Customer Reviews

Leashes and Lovers: What Your Dog Can Teach You About Love, Life, and Happiness

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
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In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I have known Ms. Matthys for nearly 20 years. I purchased the book to support an old friend and found it an truly enjoyable read.

The stories are thought provoking, and some are very heartwarming. She talks a lot about friends and acquaintances, but leaves quite a bit of herself on the page too. I learned a few things about Sheryl that I didn't know while reading it.

I also admit that I saw myself in some of her metaphors. The book provided me with an affirmation of that I am doing right in my life, and also suggestions about where improvement can be made.

With a title like Leashes and Lovers, you might think that the book is about using your dog as an icebreaker in the world of dating and mating. But, there are more important lessons in the book about how the mental attitudes of dogs can teach each of us in how to live a better, fuller and more enjoyable life.

A story that is particularly instructive is about how dogs search out the right "playmate". Dogs will spend 55 minutes of the hour that is available finding the right friend and 5 minutes enjoying themselves rather than spending the whole hour with the wrong playmate. Most of us can relate to this.

This reviewer is also a dog lover and over the years my dogs have taught me to be more generous and compassionate in my life.

A long time ago, I read that "Good writers read, and good speakers listen." Ms. Matthys seem to have embraced this. She counsels that we all need to be more attentive to the verbal and non-verbal cues coming from the people we communicate with. We need to listen more, talk less and pay better attention.

Whether it's dog - dog, human - dog, human - human, it's that bond that keeps us all getting along, better behaved, and allows us to enjoy the best possible relationships. Dogs and humans 'think' and experience emotion differently but we can can learn a ton from each other and improve each others lives - and Sheryl Matthys hits that nail right on the head! The perspective of celebrities, random dog lovers and dog experts makes this a FUN, Fun, fun and interesting read!!!

Mirror, mirror on the wall...I can't believe my DOG is the one who can tell me all!

I had heard that dogs were great sources for learning about yourself, but author Sheryl Matthys finally takes the time to write a book about it so we all can benefit from the knowledge she's accumulated over the years as an interviewer, avid dog lover and certified dog trainer.

Witty, insightful, and just all around entertaining. Although some of the stars of the book may be full of fluff, the book certainly is not. I couldn't put it down, and neither will you!

This book really goes straight to the heart of relationships of humans with their dogs. the layout of the book was well thought out and quite an easy read.It is also a very easy read. Would recommend the book to anyone who has a dog or is thinking of getting one.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sheryl when she was a keynote speaker at the Greyhounds Rock Frederickburg fundraiser this past November.

Before we met at the event, I ordered the book so that I could read it beforehand. Little did I know what a "treat" it would be to read! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you, Sheryl!

Sheryl Matthys crafted a book that is a stand out in the pet book world with "Leashes and Lovers". This is not an easy feat given all of the pet books arriving in the market these days. Within the pages there is honest, heartfelt advice and plenty of personal experience to give Sheryl the expertise for her thesis "What Your Dog Can Teach You About Love, Life and Happiness".

How many of us have had the experience "wow, he/she doesn't usually dislike people that much", or "wow, he/she usually doesn't warm up to someone that easily"? There are answers for these behaviours that only our dogs (and perhaps now Sheryl) know and she is happy to share how to use those experiences as well as many others to enrich our personal lives with the information we can learn from our dogs.

We can cannonize people. But, we should caninize the instead. More of us would qualify and we'd get a lot more insight into our behavior (and ways to improve it). Sheryl Matthys has written a book that every human needs to read. Dogs don't need to read it, they read us instead.

A few visits ago to the vet I asked her how it is possible for dogs to have so much insight into people. She replied that dogs have been watching us for 15,000 years. They have picked up a great deal of information about us. We have probably been the slower learners when it comes to them.

But, if you pay attention to your dog and recall the insights provided by Leashes and Lovers, you can close the intelligence gap between you and your canine friends. And you'll be on your way to caninization.

Thank you, Sheyrl Matthys for writing Leashes and Lovers.

Ken Artis

Black River Falls, WI

This book made me love my dog even more! Ms. Matthys shows how our beloved little, sometimes demonic "family members' affect our lives in ways that no other thing or person can.

It's uplifting, encouraging and sometimes sad and bittersweet. It doesn't matter if the reader is not in the dating market, this book is a great read...one that should be given to every dog-owner or prospective owner! Thank you!

I love this book. It is fun and full of helpful ideas to get along better with your dog , family and friends. The author delivers an entertaining and informative book.

Kim Caldwell author of "How Green Smoothies Saved My Life"

Thank you for your poignant, beautifully written book, which I have read twice this week. You have done a wonderful thing, Sheryl. This book will open the hearts of all dog lovers who will now understand they have not only rescued a dog in need, but they were specially chosen by that rescue dog who is their guardian angel in disguise. These angels in fur clothes know just when we need them and give us what is missing in our lives. Often we do not realize it was that rescue dog who walked us through a dark passage in life until we see the sun shine again. So the question is answered in your book-just who is rescued when we see all the needy dogs in the shelter and one pup speaks to our hearts?

Best wishes,

Susan Claiborne Mathews

Lover of retired racing greyhounds