Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog By Ted Kerasote
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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Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #226 in Books
Published on: 2007-07-02
Number of items: 1
Binding: Hardcover
416 pages
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Humorous, jubilant and touching by turns, this story of the relationship between man and dog is informed by the author's grasp of animal research and his attachment to Merle, a stray dog he adopted. A Labrador mix, Merle first appeared while the author was on a camping trip. Kerasote (Out There: In the Wild in a Wired Age), an award-winning nature writer, decided to take his canine friend home to rural Wyoming. This chronicle of their 13 years together is interspersed with studies by animal behaviorists that strengthened Kerasote's desire to see Merle as a responsible individual rather than a submissive pet. Merle set his own eating schedule (though not without early mishap), refused to hunt birds (although not elks) and, according to the author, possessed a range of emotions and sentiments similar to those of humans. Kerasote tends to anthropomorphize Merle's every look and movement, but this narrative is entertaining and Kerasote's strong love for Merle and enthusiasm for life in the wild will win over many readers. Kerasote's joyous relationship with Merle is balanced by a bittersweet account of a close relationship the author had with Alison, a neighbor and fellow dog owner. Kerasote's last weeks with the dying Merle are beautifully rendered. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
When an abandoned dog tags along with Ted Kerasote on a rafting trip, its the start of a long life-changing experience, with a learning process that goes both ways. Patrick Lawlor seamlessly portrays Kerasote, who shares personal anecdotes about his dog, Merle, and ruminates on the history of the relationship between dogs and humans. Lawlor puts plenty of laugh-out-loud moments into the anecdotes and keeps the history lively, too. He even comes up with a good voice for Merle in Kerasotes conversations with the dog. By the time listeners get to Merles later years, they will share the bond Kerasote has with him. J.A.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Merle showed up at the San Juan River at the same time Kerasote and his river-rafting friends arrived. Merle looked at Kerasote as if to say, "You need a dog, and I'm it." He accompanied the group down the river and then went home to Wyoming with Kerasote. A dog who was eager to please and almost trained himself, Merle learned the ways of bison, ground squirrels, and coyotes. Merle then taught Kerasote the fullness of the hunt, leading Kerasote to his favorite prey. But, after Kerasote installed a dog door, the main thing Merle taught him is that a dog develops to his full potential, becoming the dog he was meant to be, when allowed to make his own decisions. Merle developed a life of his own, patrolling the small settlement where they lived with his dog companions, and yet was always very aware of Kerasote and his schedule. In telling Merle's story, Kerasote also explores the science behind canine behavior and evolution, weaving in research on the human-canine bond and musing on the way dogs see the world. Merle is a true character, yet Merle is also Everydog. An absolute treasure of a book. Bent, Nancy
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Customer Reviews
This was the best book I have ever read
This was the best book I have ever read, it is so good that I am starting it over. I have never read a book more than one time. Anyone who loves dogs should read this, it is much more than just a story of a man and his dog. I also found this book very educational along with being entertaining. I laughed on almost every page, I didn't want the book to end. Very easy read, I took the book with me everywhere and could not put it down.
A Lesson We All Can Learn
As the owner of two large Giant Schnauzers I know what it is to have strong willed dogs. One is extremely smart and the other suffers from panic disorder. I could see so many things in Merle's Door that I can relate to with my two. It has opened my eyes to what my Shiner Rose might be thinking when she gives me certain looks. What Whiskey River might not be understanding when he goes into a panic attack. I admit that some of the references did go on somewhat extensive but brought you full circle to what we might be seeing today. Most dogs do not have the luxury to be a free spirt as Merle was but we have to find a way to do for our dogs what we can within their environments. I totally can identify with the bond that Merle and Ted had. My husband and I have that same relationship with our two Giants and marvel each day at their abilities and their limitations. I admit that the ending was very sad as we all expected but Merle passed with grace and obviously touched a lot of peoples hearts and lives. Animals are very special if you allow them to be a true part of your family. I think that Ted was right in allowing Merle to live out his life as Merle would have wanted. I definitely give this book five stars.
Heart Warming
Merle's Door will bring a smile to your face and a tear to you eye. As I read the adventures of Merle, I feel like I am right there with them in their experiences. Ted has a way to draw the reader into the story with him. Those of us who own Labs and Golden Retrievers, this story brings it all close to home.
This book is a wonderful read, and I recommend it everyone. especially those of us who lover dogs. I am reading the book for the second time.
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