Travelers' Tales - A Dog's World [Paperback]

Christine Hunsicker (Editor), Maria Goodavage (Introduction), John Stenbeck (Contributor), Helen Thayer (Contributor), James Herriot (Contributor), Pico Iyer (Contributor), Gary Paulsen (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998 | Series: Travelers' Tales

Each tale in this collection of true stories about dogs teaches the reader about life in foreign places and the soul through the age old tradition of gaining life e xperience by storytelling. '

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Travelers' Tales series offer a unique approach to travel; the books are based on the premise that the experiences of other travelers paint the best picture of new lands and unexplored territories. Now the tales have been replaced with tails in this intriguing collection of on-the-road dog stories. A Dog's World features stories from such notable authors as Helen Thayer, John Steinbeck, and the much-loved veterinarian James Herriot. Although travel is the book's central theme, the tales are quite diverse in nature, ranging from the feel-good to the tragic. In "Wild Trek Dog," Wendy Smith leads an expedition through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where dogs are viewed as unclean and are quite often abused. Fortunately, the majority of tales are more positive, illustrating that the dog-human traveling partnership can be both enjoyable and fulfilling. "Cross Country Dog" is a delightful account of a young woman's trek across America with her dog Gypsy for a companion; Gypsy warms many a heart and proves to be a loyal friend for the intrepid explorer. The 31 stories are short, but their combined content opens up a window on the world of fascinating travel experiences.

Review

To the uninitiated, traveling with your dog might appear to be a series of complicated arrangements and logistical dilemmas; Where will Peppy ride on the plane? Are there any guest houses on the island that allow pets? And what of the tricky task of finding a convenient fire hydrant? A Dog's World not only answers these questions, but gives entertaining and compelling reasons to take your dog with you when you travel, whether far afield or on a spontaneous road trip. "One of the greatest joys of traveling with a dog . . .is that the destination isn't terribly important. It's the journey that counts. It was somewhat humbling to be taught one of life's greatest lessons by a 65-pound dog with bad breath," writes Maria Goodavage, in the Introduction. Don't expect a stereotypical vacation, though, if you take Boots with you - either exotic adventures, spiritual enlightenment or attention from the locals (maybe even all three) is in store for you and your four-legged companion. "Sometimes life-saving, sometimes life-changing, but always a different experience from what the writers would have had on their own," writes editor Christine Hunsicker. The collection contains five sections, each with personal stories by various writers on canine travel. Part One, "Traveling Tails" are essays about traveling with dogs; Part Two, "A Dog's Life Around the World," examines the daily lives of our canine companions in other countries; Part Three, "Some Things to Do," gives those willing to travel with dogs some ideas on activities and locations; Part Four, "In the Shadows," details the darker side of a dog's life on the road; and Part Five, "The Last Word," is a summary of the place dogs have claimed for their own in our human world. Interestingly enough, the very animal who ties you to home, also gives you an otherwise unavailable commonality with fellow dog-lovers around the world, despite cultural and economic differences. For dog-lovers, a moving yet unsentimental look at the age-old bond between travelers and their best friends. -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Travelers' Tales Inc (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885211236
• ISBN-13: 978-1885211231
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,581,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that every dog lover should read at least once!!, September 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Travelers' Tales - A Dog's World (Paperback)

This book had me bursting out in laughter, some of the accounts are simply hilarious!! And other times, it's so heartwarming that I start to sniffle a bit... wow, talk about an emotional roller-coaster. Then again, I go through the same thing whenever I watch the Animal Planet channel.

Seriously though, besides being a great joy to read this book also contains a wealth of tips and information on traveling with your canine friends. I have 3 of such friends, it'll take quite a bit of planning to be able to go on a road trip with all of them one of these days, but you can bet that I'll be re-reading this book before I do so!

Like the previous reviewer said, you gotta LOVE dogs to appreciate this book. If you are one of those that regard them as merely animals, and nothing else, then you won't understand half the things that the writers are trying to convey.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for dog lovers and travelers, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Travelers' Tales - A Dog's World (Paperback)

If you love dogs -- I mean *really* love dogs -- and would take them anywhere you travel or while sitting on a park bench in some foreign city would go out of your to pet a stranger's dog, then I highly recommend this book to you. Editor Christine Hunsicker has pulled together some of the most touching, amusing, and disturbing non-fiction writing about traveling with dogs. I also highly recommend it as a gift to give to anyone you know who really loves dogs.