Gail S. (agility4me) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 58 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
I've been a dog trainer for years and currently I'm deep into the dog training world. There's actually a lot of good information in here and I found the stories of the outdoors calming to read even when it referred to hunting. I think he's got a great sense of understanding what goes on in a dog's head and that you can learn from this book while also enjoying it. I told all my "dog friends" that they ought to read it for it's value on socializing dogs and how it works.
Helpful Score: 7
I'm normally some that will finish a book no matter what, but this book is too dry for me. The scientific parts of the book are thrown and go on too long for my taste. Much of it I already knew. As the daughter of a dog trainer much of what he says makes me cringe a bit. I worry that people are going to read this book and think that their dog will act like Merle. I understand that this book is more of a tribute to a dog that he loved than to actual life with a dog. I just hope people aren't reading this as a training how to manual. This is his interpretation of why he thought Merle did the things he did.
Helpful Score: 4
As a dog lover, I enjoyed this book immensely. This book combined the latest research on canine companions and the personal story of Merle, an amazing dog that lived in the Wyoming Grand Tetons National Park with his person, Ted. As an owner of a labrador, it makes me question the suggestions of trainers that humans need to be the alpha dog in the house, because for many dogs, being an equal is desired. Also, it gives insight into the health care provided for dogs. Ted also suggests that dogs need immense mental stimulation and free time off leash every day. This book will touch your heart as it delves into the reason that dogs are the most devoted, loyal companion. My only criticism is that Ted tends to anthropomorphize Merle, who is all too human. Winner Outdoor Book of the Year.
Nancy M. (bulldoglover22) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 105 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I have always been passionate about dogs and welcome every opportunity to read about them. This was one of the most heartwarming stories about the bond between a dog and his owner. I was incredibly moved by this book and recommend it highly. Nancy M.
Alice K. (ilflatlander) - , reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 130 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
What devotion! What a tear-jerker! Excellent book.
Helpful Score: 3
This was an EXCELLENT read! In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I read it three times and I normally do not read a book more than once! The story is of Ted Kerasote and his found dog, Merle. The ending is extremely sad, of course, because furry little people do not live nearly long enough. Reading of Ted's devotion to Merle in his twilight years was extremely uplifting.
Laura R. (isitfriday) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 170 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I liked the book, being a dog-person i enjoy reading about dogs and i appreciated the insight to the mind of Merle, and the history of domesticated dogs was enlightening. I wasnt a huge fan of the author, i felt his approach to being a dog owner was a bit on the lax side, and he was lucky Merle was not hit by a car or attacked by wildlife or shot by a farmer. I was also a bit taken aback by the hunting aspects of the book. The end of the book was very hard to read for me, having lost my golden retriever after 14 and a half years of being by my side- i felt Merle suffered at the end and that made me very sad. All in all it was a good book and I'm glad I read it.
Helpful Score: 2
This is a fun & moving book about the relationships between dogs & humans. It has led me to rethink (in a good way) my relationships with our family dogs.
Helpful Score: 2
Book started off slow, but it may be the best book about dogs I have read. Packed full of history and information along with Kerasote's life experiences. Couldn't put it down
and it has stayed with me long after I finished reading it.
and it has stayed with me long after I finished reading it.
Jill F. (ellzeena) -
Helpful Score: 1
One of the most brilliant and poignant books I've read about the relationship between a man and his dog, and how that relationship totally changed the man's life. Ted Kerasote is a wilderness (nature) writer, one of the best; this account is really about his becoming emotionally intact.
Carole M. (camann704) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book...I am about 2/3 of the way through it and am enjoying every page! Merle is quite the extraordinary dog! Highly recommend this book!
Leola C. (swamponkeymom) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 353 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I liked the story and the tribute to his dog, but some of the reading was to dry for me. All the scientific stuff went on too long. It was a great story of devotion to his dog and his dog's devotion to him.
Patricia M. (3catsmommy) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a glorious story of a man, the dog he found, and their years of shared comradeship together. I loved this story and highly recomend it to anyone who has ever had a pet dog they loved. I felt their happiness at bonding and cried at the end of this dog's life. Please read this book!!!
Helpful Score: 1
If you are a dog-lover in general, or just adore your own dog, you will like this book. It's a bit heavy on the details of dog evolution, but the story of the relationship between man and dog is wonderful. Also gives some great insights into dogs...it just makes me wish that my dog and I didn't live cooped-up in the suburbs. But beware, all dog books end the same way, and I went through a box of tissues at the end.
This is the best book I have ever read. I loved the dog, and the story was beautiful!
Gail S. (agility4me) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 58 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I've been a dog trainer for over 40 years and this book is right on with it's thought provoking ideas and observations. If you want to learn about dog behavior, this book is a great read and it's tied in with the great outdoors so what could be better.
One of the best books I've read in a long time - SPOILER ALERT - there is a followup entitled Pukka (The Dog after Merle).
As someone who loves all animals (especially dogs & horses)
I enjoyed the book very much. Would read a sequel to this
dog's story if there could be one.
I enjoyed the book very much. Would read a sequel to this
dog's story if there could be one.
I loved this story in an extreme way! So well written, so enjoyable, so precious. I fell so deeply in love with Merle and his lifestyle that as I neared the end of the book, I put it down and haven't had the heart to read it to the end.
This book is mot just a wonderful story about a man and his great dog. It is so much more. Woven into the story about Merle, is also a very educational book about dogs; how they smell and see the world and how scientists believe dogs have evolved and became domesticated. It was a wonderful book with an interesting story that any dog lover would enjoy. I really enjoyed reading the story and highly recommend this book. I think it would be especially helpful to anyone who is thinking of getting a dog also because it teaches us so much about them, how they think and what they need to be happy, well adjusted dogs. Even the most experiences dog lover will enjoy this book and get a lot out of it.
What a great book!! I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time! In fact; this is the first review I've ever left for a book!! Couldn't put it down and I forced myself to read it slowly so it wouldn't end!
Excellent Book.
Danyelle H. (pawprinted) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 20 more book reviews
Good Book
Diana B. (AuntDi) -
There were things that I liked about this book. Ted's relationship with Merle was very touching and Merle seems like he was a great dog. Ted constructs a lot of intellectual/anthropological arguments for his dog's behavior, which seemed a little disingenuous and was sometimes, well, boring (quoting animal behavior studies, dog bite statistics and such). He also basically says that most dog owners treat their dogs like slaves who suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. Page 257: "Is the loyalty people then receive from their dogs true devotion, or the numbed reaction of captives to captors?" But I did enjoy the story of Merle's life.
Juanita F. (legal22) -
I don't write many reviews, but I feel like I have to for this one. I don't think many books in my lifetime have brought me to tears, but Merle's Door certainly did. Mr. Kerasote has a wonderful way of describing his interactions with Merle. The story will bring you to some far reaching destinations but is always centered on Merle, as it should be. If you love dogs, this is a must read.
Emotional and educational. I couldn't put it down.
It's hard to say how much I loved this book! At first, I felt inundated by research into the origins of dog-people relationship. I wanted to read about Ted and Merle. My solution? I skimmed over what really didn't interest me and absolutely devoured the rest!
Merle came out of the wilderness and picked Ted. They were together for the next 15 years, nearly all the time as far as I could tell.
The book was set in Wyoming where the dogs could run free and Merle did. He knew everyone in town. Ted called him "The Mayor". Merle made his rounds of the town three times a day for as long as he was able.
Anything I say sounds trite compared to the book and its impact on me. I loved it!
Merle came out of the wilderness and picked Ted. They were together for the next 15 years, nearly all the time as far as I could tell.
The book was set in Wyoming where the dogs could run free and Merle did. He knew everyone in town. Ted called him "The Mayor". Merle made his rounds of the town three times a day for as long as he was able.
Anything I say sounds trite compared to the book and its impact on me. I loved it!
Linda K. (lhasalover) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 203 more book reviews
Great Read. A must read for any dog lover. May change your mind in how you treat your dog.
Bree G. (paisleywings) reviewed Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog on + 232 more book reviews
Merle was truly a freethinking dog. Merle found the right human to hang out and live with, but also keeping himself busy touring the town he lived in. Dog and Human learned from each other and formed a bond that was very extraordinary. Great story.
This book explores the relationship between humans and dogs. How would dogs live if they were free? Would they stay with their human friends?
Merle and Ted found each other in the Utah desert-- Merle was living wild and Ted was looking for a pup to keep him company. As their bond grew, Ted taught Merle how to live around wildlife, and Merle taught Ted about the benefits of letting a dog make his own decisions.
As much a love story as a story of independence and partnership, Merle's Door is tender, funny, and ultimately illuminating.
Merle and Ted found each other in the Utah desert-- Merle was living wild and Ted was looking for a pup to keep him company. As their bond grew, Ted taught Merle how to live around wildlife, and Merle taught Ted about the benefits of letting a dog make his own decisions.
As much a love story as a story of independence and partnership, Merle's Door is tender, funny, and ultimately illuminating.
John O. (buzzby) -
Counterpoint to the Cesar Millan method
