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| Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog | 
 enlarge | Author: Ted Kerasote
Publisher: Harcourt
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
Buy New: $3.85
You Save: $21.15 (85%)
New (57) Used (48) Collectible (4) from $0.74
Avg. Customer Rating:  131 reviews
Sales Rank: 801
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.6
ISBN: 0151012709
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.7092
EAN: 9780151012701
ASIN: 0151012709
Publication Date: July 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New - Has remainder mark. Fast shipping from trusted wholesaler with many exclusive publisher contracts.
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| Customer Reviews:
A wonderful stress reliever March 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mr. Kerasote has written a gentle and loving story about his relationship with his dog, Merle. The people living in his small town have the luxury of allowing their dogs free rein to wander around their community to their heart's content. Your perspective on what dogs need to be well-adjusted may be altered by Mr. Kerasote's relationship with Merle. If you are looking for a book that is tender and conveying a somewhat spiritual connection to nature, this story is right up your alley.
Merle's Door March 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A truly great book! A must read for anyone who loves dogs.
The information presented in the book made me more aware of my dog and her needs.
I fell in love with Merle March 8, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I am so impressed with how the author interpreted Merle's looks into language! I have seen so many of these expressions in my own dogs and couldn't verbalize it nearly as well as Ted does here.
Their love affair has added another dimension to my life with my dogs, and I really did not think that was possible. Really. I now watch their expressions even closer than before. Eyebrow up, eyebrow down. "Ha ha ha," Merle said.
To quote an old TV show, Night Court, "I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me."
 One of the great "I Loved A Dog" books March 4, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
4.5 stars
I just finished this fine book and am writing at midnight with our beloved black german shepherd sitting at my feet slapping her tail on the rug as I look at her and smile.
I wish she had the chances that Merle did, to be truly and almost completely a dog in its element...but she sure does get a lot of love and playtime!
This book could also be subtitled, "Let A Dog Be A Dog". The few negative reviewers here miss the point that Ted's entire concept with Merle was to see how much freedom he could responsibly accept. The answer---tons---surprises and delights both the author and the reader, and leads to many questions about our perception of dogs.
That's essentially the subtext here, and the reason for the many forays into canine research. These do tend to drag a bit but disappear after the first third or so. It's easy to want only the wonderful Ted and Merle parts, but a point is being made and the research does help make it, if occasionally somewhat clumsily; it's hard for the reader to veer from the personal into the scientific so abruptly at times.
Still, Kerasote is an engaging writer, especially when sharing his love of Merle. Let's face it, the real truth here is that this is a Love Story; Merle is clearly the love of Ted's life, and his only real girlfriend has a dog of her own that is integral to their love affair. Clearly, Ted is a Guy Who Loves Dogs More Than People. Or at least one dog. And who can blame him?
Only someone who's never had real love for a dog.
Not everything Ted does will please all dog lovers, but so what? How many dogs get this much freedom and joy and love and exercise and wild game? Not YOUR dog, I bet! That's why this tome is so engaging; anyone who's ever loved a dog has at some point wanted to BE their dog, and if ever there was a better dog to BE than Merle, I ain't heard of him!
Frankly, if I come back in the next life as Merle, that will be just fine.
Whatever you think of Kerasote and his canine libertarian methods, you've got to give him credit for trying to find out what true Doghood is. That's what makes this book a classic. This guy not only loves his dog, he respects him and tries to learn from him. And so he does.
The length of the book is completely justified by the ending. If you don't cry, you've never loved a dog.
And what a sad life that must be.
Let's face it: a good dog is worth more than many of the sheeple floating around these days. There, I said it. Sue me. Or better yet, go to your local pound and find a dog to teach you what you've been missing.
People and dogs belong together. It makes for more love...and if I'm not mistaken, that's pretty much why we're here.
Incredible Book February 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
All I can say is I hope I come back as the authors dog someday.
Absolutely riveting book, I highly recommend it.
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