Starter Dog- My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World by Rona Maynard
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Web ID: 16836747How one rescue dog can improve your life
Combo review for ebook and audio (8 hrs. Narrated by author) Rona Maynard doesn't know it, but we're kindred souls. Kindred dog people. Kindred souls who found their best selves "after dog". Unlike Maynard, true, I grew up around dogs. Heck, I grew up on a farm. There were always dogs, not to mention cats, sheep, calves, and assorted ducks and rabbits. Due to the circumstances of life, however, aside from my horses, the dogs were always the family dogs. Never dependent or particularly attached to me. That changed after my parents' deaths, when a teacher friend convinced me I needed a dog. I got one. A husky/collie mix. That dog ultimately lead me to Alaska. Long story. I'm currently owned by a diva dog corgi mix, the Daisy of my book review blog. through her I've become part of my neighborhood, enjoying the not always quiet walks in Alaska, and admitting that my life isn't my own. It's better, fuller, just as Maynard has learned. I won't detail this story of finding one's life through a dog's unconditional love and zest for living. Dog owners, oh, who am I kidding, people owned by a dog (or any pet, for that matter) know what I mean. Maynard, like me, found many reasons to resist a dog. One of my roll my eyes as I chuckle moments was when she admits that even when finally giving in to her husband's desire for a rescue dog was to declare, basically, okay, but it can't get on the bed. Bet you know how that turned out. I've also got to admit, that I much appreciated her letting readers know the "dog doesn't die" in this book, something that tends to make me wary of any specific dog focused books. Thanks, Rona. Casey has taught you well. I was lucky enough to get both the audio and ebook to review. Read by Maynard, the audio book had me smiling from the beginning. While I flipped back and forth from audio to ebook, there is something about hearing a personal story of growth from that person. After thought, I decided that dog person that I am, I would have been just as sucked in by the written words as the audio had I only had it to go on, so I highly recommend both/either. Just as anyone who has ever walked a dog quickly learns that they won't be hurried to "do their business", the story pace is leisurely. Maynard spends some time revealing her pre-dog self, which was when I began to see much of myself in her, and then allows us to see how one not-so-well-behaved dog changed her for the better. Thank you #NetGalley and #ECWPressAudio -#ECWPress for introducing me to #RonaMaynard and her very good dog. My Daisy sends a slurpy kiss and gives this a four paws and a tail wag rating.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Funny and moving, this is a very entertaining read
Starter Dog is a memoir by Canadian author, Rona Maynard. Considering that her husband Paul has always been a dog lover, it’s unusual that they’ve managed to reach the age of sixty-three before he suggests to Rona that they get a dog. In their relationship, after more than 40 years of marriage: “We had a pattern: he brought me an idea, I told him why it might not work.” There are obstacles to be overcome, in this case, are: dog fur everywhere; the effect on their travel bug; and walks with a dicky knee. And when, objections neutralised, they do agree, it takes another two years before they find the one: a rescue dog named Tucker (and before that, Shotgun), apparently a Labrador/pug mix that has been trained in prison by a convict. Deciding on a name finally results in Casey Jones, and Casey immediately bonds with Paul; it takes longer with Rona. Walking Casey turns out to be a whole new experience for Rona: constant stopping to check and leave peemail; eating trash; chasing cars; attacking squirrels; altercations with neighbour dogs; and poor behaviour that leads to park exile. Expert help is required, and a trainer teaches Paul and Rona what Casey will respond obediently to. Rona learns to shout, and Casey teaches her to sleep. Rona describes how she migrates from being a novice dog owner, to becoming a fully-furred dog-person, with its attendant Insta flooding, special attention to dog food, addiction to dog videos and Casey as the automatic conversation topic. As a rescue dog, Casey comes without any real history, and a DNA test puts his stated breed in the realms of fantasy: Casey is a beagle-Boston Terrier-bulldog mix. Not knowing who trained Casey to be such a good dog sends Rona and Paul on a trip to Ohio, to Casey’s hometown, to find out more, and trace his journey from there to Ontario. Living with Casey changes their priorities on furniture preservation, and also bring harmony to their daily lives, helping to connect with strangers with dogs, despite the odd encounter with a nasty owner. Rona recalls the one dog in her childhood and why she didn’t connect then. By the time they are on vacation in Mexico City, just a short period without Casey has Rona seeking a dog-fix. How does Casey, the Dog Of Very Little Brain, end up with a diploma from the University of Toronto? Will he be ever-hungry for any vaguely-edible morsel? Is it just Rona’s perception that, when Paul walks Casey he attracts pretty young women, while she manages to draw poor cowboys? Snowfall in Ontario makes walking Casey presents a fracture risk for his ageing owners, so necessitates they go south for the winter, and encounter a whole new set of neighbours during walks. Rona finds herself moved to acts of kindness when out walking Casey, and recalls instances where she could have been kinder. Having Casey even helps her understand her father a little more. “To run a magazine, I had looked out on the world and shaped a vision of it for readers. To take Casey out on patrol, I ventured into the world and let it surprise me, time after time. I wasn’t just passing through. Not anymore.” Funny and moving, this is a very entertaining read. This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com