come to terms with Devon, a dog that is totally different from his beloved, mellow labs---so different, that he soon earns the nickname "Helldog." In learning to train and love this high-strung, very intelligent new addition, he must confront his own notions of discipline, commitment, and duty. He does not always make the right decisions, but he willing lays out the consequences, right or wrong, for readers.

  Though there may be lessons here for dog owners, and especially for potential dog owners, the book ultimately is a musing, and a good one, on looking honestly on life and death, seeing into one's own dark corners, and rejoicing on the primal bond between human and canine.

  If nothing else, I would hope that Katz opens up some eyes about how much work and joy are intertwined in being a dutiful dog owner.
  
  

• Don't encourage this author to write about dogs

  
  By A29D2F7YZ2AI3 on 2007-04-04
  I don't read much so am irritated when I get stuck finishing such a rotten little book. This book is a self-interested rambling mess. The set up: Sedate middle age man gets feisty intelligent border collie because a breeder who read his book thought they were a good match (?). One internet search on border collies would provide enough information to indicate they are not going to fit into a sedate lifestyle. Border collies are intelligent and sensitive and need to be throughly trained. This usually require more time and effort than other breeds.
  
  We meet Devon when he gets loose in the crowded airport (Katz's fault). He boosted that the dog was a "champion border collie" to discourage an officer from calling in animal control. Although he had no experience with Devon, he was less concerned that a frightened dog would bite when cornered than passing up the chance to let strangers know he had a "special" dog. Katz's treatment of Devon is disturbing (yelling, throwing chains, swatting) as is his lack of forethought in letting Devon chase trucks. Regardless of the fact a barrier was in place, he was setting a dangerous precedent.
  
  What's frustrating is that Katz had the means and access to professionals who would have trained both him and the dogs but didn't bother asking for help. Maybe having a dog that was miserable because it didn't know how it was expected to behave was more entertaining.
  
  Katz should have stuck with labs. Less fodder for book writing but more in line with his temperament as they were little bother. He is making money from the misery his own dog ownership is imposing. Consider that purchasing his books will encourage him to spread tales of his poor actions and decisions.
  
  
• Katz Kills Dogs
  By A2P54MI811TC7B on 2007-06-24
  Before you buy this book, you need to know that Devon, the Border Collie, is killed by Katz, as detailed in the later book "A Good Dog." Katz had his two yellow labs, Julius and Stanley, killed at the first sign of illness, before attempting any treatment. He tells Devon, on page 88, "I will never abandon you," playing up his promise to his dog as something solemn and sacred. Although I thought Katz did almost everything wrong in this book, I was willing to forgive it because he claimed he loved Devon and was dedicated to the best care of his "soulmate." Then I come to find out that Katz has written another book about having Devon killed, while the dog was young and in good health, for what Katz decided were insurmountable behavioral problems. This new book, A Good Dog, makes the argument that it is the moral responsiblity of dog owners to kill their pets at the first sign of trouble instead of spending money on training or medical treatment. For Katz, you had better be young, healthy, and happy, or you get the ax. This is a disgusting person who should not be allowed to own animals. He most definitely should not be viewed as an animal lover or an expert on animals. Do not buy any books written by Jon Katz.
  
  
• Before reading A Dog Year
  By AL6G2EKOOTG92 on 2007-08-20
  If you have not already read this book, I would recommend you read the reviews for the book which chronicles the end of Orson's life (the gorgeous dog on the front cover. In A Dog Year you are introduced to Katz's pet project - Orson. We are lead to believe that Orson (aka Devon) is Katz's soulmate and Katz is the person who can save the poor troubled and mis-handled Orson. Although I somewhat enjoyed a Dog Year, I was worried that Katz had taken on something he didn't understand. Orson's final book - A Good Dog - proved me right. Katz cannot handle Orson and eventually euthanizes him. Katz made his money out of Orson by writing these books and then gave up on him. Considering the depth of feeling that Orson had for the author - I was left incensed and speechless at the end of A Good Dog. As an aside - the other border collie you are introduced to in a Dog Year is given to a new home because he doesn't fit with Katz either. So, before putting even more money into the coffers of a man who said that he could not justify spending money on Orson to find out what his issues were, I would refrain from spending money on this book.
  
  
• Four Dogs and Jon Katz
  By A2SIC0EOF7CPB3 on 2007-06-30
  Of the four dogs in "A Dog Year," three have been euthanized and one has been given away.
  
  Katz presents himself in this book as a genial, bumbling dog lover. In spite of his incredible mistakes as a trainer, in a beautiful moment at the end of the book it seems that the rescued border collie Devon has come to trust him and has found a true home. "A Good Dog" tells a very different story.
  
  Anyone thinking of buying this book should look at "A Good Dog" or the Amazon reviews of it. Katz himself has posted a review of the book and a number of replies to his critics, which are anything but genial. After reading "A Good Dog," "A Dog Year" reads like a fantasy.
  
  
• a big disappointment
  By on 2002-04-15
  I really admired Jon Katz's "Geeks" and I'm deeply interested in dogs, so I pounced on this book, but I'm sorry to say I found it very disappointing. Katz writes well, and some parts of the book are touching, especially his accounts of putting his labs down, but on the whole the book is grating in its misperceptions and obtuseness about canine behavior. It also seemed to be reaching for significance and spiritual insight in a self-conscious way that is occasionally embarrassing. Worst of all, much of it is just not interesting. There are so many insightful and genuinely touching books about the human-canine relationship that this one just seems unnecessary. I hope Katz gets back on stride with his next book.
  
  
• Put me down on the side of those who are unimpressed
  By A2SEHOBX4M0OZ0 on 2006-03-16
  Others have written many of the same words I would have used so I will be brief. I grabbed this book based on a mention from John Grogan in the Marley book. Katz is not nearly as pure of a dog owner. He seems to take pleasure in recounting his practiced dominance over his dogs. He claims to adore them but uses force and physical punishment while explaining how lucky they are to have him. In my mind, the dogs seem like experiments. This book is more about Katz than it is about the dogs. A lot of ego on display. I didn't come away with warm regard for the author.
  
  
• Write a dog book, make money, cash in, etc......
  By A4CNXNBVRF8KA on 2007-02-12
  Same old Jon Katz methods and writing style. Unfortunately it's so insincere and full of contradiction. Ultimately it is completely dishonest and without any heart or soul. See his book "Good Dog" (reviews).
  
  He should write about pet rocks. He would be considered more an authority in that realm.
  
  
• Not a great year, or a great book
  By A3KM9UA6MAVURN on 2007-02-01
  I have to admit I was underwhelmed by this book.I had issues both with the author's quick disposal of his wonderful labs and a breeder's
  constant pushing of first one, and then two border collies on the author.
  
  I wondered how responsible it is for a breeder to apparently nag someone repeatedly to take a dog based on reading a book they've written. Just because a book is non-fiction doesn't mean it's necessarily true, so I had a hard time with that breeder's actions. This was a man who reportedly had a perfect situation, working at home, with two wonderful labs that had been professionally trained and didn't need much attention from the author. So how did any breeder consider that this qualified him to handle a problem border collie with high needs? Tellingly, as soon as the labs had needs, they got the quick needle. Maybe it was right to let them go, but particularly with the lab with heart trouble, who could have had years of well managed life left, it didn't feel right to me.
  
  His heavy handed training methods with the BC didn't sit well with me either. How is hitting or shouting at an already high strung nervous dog going to help him? This is the story of an man who wasn't qualified to turn this dog around and quickly proved he really couldn't. Instead he seems to identify, even glorify with the "helldog" as he terms him, as saving him from his midlife crisis and his staid labs. Katz dumped his labs just as he'd previously dumped his family to "run to the mountains", and instead of taking up with a bike or a mistress, used the dog as a midlife crisis prop. He made his newly termed "helldog" into a misfit so he could brag about how impossible he was and they could be two misfits together. At the least, if the dog wasn't a problem, would he have made as good copy?
  
  It also seemed he was reaching pretty far to find something "profound" in the experiences in "A Dog Year" to make them worth being written up. I ended up with more disturbing questions about the owner and his misconceptions about dogs, and his mistreatment of them, than profound answers.
  Pat
  
  
  
  
• Midlife crisis for Katz: Dogs suffer
  By A1CAFLAJPHQK1Q on 2004-04-01
  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!
  
  
• Do not support this author
  By A1YUF5M9O0JLE on 2007-05-02
  I have to agree with the negative reviews here. This author shows in later works that his tendency to be self serving here is proven out. He created an industry out of his dogs and has no idea what it means to be a responsible dog owner. Please don't waste your money. Read "Marley & Me" for a story of how to love a difficult dog, not this one.Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
  
  
• Disposable Pets?
  By A1TW837W1RZRAX on 2006-03-13
  Like many other reviewers have stated, I too wanted to like this book. It was a very easy read, and as an avid dog lover, I really loved hearing the stories of Stanley, Julius and Devon.
  
  HOWEVER, I felt that Mr. Katz seemed to view his pets as a disposable item. One gets sick, go get another. As one reviewer stated, it was pretty unfair of him to bring in this dog to upset the lives of his faithful and loyal labs. I felt like in his "adoption" of these dogs he made it seem as though he was such a selfless and thoughtful person, when in reality he was only doing it to make HIMSELF feel good.
  
  I also didn't appreciate how patronizing he sounded when he spoke of people who adopted shelter animals and then had the audacity to say that those people ended up with dogs with behavioral problems. As a self-proclaimed "expert" he should know that a lot of behavioral problems in dogs come from the so-called purebred dogs.
  
  All in all, I thought he came across as a little pompous.
  
  
• Dissapointed!!
  By A2JX6VN2I2QDNG on 2007-06-07
  I just discovered Mr.Katz's books and started with the Bedlam Farm book which I thought was good.(NOBODY DIES IN THAT BOOK). There were mentions of labs in that book so I got A DOG YEAR next....I am just so shocked and angry that someone would put a dog to sleep that they loved so much just because it was getting old. I have a 10 year old pug with her share of health issues which bring me to the vet sometimes on a weekly basis and I could not even dream of putting her "TO SLEEP" because of it....I had all his other books and the new one on my list of books to get and I think I will pass on those after reading this one and the other reviews of A GOOD DOG where someone else meets the same fate. Poor Stanley.
  
  
• A Prerequisite for Border Collie&Australian Shepherd Owners
  By A1KJ2LNOVFI4BE on 2002-04-24
  This is a book for dog-lovers--a story of how entwined the lives of dogs and their human partners often become. In his book, Mr. Katz describes his relationship with a rescued Border Collie. The story begins with their wild introduction and takes the reader through several turning points in their lives as they grow to respect, appreciate, and ultimately learn from one another.

  Having raised Australian Shepherds, I found myself relating to many of the trials and tribulations that Mr. Katz describes as his Border Collie repeatedly tests his boundaries and the limits of Mr. Katz's patience. Border Collies (and Aussies), as Mr. Katz describes, are extremely intelligent and energetic animals--they can do wonders for your soul and/or drive you to insanity.

  I would strongly recommend this book to anyone thinking about owning a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd. Katz does an excellent job of capturing the true character of these incredible animals. In the process I hope that the reader will realize that these dogs are adorable and intelligent but definitely not for everyone.
  
  

• A simple, beautiful story of a man & his dogs.
  By AYMPVLWFKTAYE on 2002-11-05
  Jon Katz has given the reading public a wonderful tale with _A Dog Year_. He gives loving tribute to his two faithful yellow labs, and to his two new, energetic border collies, taking readers through the good times and the bad, showing us the boundless love and frustration. The story had me both laughing out loud, and spontaneously bursting into tears. Throughout the entire book, my heart swelled, because Jon Katz is a man who loves and is utterly devoted to his dogs. He is not perfect, and he doesn't shy away from writing about his own mistakes, especially with Devon the Helldog.

  As Katz writes of his friends, he allows us an intimate glimpse into each dog's unique character and behaviors, letting us feel close to them. This is not a completely happy story, though, and when two of the dogs die, the reader is right there on the floor with Jon, sobbing alongside him.

  He also gives us a frank look at the challenges of having a border collie in the household; this should be required reading for anyone considering bringing this breed into their home! Border collies require constant exercise and intellectual stimulation, and Katz gives dozens of examples of how this breed can test the limits of an owner's patience and sanity. Devon is a very lucky dog indeed to have found such a devoted person to take him in after his rocky beginnings in this world; I don't know how many others would have put up with his deliberate tests of will.

  This is a very moving story, simply about a man's life with his dogs. There is no plot, no overtly-stated moral; just a man, his dogs, and their boundless love for each other. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves dogs, and especially for anyone who is still in mourning for a dog they've had to put to sleep. It's a quick read (only a few hours,) but it brings cleansing tears and, with hope, peace.

  Even now, several hours after having finished the book, I am still filled with the happiness of the dogs I met, my eyes still mist over thinking of the two who passed on, and my respect and admiration for Jon Katz is growing by the minute.
  
  

• When Dogs and Lives Collide
  By on 2002-03-15
  This is definitely a book that can make you cry as well as laugh -- be forewarned: some of it is quite sad, very moving. But a lot of it is hilarious. It isn't squishy and the author doesn't take himself too seriously. But this is a yarn about what happens when dogs collide head on with the lives of people. Sometimes it really makes an impact. Devon the Border Collie is quite a character and Katz brings him very much to life. Dogs take a chunk of our hearts sometimes, and this book has lots of heart. Can't recommend it enough. It's for any dog lover, for sure.
  
  
• A Dog Lover's Must Read
  By AI3QF10JKTTGD on 2002-03-16
  A Dog Year is a must read for every dog lover out there. Jon Katz writes about his beloved dogs in such a way that the reader can almost smell them. For me, the true test of a great book is how long it takes me to read it, and this one was a fast read. For anyone who has owned a challenging dog, you will certainly be able to relate to author Katz's fortitude and determination not to give up on his border collie. As you read A Dog Year, you may cry, you will certainly laugh and you will definitely be grateful to have found this gem of a book. And it will make you proud to be a true dog lover.
  
  
• A boring read
  By on 2002-04-22
  Having just heard a radio interview with Mr Katz, I believe him to be a FAR better talker than writer on this particular subject. I'd instantly go to a lecture he might give on the subject, but the book lacks the spark, the straightforwardness, of a live conversation. As a lifelong dog owner myself, this book was a yawning disappointment, even though I share many of the author's training theories and perceptions about how dogs can and do fit into the scheme of being pets/companions-for-humans. Don't bother reading this book, but by all means listen if you have a chance to Mr Katz's conversations on the subject.
  
  
• A great book!
  By A1ZR64ZOLI65L on 2006-07-27
  I loved this book. I don't get how people thought that Jon Katz acted like he could throw away a dog and get another dog. I think by his writting he sounds like a big dog lover, and any dog lover knows you can not replace a dog in any way. So, anyway I thought the book was written well and very humerous at times. He writes so well, that I can really picture was is going on in my head when Devon the Border Collie misbehaved. I loved this book and all the books Jon Katz has written about his dogs. I think he is a well respected writer in the dog world, and I think he should keep writting about his dogs. Any Dog person should pick up one of his books, this one especially.
  
  
• A Sad Ending
  By A28D1373DQU9FK on 2007-10-10
  I actually liked the book and was going to get other books by the author until I read the reviews of 'A Good Dog'. In it - he murders Orson (Devon) his 'soul mate'. Reading these reviews ruined the rest of 'A Dog Year' for me and I will NEVER purchase another book from this guy.
  
  
• GREAT read
  By on 2002-03-05
  I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced copy of this book. Don't be fooled - this is a lot more than just a "dog book", although it is that too, and a great one. Katz touches on all kinds of topics, and the book is by turns touching, funny and profound, while avoiding sappiness and cliches. By the end of it I almost felt like I knew Katz, his wife and their great daughter, and especially his dogs; the two pairs Katz describes, his labs and his border collies, have more personality than many people I know. This book really hit home for me, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone.
  
  
• a life story
  By on 2002-04-08
  Four months have passed since I read Jon Katz's book, and I have read so many books between now and then. And yet it is this most honest, vivid story about a man who yields his heart to a foursome of dogs that remains with me all these books later. Colorfully drawn, truthfully told, A DOG YEAR stands as testimony to ties that bind. Border collies, Jon Katz teaches, are not just dogs, they are forces of nature, boundless spirits. By learning to live with his most spirited dogs, Katz learns (and teaches us) how to be more alive in the world.
  
  
• From His Soul to Theirs
  By AYXZUGTC8EZG6 on 2002-04-10
  This is a very moving book. Jon Katz tells his story as only one can who truly understands the soul of a dog and the relationship between human and animal. The life-changing experiences Jon has with these animals will make you laugh, cry, and laugh again. I found myself falling in love with the labradors and border collies as if they were my own. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced both healing and reward from a beloved pet. Animals seem to adore him - in my opinion, this man is a true "dog whisperer".
  
  
• What a GREAT book!...
  By A20A23X82P4HPQ on 2002-11-07
  I loved this book! This is an especially great read for anyone who has a Border Collie or Labs, but also wonderful for anyone who has and loves dogs. This book is funny, heart warming, and heart-rending at times. It's about love and loss, and change. It helped me to realize that some of the annoying things my Border Collie does are just part of life with this amazing breed. Another nice thing is Jon Katz is also available by e-mail. His e-mail address is on the inside of the back jacket. I wrote him to tell him how much I loved his book, and some dog stories of my own. He wrote back within the hour! I couldn't put this book down! I finished it over one weekend. I had to promise to pass it on to my Mom, my boyfriend's Mom, and his grandma! I plan to read Jon Katz's other book about his life and his Labs, Julius and Stanley, in Running to the Mountain very soon.
  
  
• Definitely a Dog Year for Jon Katz!
  By on 2004-01-25
  I really enjoyed reading A Dog Year. He begins the book by discussing life with his two devoted and loving labs. It is clear how much he loves them, and what a huge part of his life they truly were. Very loyal, well-trained, his every-day life involved his labs. Before long, he was discussing with a breeder in Texas a border collie that was returned to her, who needed a home. He was a herding dog, and even worse, had behavioral problems, but she felt he was a match for Jon Katz. Katz expressed his love for giving, and he wanted to save this dog, so he took in Devon. It wasn't long at all before Katz realized what he had gotten himself into. Life with Devon was completely different from life with his labs. He was in much worse shape than Katz expected, but he never gave up on Dev, though many times he was so close to it. It was a rough start with Devon, (and I know about rough starts with herding dogs; I have two Australian Shepherds, so I can relate), but eventually he and Devon connected. I loved this book because it vividly portrays a life with two completely different breed of dogs and the impact his dogs truly made in his life. In the end, it was clear that Devon entered Katz's life at just the right time. I don't want to ruin the whole book for those who want to read it, but I will say that it will definitely capture your attention if you're a dog lover, will make you laugh and cry both, and in the end, you will want to do something extra special for your dog(s) too.
  
  
• Loved it!
  By A35FABMZ12YM1S on 2002-04-07
  A book for dog lovers, but it's even more than that. For anyone who has ever felt lost or abandoned or alone, I highly recommend both 'A Dog Year' and Jon Katz's previous work, 'Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho.' Both tell moving, true stories of misfits (Jesse, a teenager with a gift for technology going nowhere in the midwest and Devon, a high-strung, mistreated Border Collie with nobody to trust) who are both rescued by the author. Both books made me laugh and cry, but mostly they made me feel a little safer knowing that there are people looking out for the lost boys and dogs of this world. Jesse and Devon both seem to have found a surrogate dad in Jon Katz. We should all be so lucky.
  
  
• For the love of dogs
  By A3T9GEYTFZJ3OB on 2003-12-08
  A friend gave me this book since she knew I loved my Labrador Retriever. I had just adopted a stray as a companion for the Lab and experienced alot more difficulty than I anticipated.

  Reading this book made me realize, how dogs have their own distinct personalities and how when we decide to adopt one, it is a time consuming commitment requiring alot of patience and love.

  There is a point in the book where he describes beating the dog prompting a driver to stop and chastise him. This was particularly disconcerting to me. Even when my dogs are at their worst, I could not comtemplate the beating Devon had to endure.

  Overall, I found the book enlighting and have recommended it all my friends that are dog lovers. The wisdom of Mr. Katz helped me find the patience to deal with my little hellion. I can't wait to read his new book on dogs.
  
  

• The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me
• A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life
• Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm
• Running to the Mountain: A Midlife Adventure
• The New Work of Dogs: Tending to Life, Love, and Family