Customer Reviews

Dog Is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers on the World's Oldest Friendship

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This fresh and inspirational compilation is food for the soul of every dog lover. Every page serves to confirm the strength of the human-canine bond, and the degree of unconditional love shared between mankind and dogs. I loved every word, even those that brought tears to my eyes and put a lump in my throat. The talented writings are simply heartwarming. An ideal gift book for the holidays, or any occasion.
Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY
(The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier)

I am not a dog person, have never owned a dog, have never even been close to a dog. In fact, my only qualification for having read this book may be that I cried when I read Old Yeller and that was a LONG time ago.

But I loved this book. Most of the stories are only a few pages long, so if one doesn't click, you can be on a brand new story in no time. My favorite stories were Lynda Barry's graphic short, Stephen Kuusisto's description of meeting his new guide dog and how they come to trust one another, and Lee Forgotson's thoughts on how dogs helped her come to terms with the aftermath of September 11.

Most of the stories were funny or touching, but there were several eulogies to old friends, as well. The drawings by Mark Ulriksen are eye-catching, a little off-kilter. Two paws up for this one.

This has been one of the most enjoyable books of the year. I recommend it to any dog-lover. It is a literate, touching, funny book that rings true. The reader can enjoy it on many levels - it informs about dog (and people) behaviour, and if it taught me anything about dogs, it taught me more about myself.

This is a colleection of essays and stories by writers urban and rural, old and young, male and female. There's something for everyone who loves dogs (or a dog) and every reader will find his/her own treasures in it. I found that it was a book to savor slowly. I usually read a book every day or two - this one took me most of a week because it was not a book to be rushed.

I'm going to buy a copy of the magazine "Bark" to see if I like it as much as the book.

I know how and what I feel about my dogs and all dogs. I know how I evolved to this direction. I owned a Doberman at a very bad time in my life and she, (Peggy) got me through. The way the authors of some of the stories in Dog Is My Co-Pilot explains and describes my emotions to a T, much better than I ever could, along with the things they do for and with their canines. There is only one thing I disagree with, you will find on page 55 near the bottom. I will quote the sentence: Even vicious dogs such as Dobermans and Pit Bulls have no guile. I beg to differ, Dobermans and Pit Bulls are NOT vicious unless TAUGHT TO BE. I would like society to turn this opinion about these dogs around to the correct thinking. I would also like to add that Rottweilers are also considered vicious but again they are not born that way they are TRAINED to be that way. Thank you

I loved the book, from start to finish. I did not want read it in one sitting, so I slowly read each chapter here and there. I really enjoyed reading peoples different views of their relationship with their dogs, yet all the authors lifes have been deeply touched by loving and being loved by their dogs. I have had dogs as family since I was born, and I will never be without but I see them differently now. Like, we were meant to share our lives together. Thank you Bark, and Thank You Gracie and Jack for the unconditional love we have always shared.

I have read every story in this book at least once, and several of them two or three times. If you love dogs, you will love this book. If you have never quite been able to understand why people love dogs, this book will bring you closer than you ever thought you could be.

That said, this is not really a book about dogs. It's a very well-written book about close friends, innate trust, survival, and the strength a person can gain from respecting, believing in, and exchanging affection with someone outside yourself.

Buy it. Read it. You'll love it.

This is a great book, and makes an excellent gift for dog owners or for people that just like dogs or touching stories. One especially good thing about it is that you can pick it up at any time and enjoy pieces of it. What I like most is all the different ways that people discover to communicate their connection with dogs. If you have had a dog, many of these stories will really resonate. Highly recommended.

If you like good writing or love dogs, this book is a treasure. Since most of the stories are by accomplished literary authors who are also smitten by dogs, the quality of writing is spectacular. These are not fiction, but personal accounts of the writer's relationship with a dog, or dogs. One writer has 10 stray dogs ranging in age from 8 months to 12 years, and describes the chess-like complexity of the feeding ritual. Another wrote a book about her adopted stray, and writes about taking said dog on a book tour. This is not a book about obedience, purebreads, or perfect pets. When a mildly eccentric human is teamed with a real dog (all of whom are eccentric!) and that human can write, this collection is what you get. I read it in bed at night, with my two beagles curled up next to me and my other three mutts sprawled around the bedroom, but even if you don't have a dog to read it with, it is well worth your time.

If you enjoy dogs, you will enjoy this book. It is a perfect book to have by your bed to read a few essays, savoring them, before drifting off to sleep. The essays are well written, in different styles, some humerous, some sad, all enjoyable. I have bought several as gifts for fellow dog lovers.

My husband and I adopted our first dog less than a year ago and our dog-lover friends gave us a subscription to The Bark as a "baby-gift." We've enjoyed reading every issue of The Bark and got this book after seeing the advertisement for it in the magazine--what a treasure! The writing styles are diverse and each story lends its own unique flair to a delightful compilation. My husband and I rarely read the same books as our tastes differ quite a bit, but we have had difficulty taking turns with this! Unfortunately, I don't think the book has gotten a lot of publicity outside its ads in The Bark, so I want to spread the word about what a good read it is and what a great gift it makes for any and all dog-lovers.