Customer Reviews

Living with Dogs: Collections and Traditions, At Home and Afield

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've always had an affinity for dogs and the people who love them, which is probably why this book now occupies the premier spot on my coffee table. After reading the introduction by Larry Sheehan, in which he shares hilarious and endearing tales about his dog, Buster, I knew I'd found someone who truly understood what it means to live with and love dogs. Even bad ones. The book is a celebration of hardcore dog enthusiasm. It's fun to learn about other people's passion for various breeds. What's more, the pages are filled with pictures of beautiful dogs, beautiful homes, and beautiful places. I got tons of inspiration for decorating my home and incorporating my love of dogs into my life. This book would make a wonderful gift.

Even though I like dogs, I'm not obsessed. So I was surprised to find myself devouring this huge coffee-table book. It will certainly rivet any dog lover. Thoughtful, informative essays cover a wide range of topics--including shows, field trials, grooming, boutiques, collectibles, celebrity dog owners, etc. Author Laurence Sheehan siezes the reader's attention with his engaging (and often lighthearted) profiles of this motley collection of men and women whose lives, in one way or another, have been changed, or even defined, by their unique relationships with dogs. William Stites' photographs are mesmerizing. I can't seem to forget one image of a pair of solemn pointer pups cradled in the weatherworn hands of a veteran breeder--who also, Sheehan reveals, just happens to be a talented sculptor of the pointers he's made his vocation for the past sixty years. The last chapter, a lingering look at monuments and memorials to departed pets, is particularly affecting. I love this book and highly recommend it.

I am an avid collector of dog memorabilia and motif items and this book was an inspiration! My husband just thought I was obsessive about dog objects! Your book gave me new ideas for old dog items that I never would have thought of. The photography is beautiful and the subjects are warm and true. I know that I am not alone in my endeavor to collect and display what I love!

This is a beautiful book all about living with dogs. Many dog owners, I myself am the proud owner of 2 beauties, will fall in love with this book. It's a wonderful coffee table addition to any home. This is a great choice! A great gift book, too.

This was a wonderful book to read for dog lovers. The pictures really were terrific and I would suggest this book for any one who subscibes to dogs being man's best friend !

I have read several other books with the same theme, however this book surpasses them all. Our copy is well loved and our guests tend to migrate toward it at our home. The book contains the stories of several people and how dogs have touched their lives. It is a glimpse into personal collections of avid dog lovers and collectors.

A perfect gift for any dog lover. This is the kind of book you can pick up over and over again and each time see something new. Not the kind of coffee table book you leave collecting dust on the shelf. Unlike other coffeee table books of this kind the text has some meat to it. Pictures are beautiful and some are very funny.

One of my New Year's resolutions was to finally get around to reviewing the hundred of books and other products I've ordered/read/used/consumed over the years, and I happened to pick this particular book up tonight, so...

I'm a longtime design-book junkie as well as a dog-lover, so I'm pretty sure I acquired this book shortly after it was published back at the end of the last century. I've since revisited it several times over the years, but tonight was the first time in a long time--I'm thinking at least 3 or 4 years-- that I've re-cracked it open, and I was immediately struck by how well the content has held up. Very few, if any, of the photos or interiors look dated or trendy. The homes and apartments featured in the book are old-school and timeless. (You only have to look at the dust jacket cover photo to know what I mean). I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite books to page through, not only for design inspiration, but also for pure pleasure.
To put it another way: If I had to winnow my massive book collection down to my top 25%, this one would definitely make the cut. Clarkson Potter has long been a top-notch design/lifestyle book publisher, and this is arguably one of their better efforts.

Lest the title mislead, this book is less about the practical aspects of living with dogs (although that's certainly addressed) than the dog as an artistic and decorative inspiration and motif. (If you've ever wondered why you could never find any great vintage dog stuff--bowls, figurines, paintings, etc. on Ebay or whatever, its because the people featured in this book snapped them all up in the late 80's and 90's!).

Now that it's only available marked-up through resellers, I'm guessing only serious dog-paraphernalia collectors and/or design-bibliophiles would be interested in the book at this point.
That being said, I'm not in the book-dealing game, although I probably should be, considering the size of my private inventory... but, based on my experience, I'm pretty sure that this book is well worth the investment IF you can buy it through a reputable reseller. [In other words, heed the previous reviewer's advice!!]

A perfect gift for any dog lover. This is the kind of book you can pick up over and over again and each time see something new. Not the kind of coffee table book you leave collecting dust on the shelf. Unlike other coffeee table books of this kind the text has some meat to it. Pictures are beautiful and some are very funny.

If you are a dog lover and collector this book is a must! Lovely pictures and inviting writing.