Customer Reviews

Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs

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I got this book for Christmas. I didn't intend to read it right away, but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The stories were some of the most well-written stories I've ever encountered, and I read a lot. It turned out to be full of things I never knew; I never knew there is a patron saint of dogs. I never knew the Aztecs believed in the healing power of dogs and raised their own breed. I had heard vague stories about dogs detecting cancer, but this book laid it out and explained the whole thing. Turns out that even though scientists like their airplanes swept by bomb-sniffing dogs, they won't believe those same dogs can tell doctors which sample contains bladder cancer or lung cancer. So doctors like the ones at the Pine Street Clinic don't get funding for their projects, which could save all of our lives!
My family gave me this book because they know my favorite writer is Temple Grandin. She recommends this book. I could see why. It is clearly written, as her books are, and every story is backed up with scientific evidence. Reading about how devoted these dogs are to their owners, how concerned they were every day about telling the owner if they were going to have a seizure or if they detected cancer or even just comforting the owner with their presence almost made me cry. Why do dogs do that? We are not always that nice to them.
If you like dogs, you'll like this book.

Everyone by now is familiar with stories of the amazing powers of therapy dogs: the old person in the nursing home whose blood pressure drops when they pet a visiting dog; the frightened child in the hospital who is willing to endure a painful treatment with a dog by her side; the abused or autistic child that will talk to a dog when they won't open up to an adult. But this book on the "healing power of dogs" goes far far beyond that.

Ranging across time and culture, Sharon Sakson, in her engaging and lively style, tells stories that seem almost too amazing for belief. Except that she documents them with the hardest possible scientific evidence. If you are one of those people who believe that the bond between human and dog is far more profound than the word "pet" can ever convey, then this is the perfect book for you. And even if you're a person who places dogs in the same category as goldfish, but you enjoy a fascinating well-told story, you'll enjoy this book tremendously.

This book is surprisingly good. The new discoveries about dogs are fascinating. I loved the stories about ordinary dogs who love their owners so much they are able to figure out when something is wrong with them, like the dogs who alert to seizures or migraines, and the dogs who detect cancer in breath or urine samples at a rate better than any known test. This book makes you think, again and again, Aren't dogs wonderful? They give us so much. I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. I'm giving it to all my dog loving friends for Christmas. And let's face it, any book recommended by Temple Grandin has got to be good. She is the goddess of all dog writing.

To be honest with you, I thought it would be much like the other books out there that talk about the wonderful ways that animals affect our lives; which is great. I thought I'd read a chapter last night, then maybe another tonight etc. Well, once I started to read it, I couldn't stop. It is a great book!! My one chapter tonight plan; well, I finally had to stop so I could get to bed or I wouldn't have gotten up for work this morning. I am about half way through the book already. It is a great book!!

Those of us who love dogs know that special connection dogs have with people. Put a few dog owners in a room and the stories flow -- the way she knows when you've had a hard day before you walk through the door, the way he instinctively tones down his rambunctious nature when a toddler comes in the room, the way she seems to read your mind when you're thinking of going for a car ride. But Sackson's research reveals an even stronger bond than we imagined.

A few of these dogs and people we may have heard a bit about: the dog who detected cancer and saved the life of his mistress, the first woman who trained assistance dogs, the military dog whose handler defied the odds to have his canine partner flown to NC from Iraq. But Sackson tells these stories well and her research fills in the details we hadn't heard before.

Most of these dogs, though, are previously unsung heroes, and their stories will stay with you long after you close the book. Captain, the whippet puppy who resisted all overtures until he found a boy who also couldn't relate to anyone else. the numerous Westminster champions whose "real jobs" are offering comfort to people in rest homes and hospitals, the one-eyed Brussels Griffon who couldn't be trained but somehow passed his therapy dog test and knew what every patient needed when he visited children in the hospital.

Like another reviewer, I did not plan to read this book straight through. With chapters complete in themselves and no characters to follow from one to another, Paws & Effect lends itself to episodic reading, what I call a "car book." I carry them around to pass the time while waiting in a doctor's office or stuck in a serious traffic jam. But I was hooked after the first few pages and read it straight through like a novel.

It's hard to write about people and dogs without being maudlin, or at the very least, trite. But Sharon Sackson's writing style is warm without being sugary, her words don't get in her way, and any tears you might shed while reading this book are shed honestly.

I'm looking forward to her next one!

I just recently completed this book and was positively amazed at its power. Once I picked it up, I found myself sneaking around so that I would be able to read it uninterrupted. The content blends little known information on dog history and lore with the most awesome stories. I indeed believe that to be able to draw the audience into the words on the page is a gift and Ms. Sakson is certainly gifted. I laughed at some of the stories, smiled and of course, shed a tear at some of the other "tails" that were shared. When I reached the end of the book, I looked for more pages, but there were not any. I am always able to tell the best books whenI am left wanting more and I was looking!

What a wonderful book! The writing is great, and it blends heart tugging stories about the love between owners and their dogs with interesting snippits from scientific studies. There are also entertaining stories about dogs and their connection with people throughout history.

Ever heard of St. Roch? Turns out he is the patron saint of dogs. He was starving to death when a dog began to bring him loaves of bread.

I expect everyone who reads the story of Toaster, the Mexican hairless who learned to warm and comfort a handicapped woman, will fall in love with him.

Really, unless you have a heart made of stone you will love this book.

So many books focus on the really sad part about dealing with dogs. The fantastic thing about this book is that it deals with the most wonderful and happy things involved with dogs. I never had to cry. Nothing in this book preached the same wonderful importance of these friendly canines. Everything was shown and proven through stories written from the heart. These stories gave grand insight to the true nature of dogs and the tremendous range of their abilities. I honestly could not put this book down. Every page captivated me and enhanced my emotional understanding of human relation with dogs. If you're a dog lover, or simply someone who is up for a fun and interesting journey, you must read this book!

I read this book about 2 years ago. The book caught my eye, as I do love to read about the amazing bonds that animals and humans do have, as well as the great help dogs can be to some people.

Once I read the section about raising puppies that would one day become guide and/or assistance dogs, I became fascinated. I immediately began researching different organizations that train these dogs, not even realizing there were so many! Since then, I have raised one puppy for the Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, NY. Now I am raising one for C.H.A.M.P.s out of St. Louis, MO. I didn't even know this was something that people do, I never even considered how these dogs were raised and trained, so it's been great to learn something new as well as having the opportunity to see how these dogs come to be guides/companions.

This book sparked a whole new chapter to my life. I am thrilled to be able to be a part of this. I get to have the loving hugs & kisses from a pup while raising it to be such a big help for someone! I immensely enjoyed this book, along with the new little friends we have had in our home. This book will teach you a lot you might not have known about dogs, as well as fill your heart with so much joy!

This was really an amazing book-- I learned so much about dogs and how much they can help us. Sharon Sakson makes the science understandable, and her ability to get you into the lives of people and their dogs is just amazing. Truly a book I couldn't put down.

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Fire: A Hawaiian Mystery