All About Animals discussion

I just posted my review of Jon Katz's book "Rose:a Man and his Dog. Five stars. Actually this author has written several books about his animals and has published at least two about Rose.

Jon Katz "Saving Izzy. The Abandoned Dog who stole my heart"
An inspiring and heartwarming account of his life and the animals of Bedlam Farm. The story doesn't just focus on Izzy, but about his environment before and after his rescue, and about how he fitted in to author's life, and with the rest of the animals on the farm. I found this a serious and quite reflective book.Jon Katz is an honest writer, who readily admits to his past mistakes and short-comings as a dog trainer, and he often gives the credit to his training success to the breeding and the adaptability of his dogs. His honesty and willingness to learn and develop as a trainer is impressive. He regards each new dog he acquires as an opportunity to develop as a trainer, and deepen his understanding of dogs, as individuals and as representatives of their breeding.
Izzy is clearly an outstanding dog.For the first 3 years of his life he was kept on an abandoned farm, fed and watered, but had no training or real sustained contact with humans. On arriving at Bedlam Farm he quickly emerged as adaptable and efficient sheepdog, eager to learn and with many skills which derived from his breeding.I know some feral dogs in Thailand that have this intelligence and adaptability. They respond well to the right kind of training, and have well developed survival skills. They also become deeply attached to anyone who shows them love, and spends time with them, especially quality training time. Izzy quickly takes on the role of Jon's shadow, and just wants to be with him and please him as best he can. One of the ways he does this is by demonstrating his skills at herding sheep.

Jon Katz has some fascinating observations on the differences between labradors and border collies, because he has had quite a number of both. These differences are important and valuable to a humane trainer like Katz, because he wants to work with a dog's strengths and appreciate their individuality and their breed based characteristics. The heart warming chapter on how his lab Pearl befriends an elderly lady a the physical therapy clinic, is made even more poignant when we are told that Pearl herself had required extensive joint surgery involving pins and nylon filaments to replace ligaments, and was often in pain herself. Katz's account of Pearl's work as self appointed therapy dog, and her clear rapport with the elderly lady with pain and mobility problems, is inspiring.

Even though he could be described as a "hobby farmer", Katz makes no attempt to present life on farm as a rural idyll. He realistically describes the setbacks and disasters which farmers have to face on a regular basis. There is rarely a time when all his stock and his pack of dogs and pet donkeys don't require some medical attention. Back problems, which are the bane of many farmers and laborers, frequently plague the author and restrict the range of lifting jobs he can tackle, as well slowing him down when working with livestock. Hence the vital importance of dedicated and hard working collies such as Rose and Izzy.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and is interested in human-canine interdependence.
Saving Izzy: The Abandoned Dog Who Stole My Heart

Agree on every point! I've downloaded every Jon Katz dog book on B&N for my Nook--and I usually read hard science, history, biography and art. The novels I read tend to be "heavy" or artistically important, but I love Jon Katz. Then again, I love dogs and other animals. (See my Facebook page, "Amazing Dogs..."

Hi Elaine
Yes I have liked every one of Jon Katz books that I have read.Perhaps THE NEW WORK OF DOGS was the most challenging and original; and RUNNING TO THE MOUNTAIN, his mid life challenge/crisis book, was the most personal. I like his modesty and willingness to learn from new experiences, new animals and experts in the relevant fields. And of course, the guy can write. I think he was a novelist before, under a different name, but I can't remember the details.

Since you like reflective and serious animal books, I think you would enjoy Mark Rowlands THE PHILOSOPHER & THE WOLF & RUNNING WITH THE PACK. He makes you think and question assumptions; always a good thing.

The Philosopher and the Wolf: Lessons from the Wild on Love, Death, and Happiness

Running with the Pack: Thoughts From the Road on Meaning and Mortality

I love his books as well. Having owned a rescue Border Collie, many Shelties, and currently owning a Sheltie and 2 Aussies that I compete in agility with. I love all things about herding dogs. I have done the herding instinct test with both of my Aussies, and taking herding lessons with both of them. It's so great to read about a man and his dogs that actually work on a farm. I also volunteer with Western Australian Shepherd rescue and currently have 2 foster puppies of mixed herding breed. I would never had said 10 years ago that I want to move to the Country, get a lot of land and sheep so my dogs can be happy. Pipe dream, but some day, until then I read books like Jon Katz' to help keep the dream alive.

Stewart wrote: "Hi Elaine
Yes I have liked every one of Jon Katz books that I have read.Perhaps THE NEW WORK OF DOGS was the most challenging and original; and RUNNING TO THE MOUNTAIN, his mid life challenge/crisi..."thanks for the titles. I ordered both of Rowland's books. Like you I like the way Katz weaves his own life crises into his stories of relationships with animals. Did you know he moved from Bedlam Farm?

Elaine that is great. I hope you enjoy the two Mark Rowlands books, they will make you think.

I love it that he took his wolf to work with him at the University. My Irish Stter always came to Uni with me. He was very popular with my students, and being a setter, he loved the attention.

I didn't know that Jon Katz had moved on from Bedlam Farm. Has he gone more rural? I cannot imagine him back in the city.

My first dog was a collie cross from a farm, and my second was a sheltie, also from a farm. Our newly rescued puppy here in Thailand seems to be some sort of collie. My wife has a farm up in the North East Thailand, but we don't live there, not yet anyway.

Reading your comments on Western Australia and cattle dogs reminded me of [book:Red Dog|3396
Louis de Bernieres (Captain Correli's Mandolin), a great factual story of a drover type dog in Western Australia. Beautifully written and a bit if a weepie. He wrote the screen play for the movie of the same name. Also very good.

Stewart wrote: "My first dog was a collie cross from a farm, and my second was a sheltie, also from a farm. Our newly rescued puppy here in Thailand seems to be some sort of collie. My wife has a farm up in the No..."

OMG, Red Dog! The movie is unforgettable and a keeper. I wondered if it was big in Australia so when I met some Australians at the APDT conference (Assn of Professional Dog Trainers), I asked and they said - yes, it was big in Australia, too!

I enjoy Jon Katz's books, too. It's neat reading about the farm and the dogs.