Customer Reviews

If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You: True Portraits of Dogs

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Dogs are said to be Man's Best Friend -- and with this book, it's easy to see why! The many moods and faces of dogs (ranging from comical, to cuddly, to downright cute) are chronicled in gorgeous sepia-toned photographs by Valerie Shaff. While Wegman dresses up his Weimaraners to elicit "human comedy gone to the dogs", Shaff shows the true nature of the beast through poignant and heartwarming pictures that allow the personalities of the dogs to really shine through. Each photo is

accompanied by incisively witty text by Roy Blount, one of America's best-known humourists. Whether you're a dog owner or not, this book will bring a smile to your face (and if it doesn't...well, then, you probably just haven't met the right dog yet!)

This is a great gift-book idea, if you can manage to actually give it away. The photos are wonderfully done, featuring both "action" shots and natural, endearing portraits. These are real dogs, not models--no dangerously thin Italian greyhounds lounging on marble terraces here--and Shaff catches all their moods, movements, and expressions.

The accompanying poetry by Roy Blount is a delight as well. As others reviewers have pointed out, this isn't puppy-wuppy talk, but witty, funny, and perfectly suited to the photographs. I thought several times as I was reading that Blount must be a life-long dog owner. He knows those looks and what's going to happen next.

Altogether, a truly light-hearted book well worth having.

Each page of this delightful book has a smile, if not an outright laugh...Pictures of various dogs, both mixed and pure-breeds in various typical "doggie acts" with the captions depicting the dog's "thoughts" on the matter... A small dog looks sadly toward the camera with " I don't understand how you can be so smitten, you have me, yet you pet that kitten."... The photos are excellent, both posed and "action" shots. No dog lover should be without this book

Never heard of "Doggeral"? Well, you will after you read this fascinating book. You will understand it, speak it and remember it. Canine lovers everywhere will be captivated by the beautiful photographs and witty verses. Here you will find dogs, dogs and more dogs of every description. As you turn the pages, the reader will be deeply touched with warmth, sadness, joy and wonder for each page tells a different story. This book is delightful to own, a pleasure to read, and makes an excellent coffee table book. One could not possibly look at a playfully wagging tail, a wet nose or huge sad eyes and not be overcome with emotion. After all, dogs are more than pets, they are our canine family to love, respect and care for - just like children.

I picked up this book in a local bookstore and read it cover to cover without realizing it. I was so absorbed in the beauty of the photos as well as enjoying the word association of each expression. I lost two dogs to old age(they were both 16 years old) in just the last year and this book brought me great joy. The memories of my "babies" flooded back and this little book brought tears to my eyes. Anyone who has ever truly loved a dog will enjoy this book. I'm buying it and keeping it always.

The heart of a dog is captured in this book. The photographs, all excellent by themselves, are made perfect by the addition of the poems/captions which accompany each one. A range of dog emotions and thoughts are covered with expressions from the dogs serving as, at least what humans interpret to be, the true heart and soul of each dog. Sadness, euphoria, exasperation, and great humour are portrayed by a variety of breeds in a myriad of situations. You know what it means when your dog gives you "that look." Each "look" here will hit you the same way. I've shown the book to friends and each picture never fails to produce one of three reactions: (1) Awwwwww, (2) That's GREAT, (3) roaring laughter. I am ordering these as gifts for my dog-loving friends everywhere.

I bought this book as a gift for my dog-lover brother, but once I read it I didn't want to give it up. Every single person who sees it on my desk flips through it, then borrows it, then doesn't want to give it back! We're all comparing the endearing characters in the book to our own pets. I open it whenever I need a good laugh. A beautifully produced book as well.

I don't have a dog. I've never had a dog. I don't want a dog. Dogs don't like me (could be the lingering cat smell about my ankles), and I'm not sure about them. After having 'read' this book, though, I feel I'm a little closer to understanding them, and closer to seeing them not as one-dimensional, tennis-ball chasing, butt-sniffing, panting, tongue-lolling creatures, but rather as richly complex creatures. From "the move came at a bad time for me" where the lab mourns his lost treasure, to "I'm a simple dog, really" with the dog with the big grin, to the gut-wrenching chained-up dog - "I don't understand", to the excitement of a "good stick" - all of these photos and captions provided me with the possibility that there is much more there (in dogs) than meets the eye. Call it anthropomorphising if you want, but I will henceforth look at dogs in a slightly different light (albeit still from a safe distance).

This is a book that touches your heart. I've already ordered two as presents and am back again to order four more (one for me to keep). An excellent gift and a must for my library.

For a dog lover this book is the closest thing to pure joy you'll see in this life, aside from the joy your own dog brings. This is a great book to have lying about because you can pick it up on your worst day and it will bring a smile to your face. The photographer has documented some of the most ideal doggie poses, and the writer has put perfect words to each.

If you have a dog and he/she looks at you with that precious face as if to say something profound, BUT you never have a camera available -- this book is for you. It captures all of the expressions you wish you were quick enough to capture. I love my copy and review it often.