Customer Reviews

The Old Dog

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I've read and I own many dog books and quite a few on the loss of a pet.

I cannot recommend this book to join my collection.

The weakness in this book is that in the end the boy's grief is assuaged by the introduction of a puppy into the family. This is what I call the "old yeller" fix; that as long as there is a puppy everything is better. If you recall some of the old Disney movies like Bristleface, the death of the dog is somehow 'fixed' because the dog fathered a litter of puppies. New life is supposed to fix everything.

Everyone grieves in different ways. Parents thinking they can help their child by introducing a new puppy immediately to take the place of the old dog may encounter resentment or rejection of the new addition.

For this reason I would recommend many other books, I will always love you, A dog like Jake, Saying goodbye to Lulu among them. But not this book.

I think any child who is dealing with the death of a pet will want to hear this story. They can relate to the boy not being able to understand where his dog went. The oil paintings are touching and give the reader a sense for the boy's sadness when he exclaims, "I miss you," to the air. This book will show children how to empathize with others.