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Book Reviews of What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love and Healing from a Small Pooch

What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love and Healing from a Small Pooch
What a Difference a Dog Makes Big Lessons on Life Love and Healing from a Small Pooch
Author: Dana Jennings
ISBN-13: 9780385532839
ISBN-10: 0385532830
Publication Date: 11/2/2010
Pages: 176
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 6

3.6 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

3 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

LynniePennie avatar reviewed What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love and Healing from a Small Pooch on + 169 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a great fast moving memoir about how a man's dog (in this case a feisty poodle named Bijou) taught him by example how to live each day of life to the fullest. When the author Dana Jennings is diagnosed with prostate cancer Bijou kept him from giving up and from going insane even throughout the worst of his cancer treatment. After all as the author ponders even when you have cancer the dog still needs walked, fed and petted. In essence Bijou gave him something to live for & to laugh at when he didn't want to get out of bed. By keeping his sense of humor Bijou helped him and his family find the way to recovery.

I absolutely loved the quick, witty way the author writes in. I also loved the short chapters. This book was quite comical yet, very deep and at times spiritual. I had to admire the way Dana Jennings kept his bright outlook during his cancer treatment and his sense of humor with Bijou's help. In this book the author successfully shares the humor in even the mundanest of doggy actions.

I'd recommend this to any dog lover or animal lover. It's a fun, fast, yet deep read.
donkeycheese avatar reviewed What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love and Healing from a Small Pooch on + 1255 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the story of a little dog who made a big difference in her owner's life, just when he needed it the most.


Isn't the cover just adorable? Bijou is a twelve year old miniature poodle. I just want to pick him up and cuddle him!!


Dana Jennings is fighting prostate cancer and has liver failure. Both are very sick, but with Bijou, they learn to heal and live life again. They watch Bijou enjoying just the little things and it inspires them. Peppered through out the book is some "zen" of Bijou : Play, even when you're sick. Nap in the sun whenever Possible (I want to do that one!), or Never pass up the chance to pounce on a sock.


This little book is inspiring and those that are ill, or dog and pet owners will really enjoy this one. It would be perfect for gift giving this holiday season.
reviewed What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love and Healing from a Small Pooch on + 203 more book reviews
This is a very short book (153 pages). It is more snippets about how Bijou is in life with a family that has two members (father and son) with health problems (father-cancer son-liver transplant and two collapsed lungs). Is it cute the way it is laid out? Yes. It is great? Just so so for a dog book.