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If It Wasn't for That Dog!
It’s amazing what you can achieve with persistence, a bit of chopped liver and a second hand teddy bear…
In 2002 Michael, a deafened man from the New Forest, lost his home, his marriage, his business and his father – but he can’t actually remember if it was in that order. However, in the same year someone suggested that getting a dog might be a good idea – not just any dog, but a Hearing Dog from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. And when, in 2004, Michael was presented with a Hearing Dog of his own called Matt, he just knew life would be so much easier. Amazing how wrong you can be, isn’t it!
If It Wasn’t For That Dog is the story of Matt’s first year with Michael, the challenges and accomplishments of climbing the Hearing Dog learning curve, the profound changes he stimulated and the inestimable joy he confers magically on everyone who meets him. But most of all it is the story of the strange power of meaty treats to work miracles in doggie behaviour.
In 2002 Michael, a deafened man from the New Forest, lost his home, his marriage, his business and his father – but he can’t actually remember if it was in that order. However, in the same year someone suggested that getting a dog might be a good idea – not just any dog, but a Hearing Dog from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. And when, in 2004, Michael was presented with a Hearing Dog of his own called Matt, he just knew life would be so much easier. Amazing how wrong you can be, isn’t it!
If It Wasn’t For That Dog is the story of Matt’s first year with Michael, the challenges and accomplishments of climbing the Hearing Dog learning curve, the profound changes he stimulated and the inestimable joy he confers magically on everyone who meets him. But most of all it is the story of the strange power of meaty treats to work miracles in doggie behaviour.
244 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Michael Forester
9 books116 followersSome are born with silver spoons in their mouths. Michael Forester was born with a pen in his hand.
Of course, it was immediately pinched by his big brother who put it on a shelf too high for him to reach. He got his own back though. He nicked his brother’s abacus and hid behind the sofa with it. Thus his accountancy and entrepreneurial career was born, but always clouded by a nagging suspicion that his true calling had something to do with writing.
By the time he was 30 he was finally tall enough to reach the shelf, and took down the pen. This induced a bout of split personality disorder in which he oscillated between pillaging the stock market and writing books teaching others how to make incalculably vast sums of money. Unfortunately, they didn’t make incalculably vast sums of money themselves...
The millennium year saw a complete volte-face (millennia can be quite feisty like that, Michael says – still, not to worry, he’s fully prepared for the next one) in which he determined to devote his life to poetry, fiction and life writing. The first result was If It Wasn’t For That Dog, about his first year with his beloved hearing dog, Matt. (Michael has been severely deafened from the age of 30).
In 2009 he won first prize at the Winchester Writer’s Festival in the ‘Writing can be Murder’ category. He has been short/longlisted three times in the Fish Writing Contest.
Eventually Michael felt ready to start his first novel, Vicious, a story of Punk Rock, reincarnation and the second coming of the Messiah. It took six years to complete the manuscript which was showcased by The Literary Consultancy in November 2015.
Now at the venerable age of 63 (deep respect, master, deep respect), Michael writes and promotes his books full time. He numbers angels and dryads amongst his closest friends.
His children look on aghast as he squanders their inheritance on such profligacies as A4 printing paper and laser toner cartridges.
They need have no concern. He plans to leave them the pen.
Of course, it was immediately pinched by his big brother who put it on a shelf too high for him to reach. He got his own back though. He nicked his brother’s abacus and hid behind the sofa with it. Thus his accountancy and entrepreneurial career was born, but always clouded by a nagging suspicion that his true calling had something to do with writing.
By the time he was 30 he was finally tall enough to reach the shelf, and took down the pen. This induced a bout of split personality disorder in which he oscillated between pillaging the stock market and writing books teaching others how to make incalculably vast sums of money. Unfortunately, they didn’t make incalculably vast sums of money themselves...
The millennium year saw a complete volte-face (millennia can be quite feisty like that, Michael says – still, not to worry, he’s fully prepared for the next one) in which he determined to devote his life to poetry, fiction and life writing. The first result was If It Wasn’t For That Dog, about his first year with his beloved hearing dog, Matt. (Michael has been severely deafened from the age of 30).
In 2009 he won first prize at the Winchester Writer’s Festival in the ‘Writing can be Murder’ category. He has been short/longlisted three times in the Fish Writing Contest.
Eventually Michael felt ready to start his first novel, Vicious, a story of Punk Rock, reincarnation and the second coming of the Messiah. It took six years to complete the manuscript which was showcased by The Literary Consultancy in November 2015.
Now at the venerable age of 63 (deep respect, master, deep respect), Michael writes and promotes his books full time. He numbers angels and dryads amongst his closest friends.
His children look on aghast as he squanders their inheritance on such profligacies as A4 printing paper and laser toner cartridges.
They need have no concern. He plans to leave them the pen.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 20, 2015
This is a fantastic book and a true story about one man and his amazing dog! It made me laugh and cry and the characters have stayed with me long after I finished the last page! The book is extremely well written and very entertaining. It also helps to give a greater understanding of acquired deafness - an invisible disability but one that can shatter the lives of those affected by it. Plus all royalties go to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, so I felt like I was making a difference as well as enjoying a great read!
I read this book and reviewed it when it first came out and I have since read it again just now after getting my own hearing dog - bring on the sequel!
I read this book and reviewed it when it first came out and I have since read it again just now after getting my own hearing dog - bring on the sequel!
July 14, 2016
This is a wonderful story. Interesting and mind-opening it explores the bond between the man and his aid dog. The author has an easy flowing writing style and once you start reading, you can't put the book down. For a dog lover it's a delight to read. Also this book reveals the many challenges a person with disabilities faces in order to adapt and have a life as normal as possible. Matt, the playful puppy is adorable and especially the second part of the book, the wedding preparations are described with humor. One of the most interesting books I've read recently.
November 19, 2015
A delightful story of one man and his very special dog - it's well written, touching and funny, and it highlights the never-ending talents and hard-earned skills of assistance dogs. Matt's endearing character and how he transforms the life of his previously non-doggy owner makes this an un-put-downable read - I didn't want to miss anything while I was away, so I consumed it all it in one sitting! Highly recommended, especially as a pressie for any dog-lover.
November 30, 2022
It was personal interest that made me pick up this book. Personal, invested interest was the thing that kept me reading. Stubbornness is what got me to the end.
As someone who has grown up with hearing dogs, I was fascinated to learn about someone else's experience with them. Discovering that this was written by someone who had limited experience with dogs and only became deaf later in life was particularly intriguing.
It's heartening to read Forester's candid descriptions of the process of receiving his hearing dog. It's an involved procedure and he is honest about the challenges and strain of the work, as well as the elation of the successes. Hearing Dogs provide delightful assistance dogs that become essential to their households, both for their work and their presence. Their impact upon the recipients is profound and Forester expresses that well in his book.
It's also brilliant to read about all the less-than-perfect things that the dogs do- yes, they will wake you up early just because they'd like a treat.
If he had had a decent editor, a good proof-reader and removed about fifty pages, this book would have been fantastic. It would've been the book to share with other recipients of hearing dogs, those early in their hearing loss or those wishing to learn more about either experience. Instead, it's just another book that one can be glad they've read but can't, in all good faith, recommend to others.
Crucially, the book is full of errors. The content is fine (bar the aside comments and emoticons included in the text) but it isn't finished; there is at least another round of edits to be made before it should have gone to print.
Throughout, there are numerous grammatical mistakes made- some words are missing, some have the wrong prefix, some lack the correct punctuation or are written in the wrong tense. The writing becomes repetitive, duplicating some of the information the reader has already learnt and waiting until halfway through the book to clarify other points (namely 'AD' on the first page is not explained until a hundred pages on). Some of the vocabulary choices are peculiar, using words and phrases that may mean the right thing but have completely the wrong tone.
Plus, there are many spelling mistakes. At one point, even the name of the dog is spelt incorrectly.
It's easy to say this is unnecessary criticism or just unfair but sharing work with the world should be a reflection of one's self. Make it a good example.
Also, where possible, stay on topic.
The selling point of this memoir is the dog. Simply put, it has a large photo of Matt on the cover for a reason; people will always pick up books with sweet animal faces on them. Learning that this book explores an animal-based organisation and its impact on Deaf people will be what makes said people deem if this is something they'd like to spend their time on.
A man's worries over dry rot is not what they signed up for.
The tale of his daughter's wedding and the preparations necessary for it do, indeed, help to frame the book and bring about the conclusion, but it perfectly shows how this book loses its direction. It begins to turn a memoir into an autobiography, which is combining too many elements and the book suffers for it.
It's a fantastic thing that Forester has shared his story but there's more needed to be done on this one.
As someone who has grown up with hearing dogs, I was fascinated to learn about someone else's experience with them. Discovering that this was written by someone who had limited experience with dogs and only became deaf later in life was particularly intriguing.
It's heartening to read Forester's candid descriptions of the process of receiving his hearing dog. It's an involved procedure and he is honest about the challenges and strain of the work, as well as the elation of the successes. Hearing Dogs provide delightful assistance dogs that become essential to their households, both for their work and their presence. Their impact upon the recipients is profound and Forester expresses that well in his book.
It's also brilliant to read about all the less-than-perfect things that the dogs do- yes, they will wake you up early just because they'd like a treat.
If he had had a decent editor, a good proof-reader and removed about fifty pages, this book would have been fantastic. It would've been the book to share with other recipients of hearing dogs, those early in their hearing loss or those wishing to learn more about either experience. Instead, it's just another book that one can be glad they've read but can't, in all good faith, recommend to others.
Crucially, the book is full of errors. The content is fine (bar the aside comments and emoticons included in the text) but it isn't finished; there is at least another round of edits to be made before it should have gone to print.
Throughout, there are numerous grammatical mistakes made- some words are missing, some have the wrong prefix, some lack the correct punctuation or are written in the wrong tense. The writing becomes repetitive, duplicating some of the information the reader has already learnt and waiting until halfway through the book to clarify other points (namely 'AD' on the first page is not explained until a hundred pages on). Some of the vocabulary choices are peculiar, using words and phrases that may mean the right thing but have completely the wrong tone.
Plus, there are many spelling mistakes. At one point, even the name of the dog is spelt incorrectly.
It's easy to say this is unnecessary criticism or just unfair but sharing work with the world should be a reflection of one's self. Make it a good example.
Also, where possible, stay on topic.
The selling point of this memoir is the dog. Simply put, it has a large photo of Matt on the cover for a reason; people will always pick up books with sweet animal faces on them. Learning that this book explores an animal-based organisation and its impact on Deaf people will be what makes said people deem if this is something they'd like to spend their time on.
A man's worries over dry rot is not what they signed up for.
The tale of his daughter's wedding and the preparations necessary for it do, indeed, help to frame the book and bring about the conclusion, but it perfectly shows how this book loses its direction. It begins to turn a memoir into an autobiography, which is combining too many elements and the book suffers for it.
It's a fantastic thing that Forester has shared his story but there's more needed to be done on this one.
September 22, 2023
Masterly written and awe-inspiring.
Michael Forester writes an inspiring and memoir-esq story with If It Wasn’t For That Dog. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story, his story. In his thirties, he started losing his hearing, and of course, tried to deny it to other and himself, by using different cues, or just saying the wrong answer to a misheard question. He shares not only his frustration, but his self-exile from others, and then he was introduced into the world of Hearing Dogs for Deaf persons. At first, he didn't think he needed one, and he had personal issues to deal with, and a business to take care of, and a future ex-wife. You know the story is real when the person is telling their story, and it feels real, and the emotions felt or kept locked up inside, are released with the writing of this story. Then, he decided to see what he needed in order to get a dog to help him. The dog had to be specially trained for him and his needs, his hearing needs, such as training different sounds, like the doorbell, telephone, smoke detector, and other important sounds. It's also a story about kinship, friendship, and what would I do without you-ship. It was a remarkable story, and I applaud the author for sharing this. It's a book, that I know will remain on my shelf, and I will definitely read again, and again. As a disabled person, you can't always see what a person’s disability is or that they are disabled, and sometimes, when you see it, you turn away, or even worse, try to placate to the person, as if it was their fault you are disabled. This is one of those books that grabs you from the start and pulls you in. An embraceable story. Wow! If It Wasn’t For That Dog is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
Michael Forester writes an inspiring and memoir-esq story with If It Wasn’t For That Dog. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story, his story. In his thirties, he started losing his hearing, and of course, tried to deny it to other and himself, by using different cues, or just saying the wrong answer to a misheard question. He shares not only his frustration, but his self-exile from others, and then he was introduced into the world of Hearing Dogs for Deaf persons. At first, he didn't think he needed one, and he had personal issues to deal with, and a business to take care of, and a future ex-wife. You know the story is real when the person is telling their story, and it feels real, and the emotions felt or kept locked up inside, are released with the writing of this story. Then, he decided to see what he needed in order to get a dog to help him. The dog had to be specially trained for him and his needs, his hearing needs, such as training different sounds, like the doorbell, telephone, smoke detector, and other important sounds. It's also a story about kinship, friendship, and what would I do without you-ship. It was a remarkable story, and I applaud the author for sharing this. It's a book, that I know will remain on my shelf, and I will definitely read again, and again. As a disabled person, you can't always see what a person’s disability is or that they are disabled, and sometimes, when you see it, you turn away, or even worse, try to placate to the person, as if it was their fault you are disabled. This is one of those books that grabs you from the start and pulls you in. An embraceable story. Wow! If It Wasn’t For That Dog is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
October 6, 2019
First of all, I loved this book. A gift one year from my wife because she knows I love reading all books on animals. It’s been sat on my shelf awhile until recently reading another book by Michael Forrester while in Thailand, One Journey. I then not long after that had the privilege of having a conversation with Michael at a convention about his journeys and his dog, Matt.
This book is about a man (Michael) and his dog (Matt). Michael is losing his hearing and he finds out about hearing dogs and this one particular dog just jumps out at him and he just really needs this dog. He goes through all the stages of the program and has lots of funny and difficult stories of dealing with this new dog in his life. And you/us the reader falls in love with Matt and you really want a happy end result. This book is based around Michaels first year with Matt.
I loved it. A very sweet and fitting end to the book. I admit, I could have easily read hundreds of more pages about Michael and Matt! I recommend if you love animals, read this book. If you’re undergoing any big changes in your life, read this book. It’s a great read and a very personal journey.
This book is about a man (Michael) and his dog (Matt). Michael is losing his hearing and he finds out about hearing dogs and this one particular dog just jumps out at him and he just really needs this dog. He goes through all the stages of the program and has lots of funny and difficult stories of dealing with this new dog in his life. And you/us the reader falls in love with Matt and you really want a happy end result. This book is based around Michaels first year with Matt.
I loved it. A very sweet and fitting end to the book. I admit, I could have easily read hundreds of more pages about Michael and Matt! I recommend if you love animals, read this book. If you’re undergoing any big changes in your life, read this book. It’s a great read and a very personal journey.
January 17, 2024
What a lovely uplifting book. Amusing, at times emotional, very interesting and nicely written. The write ups say it is aimed at 10-18 yr olds but I am over 3 times that age and I loved it. I have definitely succumbed to the charms of That Dog !
October 23, 2022
a good read
Gives the reader a good understanding of what it’s like to loose your hearing, isolate yourself through The dog matt we enter the world
Gives the reader a good understanding of what it’s like to loose your hearing, isolate yourself through The dog matt we enter the world
November 19, 2015
It is exceedingly rare that i find a book that i can't put down and indeed these days, i make the time to read it.
My reading only flipped into day 2 only as my wife said i was being rude reading it in the cricket club yesterday!
I'm not sure what the primary reason was for keeping me reading - Matt, the reasons for hearing dogs, the emotional trials and tribulations the author went through or the continued public's ignorances even after the DDA changes
In thinking of my review comments - i could only go back to reading Philip Briggs letter printed in the book. As the Author states - no more that needs adding.
An excellent read which kept my attention - gripping at times as to what events might be in the next chapter but also that made me more aware of how disabilities affect the person and those around them - especially in cases where the hearing loss has been a gradual one, not from birth and indeed not visible. I am now informed on such matters - realsing how ignorant i was.
Matt or "AD" has had a remarkable affect and never did i quite understand how a dog could enthuse the affection that came with him too.
An excellent read Michael and the Comments from Sir Anthony Jay and Dr Fogle are succinct.
My reading only flipped into day 2 only as my wife said i was being rude reading it in the cricket club yesterday!
I'm not sure what the primary reason was for keeping me reading - Matt, the reasons for hearing dogs, the emotional trials and tribulations the author went through or the continued public's ignorances even after the DDA changes
In thinking of my review comments - i could only go back to reading Philip Briggs letter printed in the book. As the Author states - no more that needs adding.
An excellent read which kept my attention - gripping at times as to what events might be in the next chapter but also that made me more aware of how disabilities affect the person and those around them - especially in cases where the hearing loss has been a gradual one, not from birth and indeed not visible. I am now informed on such matters - realsing how ignorant i was.
Matt or "AD" has had a remarkable affect and never did i quite understand how a dog could enthuse the affection that came with him too.
An excellent read Michael and the Comments from Sir Anthony Jay and Dr Fogle are succinct.
Want to read
December 23, 2015ByMrs. E. Brookson 18 June 2009
Format: Paperback
Being a doggie person and therefore fully understanding that the furry 4-pawed creature is usually the one in charge, I thoroughly enjoyed Michael's experience of learning to live and relate to Matt.
The book was full of humour, appears to give a very balanced view from his own and Matt's view of the relationship, but also conveyed the difficulties and frustrations that can be caused by life in general but in particular by hearing loss and by people's lack of understanding.
The book was very entertaining - mostly happy, sometimes sad, inspiring throughout but most of all a thoroughly good read which I would highly recommend.
Format: Paperback
Being a doggie person and therefore fully understanding that the furry 4-pawed creature is usually the one in charge, I thoroughly enjoyed Michael's experience of learning to live and relate to Matt.
The book was full of humour, appears to give a very balanced view from his own and Matt's view of the relationship, but also conveyed the difficulties and frustrations that can be caused by life in general but in particular by hearing loss and by people's lack of understanding.
The book was very entertaining - mostly happy, sometimes sad, inspiring throughout but most of all a thoroughly good read which I would highly recommend.
January 24, 2017
I won this book in a good reads giveaway and I loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing Micheal and Matt's journey overcoming hurdles and forming such a special bond together making them inseparable . I willed them on their journey to succeed. It was beautifully written and such an enjoyable read.
May 29, 2017
A respite from the hustle and bustle of every day cares
A story that dwells on the lighter side of things
But has the capacity to leave imprints
That touches the heart! - Janet
A story that dwells on the lighter side of things
But has the capacity to leave imprints
That touches the heart! - Janet
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews