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| A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life | 
 enlarge | Author: Jon Katz
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $2.02
You Save: $11.93 (86%)
New (46) Used (40) Collectible (1) from $2.02
Avg. Customer Rating:  151 reviews
Sales Rank: 26710
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7
ISBN: 0812971493
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.73740929
EAN: 9780812971491
ASIN: 0812971493
Publication Date: June 26, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
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| Customer Reviews:
 A feel good book. February 8, 2008
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
For anyone who has had or have a dog will be able to relate to this book. However, it is not your ordinary and predictable pet story. It is one about life, hardship, hope and the relationship of one man and his soul mate. It deals with issues that some readers might disagree with, and yet, life is not always black and white, like his dog Orson.
 Good dog, BAD owner January 17, 2008
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
This book should have been classified under 'horror' because that is how I felt at the end of this book- horrified. I wish I could have given it 0 stars, because it deserves none.
I am a licensed dog trainer and I want to give out a warning to dog lovers, who might pick up this book thinking it will be a heartfelt dog story. It seems a story of a man in his mid-life crisis, who moves to the country after getting a border collie dog- the wrong type of dog for him. The dog is protective, and a great guard dog- snapping at people who come onto his -unfenced- property. Unfenced!!! There were a couple of incidents where the dog drew blood, but never when the owner was present. These were what is called unguarded bites, probably more out of fear then assertiveness.
He never describes getting second opinions on his veterinary care, which any good dog lover should know you should always get. Never is nutrition mentioned, even once. Has Katz tried out different diets? Has he seen a dog nutritionist? Then he seeks out a shaman, a shaman?!?!?!? You must be kidding me.
Katz ends up putting his dog down, because he couldn't justify the amount that was needed to get him the proper vetinary care. GASP. A message to Jon Katz: DO NOT GET A DOG IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD ONE. It is stressed in the book, by Jon Katz himself though, that he has money. He describes building a very expensive wall, and other items like a custom planted garden in and around his house. Him and his wife keep two houses, one in the country and one in the city. Then he thinks he should rather give the money to people who need it, then spend it on his dog. HAS KATZ NEVER HEARD OF PET INSURANCE? A hip replacement for a dog costs about $8,000 nowadays- yes mister Katz, vetinary care is expensive, but as a responsible dog owner, you should know better and take that into account! And how much have you made and kept by writing this book?
Reading this book you will feel like the writer has exploited his dogs death. He described how loving his dog was, and how happy he was to just lay by his feet when he wrote. Why did Katz not just build a few proper fences? Why not re-home? I understand that this writer has written about his dogs before, and had a large base of readers. I am sure someone would have been able to take him in, someone who was a better fit for the dog.
There must be a reason that his last name is german for 'cats' because he certainly is not a dog lover. I felt cheated after reading this book, and sick to my stomach. I am going to bring it back to the bookstore ASAP and ask for my money back.
The Title is Decieving January 12, 2008
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
The author claims to have loved this dog he rescued from Texas. Yet when the dog does not conform to the author's way of training, he makes a decision that you'll be shocked by based on the book title. The author tried all kinds of expensive trainings and treatments because he has the funds. This book will teach the reader how people can justify their decisions and than share the story with claims of having authoritative knowledge to suggest what we need to do as responsible dog owners.
After reading this book you'll be able to determine what true love of animals is and is not! You'll learn how to justify to the world your actions claiming moral reasoning! You'll learn how to justify your decision to treat living animals as throw away items in todays society.
The real Story January 9, 2008
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
Don't be thrown off by the numbers of negative reviews. The whole concept of our relationship with ours dogs is complex and emotional. This story is one mans story - told beautifully - who obviously struggled mightily, gave everything he could to save this dog. I was touched by his struggle. His writing style is personal and - if you give it a chance - can lead to a better understanding of your relationship with your dog. The level of vitriol in the negative reviews says more about the reviewers than it does about the book.
No Stars - Bad decisions shouldn't become best sellers December 27, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
I almost never write reviews but I was very angered by this book. Please, do not take training advice or dog behavior advice from Jon Katz! It is clear from the beginning of this story that Orson may have been one of the most intelligent, keen, in-tune dogs you will ever meet. He was a heart dog. He was also exhibiting high levels of fear, anxiety, and frustrated energy, or as Katz called him 'troubled.' I don't know what trainers he was going to, but Katz never learned the principles of correction, exercise, or discipline. Positive reinforcement only caused him trouble.
I hate to diss the author because he clearly cared for the animal, but he knows nothing about dogs. He views them as expendable, and if they dont 'work on their own,' he wants nothing to do with them. Clearly, this dog needed exercise. Clearly, when Katz's attempts to get Orson to herd sheep failed, he was done with him. Katz admitted repeatedly that he yelled at Orson, got extremely angry at him, and even got physical with him on more than one occasion. NO dog should be treated like this, especially such an intelligent, intense one. He didn't even get labs right, as he basically viewed them as lazy, silly, happy, useless pets. Tell that to all the gundog owners out there. Buy a field bred lab and see if you dont make the same decision as with Orson, Katz.
Rose seemed like a gem, and he became extremely detached from her and considered her just a 'working dog.' Nice.
Katz's first question should have been whether Orson had ever bitten his owner (him). The answer is no. Therefore, the dog was not mentally deranged. Any dog that is not mentally deranged or not in incredible pain is biting for one reason. BAD ownership! Orson could have been rehabilitated without thousands of dollars.
He piled his anger, frustrations, and schizo attitude onto his animals, and they paid dearly. I am so sorry Orson.
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