Shorty & I: A Guide to Raising Young Herding Dogs in the City [Paperback]

Jean Mueller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

With a thoughtful approach, Jean Mueller has woven her style for raising young herding dogs into a rich array of training tips and humorous stories about her Australian Kelpies, Shorty and his brother, Junior.

By creatively giving a "voice" to Shorty and his brother Junior, Jean demonstrates her unique ability to see the world from a dog's perspective. She also shows how her Kelpies are intuitively connected to her by writing courageously on how her dogs have had a positive impact on her recovery from Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome.

Not only will herding dog enthusiasts discover that this book is useful, but anyone who enjoys the company of dogs will delight in it as well. This book is packed full of uplifting vignettes that celebrate that special bond and healing power between a dog and its owner.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jean Mueller graduated from Kentucky's Morehead State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She is a former Art Director and Designer. Her passion is raising and training herding dogs. Just down the street is Cherokee Elementary School where once a week she reads with the kids in a mentoring program there. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with her two roommates, five ducks, and two Kelpie dogs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Galde Press (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193194265X
• ISBN-13: 978-1931942652
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,010,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read, August 27, 2009

By 

Elizabeth S. Kleffner "bookworm" (Custer, SD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shorty & I: A Guide to Raising Young Herding Dogs in the City (Paperback)

Shorty and I is an interesting combination: an easy-to-follow guide for training herding dogs with love and patience and a detailed account of one woman's courageous struggle with chronic fatigue syndrome. It is chock-filled with humor, which makes the life lessons easy to swallow. It's a manual for anyone trying to train any breed of puppy or face life's challenges with strength and a positive attitude.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars light-hearted loyalty; a dog's best friend, August 18, 2009

By 

Raesharpe (Minneapolis Metro, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shorty & I: A Guide to Raising Young Herding Dogs in the City (Paperback)

One sign of a good book for me is if I am translating the printed word into visual images or pictures. In other words, I am already drawn into the book and living the authors verse in my minds eye. Jeans' book did that for me. I also liked the whimsical way in which Ms. Mueller choose to illuminate the reader in puppy love while learning skills for herd master and pup. It is an honest book that is down to earth, simple to read, amusing yet seasoned with moments of grace. It is also loaded with tips in understanding dogs and concrete steps to becoming a skillful herding dog trainer. Although, I have no interest in ever becoming a herding dog trainer, I would recommend reading: Shorty and I to any dog lover who enjoys a read that is gentle, fun and a little quirky.

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful surprise, February 26, 2011

By 

Sarah Dreher (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shorty & I: A Guide to Raising Young Herding Dogs in the City (Paperback)

I love this book. I can hardly believe someone has written about training a herding dog (a Kelpie) in an urban environment. A year ago I adopted a "rescue dog," a 6-month-old mostly-Kelpie. She's a wonderful, loving friend, but I worry and sometimes feel guilty that she has nowhere to use her innate herding instincts. She tried once with a herd of wild turkeys, but when they all flew off in different directions, she was stunned and didn't know what to do. After a heavy snow she tried to herd a pack of neighborhood children on sleds, but they didn't respect her. It's obvious from her behavior that she wants to herd. I didn't know what to do. Then this book popped up on Amazon.

It could have been written about Dakota and me. My pup came to life right off the page. While I don't have chronic fatigue syndrome like the author, I am in my seventies, diabetic, and have had similar physical and mental reactions to post-breast-cancer medications for years. Reading this book was like sitting down and talking (listening) to a sister.

"Shorty & I" is a complete delight, filled with wonderful suggestions, and anecdotes so familiar they brought tears to my eyes. She describes games we can play that make use of the herding dog's innate movements, shows how to build on what the dog is born knowing, and entertains with stories about her dogs' skill at playing "gotcha" with her. At the risk of giving away Mueller's secret, I learned how to teach my dog by letting my dog teach me.

It you love or have ever loved a dog, you'll know this book is a gem.