Customer Reviews

One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food

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This is NOT just a book for dog lovers; it's also for the folks who think that people who dress their mutts up in designer clothes should be locked up somewhere. The author looks at dog culture from every angle and shows us the good, the bad and the ugly (Amish puppy mills!!!!). Surprisingly, ONE NATION UNDER DOG isn't really about dogs at all; it's about us. The book chronicles the way our society, culture and family dynamics have changed over the centuries, becoming more fragmented and solitary and how many of us have turned to pets to fill the ever increasing void we feel inside. We all "need to love" and to "be loved" and pets are increasingly becoming part of that equation.

So if you're a pet lover, read this book-you'll LOVE it! If you're not a pet lover, read this book anyway-you'll likely get a new perspective on our modern "solitary" society and it's effects on our nation as a whole.

If you are fond of dogs, you'll enjoy this book. It will give you lots of information, lots of food for thought, and emotion as well. It is not, to me at least, hard to bear emotionally. Instead, it may help you think about how you live with your dog or want to live with a dog.

I did choke up a little when reading the chapter on dog death, but only a little. The tone of the book is informative and explorative. But of course if you are very close to experiencing a wrenching dog loss, you might react differently. Still, that is not the book's tone.

I found the book really fascinating. Schaffer discusses so many aspects of dog ownership/guardianship including selection, veterinary care, legal issues and how they have played, services such as dog walkers, dog training, and more.

I have been involved with dog training for many years and seen many changes. I found Schaffer's words on this subject interesting and even a bit delightful!

If you are into dogs, you are likely to find this book very interesting. It's well-written, and covers a lot. It's interesting to realize as I sit here that there is so much more--no limit, really, to what we could discuss about dogs. No wonder people have social events built around dogs (that's in the book, too!).

This book is an interesting look at pets (mainly but not exclusively dogs) in modern American culture. This book covers a great breadth of information, but the author's knowledge is not deep. This makes the book more amusing than greatly informative. A great casual read, it's fun, but you'll have to go elsewhere for a serious look.

Chapter 1 discusses how much money is spent on pets in this country, and the vast array of products available. Chapter 2 discusses social networks and dogs. Much of this chapter relates to the material in The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. Schaffer profiles one "connector" in the dog world, Ada Nieves, who hosts Chihuahua get-togethers and (for fairly significant money) dog birthday parties, among other dog-related activities. Chapter 3 discusses the conflict over leash laws and dog parks. The main case examined is the city of San Francisco, where the issue has been very hot politically. Chapter 4 discusses luxery spending on pets. Not that this hasn't been covered in the book already, and will yet be covered more (indeed, it's a major theme of the book), but this chapter focuses on it exclusively. Schaffer covers pet fashion shows and pet boutiques which sell fancy, expensive products with snob appeal. Chapter 5 covers how much money is spent on pet medical expenses. Modern veterinary medicine has opened up many options, some quite expensive, for those whose pets have medical issues. Schaffer profiles several owners spending significant amounts of money on new procedures that might buy their dogs some additional time. (Those who spend a lot of money on treatments which will likely bring about a cure are not the topic.) One bizarre example is a couple who spends about $10,000 on a 7 month old Boxer, when the treatment is not expected to buy the dog much time. The owner's statements seem more about the owner being impressed with his willingness to spend money on the dog than the owner's actual love of the dog. Is he doing this for the dog's sake or to impress himself or others? It left me wondering. Chapter 6 discusses some of the places which provide people with their new pet. Schaffer covers 4 sources -- puppy mills, show dog breeders, shelters, and designer dog breeders ($15,000 for a Jabari GD anyone?). Chapter 7 discusses legal issues involving our pets. Several cases are discussed, such as suing for the mental anguish of the owner when a pet is killed. This is now sometimes allowed, rather than just awarding the owner the "monetary value" of the pet. The melamine pet food poisonings feature prominantly in this discussion. Chapter 8 discusses the big business aspects of dog toys. The company making the Everlasting Treat Ball is profiled. (With my Lab, the "Everlasting" treats last about 5 minutes; but it is a GREAT product for some dogs.) The Kong company is also covered. This chapter also touches on latchkey dogs and why such toys are in greater demand now that many dogs are left alone for long periods. Chapter 9 discusses pet services, primarily dog walkers, kennels, and groomers. Pets with owners who are away much of the time benefit from such services. Chapter 10 is about the "war" between two different dog training philosophies -- using treats to reward desired behavior vs. "pack theory" (punishment based training). Oddly, this chapter seems more about the people who are profiled than the actual philosophies. Even if you know nothing about this issue, I doubt you will learn much, other than that is exists. However, for those who are unaware, I'm glad that the topic is brought up. Chapter 11 is about the different types of dog food and conflict over which is best. Schaffer discusses Ol' Roy, premium kibble, commercial raw diets, consumer prepared raw diets, and a hard gnawable commercial diet. This chapter isn't about how to judge which you should feed your own dog. It is about the issues involved in the debate. Interesting to me was the aspect of raw diets (either commercial or home prepared) being used as a way to claim that you care "more" for your pet. Chapter 12 is a great chapter discussing new and inovative ways to get people willing to listen to pet care advice. Major improvements have been made in this area. Near the end of the book is chapter 13, discussing the end of our pets lives. This covers euthanasia and pet cemetaries. The epilogue, titled "Our Pets, Our Selves" is another look at the main undercurrent of the entire book. Oddly, the book conflicts with itself. Much of the time is proclaims how people love their pets more now, as evidenced by how much they are willing to spend on the pet and what they are willing to provide it with. Yet other parts of the book point out the link between our behavior toward our pets and how it follows along with our behavior in general in today's culture. Really, does paying a lot of money for a blueberry facial for your dog (YES, this is covered in the book) actually demonstrate a greater love for the dog than someone who does not provide this for their dog? Or is it simply a reflection of the person and the culture of the person paying for the facial?

When's the last time you saw a doghouse? You know, like the one Snoopy has in the old Peanuts comic strips. People used to have doghouses in their yards, because their pet dogs lived outside. Even the cat was put out at night, along with the empty milk bottles, like at the end of The Flintstones cartoons.

Back in the Peanuts and Flintstones days, the only pets that lived inside were the pets of the rich. Now, in a time when everyone claims to be middle class, we all spoil our pets. One Nation Under Dog author Michael Schaffer examines the many ways we indulge our pets. He's as guilty as the next pet owner. He owns a dog and a cat, and we learn that his dog eats superpremium dog food, takes antidepressants, and has his own webpage on Dogster. Murphy, a Saint Bernard, sleeps indoors, has a professional dog walker, and stays at posh pet hotels when his family goes out of town.

But as a journalist, Schaffer manages to remain objective throughout. It would have been easy to write a book that just points out all the wacky ways people pamper their "fur babies." Those of us who don't have pets would just laugh or ignore the phenomenon.

Instead, Schaffer has written about how the expanding importance of pets affects all of us. In the chapter about the San Francisco Dog Wars, he explains how unleashed dogs have taken over a local park and even the beach, to the consternation of people who prefer to enjoy poop-free grass and sand. The police, city council, and even the mayor, are reluctant to enforce the leash laws because it would be political suicide.

In another trend, people whose pets have been injured or killed, sue for emotional damages as well as for negligence. This is significant because pets have always been considered property under the law.

One Nation Under Dog also goes behind the scenes to examine how pet food is produced, what goes on at the animal shelter, who's walking your dog, how pet medicine is advancing, the widespread use of pet pharmaceuticals, the many theories of training pets, and more. The emphasis is on dogs, but in the end, it's really all about us.

One Nation Under Dog explores the ways that we pamper, care for, and lavish money upon our pets. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic, and each chapter could be read as a standalone essay. Some chapters such "Trading Up," which takes the reader inside the world of high-end pet products, are light-hearted. Schaffer takes a more serious tone when he explores the places a person can get a dog from, including puppy mills in Lancaster County, or the places unwanted pets end up. The section on the technologically advanced (and expensive) veterinary treatments available to today's pet owner is particularly interesting.

I liked that Schaffer does not shy away from questions that his book raises, such as should we be spending so much money on our pets, who have a better standard of living than some people in this country? As a dog person, it is simple to guess which side of the fence the author is on, but his arguments are nicely objective.

One Nation Under Dog will appeal to any fur baby parent. It is an entertaining and occasionally insightful read.

If you love dogs, you will love this book. Michael Schaffer has written an extensively reported book that looks at the good (using dogs to help rehab young gang members), the bad (the heartbreak of puppy mills) and the extreme (Fifth Avenue puppy showers for the well healed dog). You will learn how in a generation the family dog has gone from the dog house out back to the foot of the bed as a member of the family and the societal forces behind that. One plus about this book is that all the chapters are self-contained, so if you chose to put it down, you may easily pick it back up in a week or so and not be lost. However, it is so interesting you will probably read it straight through, only braking to walk the dog.

This book is an in-depth look at the modern pet culture and industry in the United States. Schaffer is a journalist who adopted a Saint Bernard a few years ago. In this book, he examines various trends and hot topics in the US pet industry, covering puppy mills, pet health care, latchkey dogs, dog walkers and doggie daycare, dog parks, pet food, dog toys, and pet bereavement services. Throughout the book, he argues the point that pets, especially dogs, have been recast as full family members rather than simply pets or property, to the point of taking the role of surrogate children or best friends for those struggling to find connection in the increasingly individualistic American culture. Schaffer points out how this has meant a windfall for the pet industry, all sectors of which are posting record growth--it seems if you want to make a million, find out what indulgent pet owners want, and sell it to them.

This book is fascinating to read, even for those who don't have pets themselves. It's not a doggy-adoration book, but rather, a very interesting portrait of how and why the pet industry has become such a big part of the overall US economy. Pet owners may be interested in reading the book to learn more about where puppies actually come from, where they go when they're unwanted, and who decides what's in dog food. Those considering pet ownership may get an idea of the possible costs that modern pet ownership can involve. And those interested in modern American culture will find in this book a well-thought out consideration of the factors that have made pets essential members of many American families.

One Nation Under Dog is witty, entertaining and informative as the author examines how the role of dogs and their relations to their owners are changing in America. The author uses interesting and surprising statistics to illustrate key points about the way we perceive our pets.

At the same time, the author, while a keen observer, does not take sides in condoning or condeming a social trend that's easy to criticize without understanding. This is what makes this book such a delight. Dog lovers can enjoy it without guilt, and take some amusement at how much Fido means to them, and those who have no idea why anyone wants a dog will perhaps grasp the attraction.

One Nation Under Dog reads like a collection of New Yorker articles. The author keeps a sardonic distance from his subjects, except in one support grop where he breaks this tough journalistic exterior to talk about his own dog.

Schaffer tours the reader through a variety of dog topics. There are chapters on dog grief, dog training, dog food, dog parks and more. Schaffer writes with a detached style dommon to professional journalists. Each chapter features a few people -- mostly upscale and urban.

On the plus side, some chapters can be quite entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on dog walkers. I enjoyed reading about Governor Rendell. I lived in Philadelphia for awhile when he was mayor. He really did go everywhere with his dog Mandy. I actually met Mandy when I was volunteering at an event, Oh yes, I met Rendell too.

Still, I felt deluged with facts and statistics about every aspect of dog ownership. Some facts were interestng: I didn't know Florida now allows dogs to join owners in outdoor dining areas. Some facts were overwhelming: San Francisco's dog parks will seem most interesting to those in San Francisco. But I did enjoy learning that the mayor may have gained political momentum by taking a stand for off-leash dogs.

I read the book quickly so I may have missed references to Seattle, one of the most dog-friendly cities in the US. We used to be allowed to bring dogs into coffee shops with us.

In the end, dog owners will have a hard time putting down this book. On some level, we'll recognize ourselves in at least some of the chapters. My own dog Gracie enjoys visits to a Dog Lounge, long runs in the park with her dog walker, special food from the pet store, and of course jaunts to the local dog park with me on the other end of the leash. She's sleeping on my bed even as I type and she even writes her own blog: midlifedog.

She was adopted through the rescue website Schaffer writes about - Petfinder - and I found there was indeed a shortage of adoptable dogs in Seattle when I was looking. Based on Schaffer's book, I think we're normal.

As a dog lover ~~ I have 5 ~~ I found this books to be very insightful, thought provoking, and just an all around great read. You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy it ~~ It's actually taking a very insightful look at us as a society as a whole, and the author brings up some really great questions. Even I, with all my doggies, have to sit back sometimes and wonder about some of the things he brought up...such as dog's being lavished and living better than alot of people in our country.

Don't let the title fool you ~~ this read is for everyone, not just dog lovers!!