Wonderful characterizations of his 4-legged friends.

books:


	• A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me Jon Katz Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003 - 240 pages average customer review:based on 119 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Jon Katz is amazing story teller

A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me is a must read. This book introduced me to Mr. Katz's writing. He has become my favorite author and I am now on his 3rd book that is also about dogs. His understanding and discovery of dogs are so true and pure and most dog owners would probably be able to relate and smile and cry as they read his story. I absolutely love this book.

Wonderful characterizations of his 4-legged friends.

A review from the author of Born Without a Tail:

This was an enjoyable read. I particularly liked Katz's characterizations of his labradors, Stanley and Julius. I'm not a big lab fan, but these two stole my heart. This book is a pretty accurate description of life in a multi-dog household. Katz recounts some very funny experiences with his dogs: one of my favorites was when he retrieved the blue ball from the storm drain.

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A Dog Year

This is a wonderful book. It's hysterical at times and moving at times. This is the first Jon KAtz book I had the pleasure of reading and I have now read most of them. As the parent of a Border Collie let me tell you he hits the nail on the head. Mine are not as amusing, however they are just as smart. I would definitely recommend reading this book if you are thinking of getting a Border Collie for yourself, it may make yout think twice. They are wonderful dogs, but you should be aware of what you may be getting yourself into. Jon Katz has a writing style that will draw you in and you won't be able to put this book down or wait to go get your next one.

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good book

follow up to Bedlam Farms - never would have bought any of his books if had known what he would do to border collie in last book - a real jackass - hope no one buys anymore of his books - he might have to get a real job

A Dog Year review KCS

How would you feel if you were perfectly happy with your two Labrador retrievers, and a new chaotic dog comes crashing into your ideal life? This is what happened to Jon Katz. He lives in England, and this book takes place in modern times.

Jon lives with his wife and his two dogs, Stanley and Julius. His standard of living revolved around taking care of his dogs, and doing what he loves: writing. He was more than happy with his way of living. When Deanne--a dog breeder--informs him of a two-year old border collie that needed help, Jon's love for dogs got the best of him and he introduced Devon to the family. Jon was struck by the difference in the breeds. Devon was hyper, had anxiety attacks, required three times the exercise that his two other dogs obtained, and didn't trust Jon at all. But this only motivated Jon more. He was determined to get Devon to trust him even if it drove him mad.

When Jon achieved his goal for Devon, Deanne called him and asked if he wanted a puppy. If he adopted Homer, the new puppy, that would be adopting 2 dogs in a period of 12 months. Was that too much for the dogs to handle? But the second his eyes saw the picture of the puppy, he couldn't pass the offer. He was concerned about how Stanley and Julius would accept another dog into their already shaken life, but he was more nervous about Devon. Would Devon be threatened by this new dog that endangered his position?

When Homer came, he was the exact opposite of Devon. He was cute, sweet, and had a charm on everyone--dogs and humans. Everyone but Devon. Devon took time to get used to the new life, but when Stanley and Julius passed because of old age, he had yet another adjustment to make. The rest of the biography shows how Devon and Homer form a new relationship without Stanley and Julius.

The pacing of this book was moderate. I think it was written in a Christian perspective, and the title explained how Jon had gone from two to four dogs in a year. The theme is about perseverance. Jon used Devon's bad actions as a stimulation to train him, and even when he was frustrated, he never gave up. He always had a good attitude considering his circumstances. Jon Katz's writing is very natural, and flows very easily. He has advanced vocabulary and interprets his dogs' feelings well considering that they couldn't talk to him. The mood changed from time to time. He was easily frustrated by the sacrifices of comfort he had to give up for his two new dogs. In time, though, he learned to love the new lifestyle. I thought parts of this book were funny with dog humor. I would recommend this book to people who have dogs, because they definitely would understand the humor and aggravation of having a dog more easily than those who don't.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Sometimes, change comes on four legs.

In his popular and widely praised Running to the Mountain, Jon Katz wrote of the strength and support he found in the massive forms of his two yellow Labrador retrievers, Julius and Stanley. When the Labs were six and seven, a breeder who?d read his book contacted Katz to say she had a dog that was meant for him?a two-year-old border collie named Devon, well bred but high-strung and homeless. Katz already had a full canine complement?but, as he writes, ?Change loves me. . . . It comes in all forms. . . . Sometimes, change comes on four legs.? Shortly thereafter he brought Devon home. A Dog Year shows how a man discovered much about himself through one dog (and then another), whose temperament seemed as different from his own as day from night. It is a story of trust and understanding, of life and death, of continuity and change. It is by turns insightful, hilarious, and deeply moving.

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