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| Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog | 
 enlarge | Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Category: EBooks
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $7.96
You Save: $1.99 (20%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  192 reviews
Sales Rank: 308
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.7092
ASIN: B000SEKIZK
Publication Date: July 18, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
While on a camping trip, Ted Kerasote met a dog--a Labrador mix--who was living on his own in the wild. They became attached to each other, and Kerasote decided to name the dog Merle and bring him home. There, he realized that Merle's native intelligence would be diminished by living exclusively in the human world. He put a dog door in his house so Merle could live both outside and in. A deeply touching portrait of a remarkable dog and his relationship with the author, Merle's Door explores the issues that all animals and their human companions face as their lives intertwine, bringing to bear the latest research into animal consciousness and behavior as well as insights into the origins and evolution of the human-dog partnership. Merle showed Kerasote how dogs might live if they were allowed to make more of their own decisions, and Kerasote suggests how these lessons can be applied universally.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 187 more reviews...
Be prepared to cry December 5, 2008
It was an interesting combination of the standard "my life with my dog" story, a dog training book, and interesting bits of animal psychology/behavioralism. I particularly liked the bits where the author dove down into the physiology/evolution of dogs to explain his dog's behavior.
He really did a amazing job of portraying the thousands of little ways in which we communicate with our dogs and through this he really brought his dog to life. I could totally imagine he and his dog out hunting elk.
The book was probably a bit on the long/slow side -- there was a point in the middle where I definitely felt it was plodding a long a little.
But, the real emotional part came at the end. Not to provide too much of a spoiler, but the book ends the same way pretty much every "my life with my dog" book ends. And as I got closer and closer to the end, I could just feel my emotions building up. Each time I finished a chapter and started the next, I thought, "I wonder if this is the chapter?"
When I finally got to the final two chapters, I sat down at home -- away from anyone who might see me -- and read straight through. Tears just streamed down my face for an hour as I read page after page.
For anyone who has a dog, just the idea of your dog dying is heartwrenching. It is that inevitable end that we all know we will likely have to deal with, but something you try to avoid thinking about. The author told his dog's story in such a loving way that you could feel him savoring every last minute he had with his dog.
It was a beautiful book. But be prepared to cry.
Merle's Door December 3, 2008
Merle's Door is probably my favorite dog book ever and I've read many dog books! What a beautiful story of a man/dog relationship! I have already given this book to several dog lover friends and will purchase more.
Moving story, beautifully written December 1, 2008
You will smile, laugh and cry reading this book. Upon finishing it, you will have been alongside Ted as he stumbles upon an abandoned puppy in the Utah wilderness, as the dog chooses to stay with him, and as the two get to know and love each other. Painstakingly written, this honest account of one man's love for his dog and vice-versa will draw you in and keep you. Months after reading the book, I still think of it's story, and lessons.
Merle's Door November 29, 2008
I read this book a few months ago and since I've bought it for several friends, They also loved Merle's Door so I bought copies for all my family to include with their holiday gifts. It is a most moving story about a special dog who seems to be an old wise soul in dog form (this time)written by his friend and companion who is pretty wise himself. It is the best book I've read in years and I recommend it the highest.
WOW! What a Read! November 26, 2008
I cannot really add to what has already been said about this exquisite novel except to reiterate what many others have said...whether or not you love or live with dogs...this is a true treasure of a book. I have read many dog books and live with 3 beautiful dogs of my own (who might be considered "captives" in Merle's eyes!) and this is hands down one of the most impactful and insightful books I have ever read. The love felt between Kerasote and Merle is palpable in the pages; I really never wanted it to end.
But all good things must come to an end and the last few weeks of Merle's life were so beautifully written of. It was heartwrenching to read at the end but again Kerasote's gift for bringing the reader to his place was amazing. I hugged and cuddled my dogs for a very long time after finishing this book and I could not give it a higher recommendation.
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