Dogs Don't Bite When a Growl Will Do is the most unique book I have ever read about our relationship with his best friend. Almost any dog lover would adore this book, and fans of William Wegman's photographs of weimaraners will feel like they have died and gone to heaven.
There's no book quite like this one. Here's the structure: The book is divided into 67 brief lessons. Think of these as being the equivalent of what you might teach your dog, except that these lessons require you to think about dogs and apply what you learn to yourself: It's what you can teach yourself. The lessons are very much in the spirit of self-help books, especially those with a meditative or Zen orientation. Each chapter leads with a thought-provoking (and usually humorous quote) that encompasses the lesson frequently from a famous person ("My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to ninety-nine cents a can. That's almost seven dollars in dog money." -- Joel Weinstein). Many of the lessons are also introduced by an outstanding black-and-white photograph of a dog or dogs exhibiting the lesson's key element. I thought the book was worth its price just for the photographs. Each lesson then starts with an observation about a dog, usually belonging to the authors. The observation is then turned into a prescription for humans. In pursuing the prescriptions, the ancient Greek philosophers and other great thinkers are often cited. In the lesson that "Dogs Are Happy with a Simple Life," Alexander the Great and Diogenes are contrasted . . . and Diogenes gets the nod because he lived the simpler life (and outlived Alexander by almost three-fold in years). You also learn that the ancient Greek word for "cynic" means dog-like. Sometimes the erudition about dogs relates to scientific research. I was fascinated to learn a lot more about a dog's sense of smell.
The personal lessons mirror and build on one another like precise facets in an enormously complex snowflake or crystalline jewel. For instance, related to the subject of happiness are the following facets: Play; love; forgiving; good company; rejoicing in small pleasures; joy; hoping; celebration; not comparing themselves to others; being easily entertained; scratching itches; not sweating the small stuff; turning work into play; being satisfied; optimism; liking treats; licking problems; antidote to stress; shaking off pests; going with the flow; running free; laughing; and compassion.
After enjoying the book (with smiles, chuckles and loud laughs), I realized that its greatest pleasure was reminding me of wonderful experiences that I have had with dogs . . . and how much I appreciated the dogs as they improved my life. That reflection left me with a warm glow.
Although I have so far only read the book once, I suspect that upon rereading it I would notice other connections and pleasures. The book seems to draw upon the source of goodness in life itself.
