“Change loves me, defines and stalks me like a laser-guided smart bomb. It comes at me in all forms, suddenly and with enormous impact, from making shifts in work to having and raising a kid to buying a cabin on a distant mountaintop. 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 … 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 instinct overruled reason, and soon thereafter he brought Devon home.
A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me is the story of how Devon and Jon—and Julius and Stanley—came to terms with each other. It shows how a man discovered a lot about himself through one dog (and then another) whose temperament seemed as different from his own as day is 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.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Jon Katz’s Going Home.
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If you have ever loved a dog, and a dog has loved you, this will touch you. I had a dog that reminded me of Devon. Wish I had read this while she was still with me. I still miss her.
Excellent book….. but a little bit sad.
a must read for any dog-lover.
Good story. I got upset with the author for not knowing more about the breed at first but it all ended well.
His books are always worth reading
I found this book to be an eye opener. It talks of labs being laid back and enjoying water, where Australian Shepherds are a serious work dog. Choose your companion carefully so you comprehend the activity scale required. Dogs are individuals even in the same breed. Personally, I go to shelters and have them choose me.
Inspired me to get a dog after two years without
Liked this one a lot. Fell in love with the dog. If you’ve ever had a problem dog this is a great read.
Really enjoyable read. This author writes very heart-warming books about his life with his dogs. If you love dogs, you’ll enjoy his books.
This is a true story of one man and his devotion to his dogs. He has two nearly perfect labs and then adds a border collie with some issues to the mix. It gives the highs and lows of taking on a challenging dog and the special bond when the dog accepts the owner. There is another border collie added later after the author must say good by to both his labs. there is some profanity.
Jon Katz is the ultimate dog writer. He obviously has a real kinship with his dogs and is able to portray their characters in his writing. One cannot help but believe in the goodness of humankind and animals by the end of the book.
Great book for dog lovers. Very realistic.
A fun easy read, very enjoyable.
I loved the story of the authors dogs, especially Devon. Now THAT is truly the spirit of the Border Collie.
I love animal stories. I like to read about how animals capture our hearts and make our world a better place for a time.
Lovely memoir of man and his dogs.
If you love dogs, and if you love the people who love dogs, you will love this book.
I found this book honest and true, about how much we love our dogs, how much we’ll do for them because of our love, and how to let them go.
Just a nice book about a man and his dogs!
Anyone who has loved a dog can identify with this book- the frustrations, the joys, the reciprocal love of dog ownership are realistically portrayed.