The Holy Grail for Wagging Tails?
Your dog will think so if my dog’s reaction is any measure. Onyx and I read Dog Park Wisdom: Real-World Advice on Choosing, Caring For, and Understanding Your Canine Companion (Skipstone, $18. 95) during a long weekend in the wilderness of Central Oregon. Combining advice from pet owners, author Lisa Wogan has put together an engaging potpourri of popular pet problems—and answers.
Although the title makes the book sound as though it is about dog parks, it is about all aspects of life with a dog, including dog parks. The title is more about the approach which is that these are stories you’d hear at the dog park. Tapping the wisdom of dog owners, rather than a parade of professionals, Dog Park Wisdom including sections on bringing home a new dog, introducing them to routines, socializing at parks and in the great outdoors, and travelling with your dog, Wogan also helps with the home issues like removing odor from, or selecting appropriate furniture for the dog-filled household. Dog owners describe their pets’ development challenges and solutions such as house breaking, eating problems, tantrums, and social interaction.
The stories of owners and their dogs provide insight as well as entertainment. I could relate to the story of Chester the dog who loved licking dishes in the dishwasher until the day his collar got stuck on the rack and an entire load of plates crashed behind him. And then there’s the story of Wizard the poodle who learned to open the refrigerator. (You’ll just have to check out page 39 yourself.)
