Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

by Ted Kerasote
Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog  
published July 2nd 2007 by Harcourt
binding Hardcover
isbn 0151012709   (isbn13: 9780151012701)
pages 416
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, ...more
date added
03-23-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 665)



Pam
Pam rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/13/08

Read in March, 2008
Somewhat pressured by the fact that Ted Kerasote was visiting our library in two days, and I had the only copy of his book in our inventory, I began this book. Frankly, I wasn't quite sure if this was even a book I would normally read if the intrigue of the author visiting as well as its good reviews weren't factors to persuade me.
Unfortunately, I was only to about page 40 when I attended the author's presentation. My initial thoughts were that the author's writing was praiseworthy f...more
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Chris
07/13/08

bookshelves: fauna, favorites, kirkus-ok-d, text-checked
Read in July, 2008
<b>MARVELOUS!</> I give this book 5 stars without a second thought! You cry, you chuckle, you laugh out loud, you read again sections of other dog books mentioned in the text that one has^previously read, you search Wikipedia concerning subjects that the text brings to your attention and about which you realize you really have to know more. This book has everything for anyone that truly loves their dog.

OK I have to say one thing and I would really like to discuss this with others...more
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LonewolfMX
LonewolfMX rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/23/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
It teaches us how a dog left to make decisions on its own can be a smarter dog this beautiful story by Ted Kerasote talks about Merle a Labrador who is Ted's companion in his adventures in the outdoors wither its camping or Elk hunting. Still haven't finished the book but so far I am impressed

This story is reminiscent of my dog Federico (Fido for short)(Also goes by the aliases Fidous Maximus and the mutt) who was of Shar Pei/Pitbull mix RIP for 17 years he was part of my family's life living...more
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Rhiannon
Rhiannon rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/15/08

bookshelves: favorites
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for: anyone who loves dogs
oh man.. every dog owner, or dog lover, should read this book. its filled with heart warming stories mixed with interesting facts about dogs, the relationship between dogs and humans, and more.

i actually think this book is better than marley and me, because marley is the type of dog who is understimulated in an urban/suburban environment (cant remember which) who gets into antics because he's got a ton of energy and not enough to keep him entertained.. everyone can relate to it and its wort...more
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Candice
Candice rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/05/08

Read in June, 2008
recommends it for: Elllen, Keegan, Doug, Jamie, anyone who loves dogs
What a book! Every time you turn around there seems to be another book about a dog, but this one is top-notch and should be read by everyone who loves dogs. Not only do Ted and Merle have a one-in-a-million type of human-dog bond, but the writing is beautiful and the love of man and dog shines through.

Interspersed with the story of Merle are passages about dogs and wolves in general - their senses of sight and smell, their behavior, the way they think. Anyone who has the slightest interes...more
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Sally
Sally rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
12/16/07

Read in December, 2007
recommends it for: most anyone
Dogs, I am not a dog lover or a dog hater, but I am around dogs a lot. I like them and even like to dog sit and have dogs visit. But more than that, I see how dogs effect people's lives and how people vary in their treatment of their 4-legged friends. This book was a consideration of this relationship and its history. Also, it is a biography of Merle and most of the book gives Mr. Kerasote's interpretation of the dog's side of the story.

In my opinion, Mr. Kerasote is a bit fanatic about...more
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Mandi
Mandi rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/09/08

Read in April, 2008
I debated between 4 and 5 stars on this - I really did like the book - although, probably not amazing .... How can I not like a book about a dog?! :) I think the author went a little overboard on his descriptions on what the dog was feeling or thinking - so maybe could have done w/out so much of that - and he makes his dog sound simply amazing and how everyone worshipped it - which I dont know the dog, but I think he went a little overboard w/his descriptions on that too. All in all it was a g...more
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Christen
bookshelves: discussion-books, non-fiction, to-re-read
Read in October, 2007
recommended to Christen by: Colleen E.
recommends it for: Animal Lovers
***After meeting the author (5/12/08) the other night and hearing him read passages from the book, I've decided I want to read the book again. What a neat dog!***

I LOVED this book. I still can't figure out who the luckiest character in the book is: the dog or the owner. Ted was so lucky to find such a wonderful dog and Merle was lucky to have such a neat owner who lived in such a neat place, that allowed him to be a free dog! I hate always crying at the end of dog books, but I have to s...more
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Rich
Rich rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/22/07

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in August, 2007
recommends it for: Dog Lovers and animal trainers/behaviorists/Nature lovers
Short and sweet...GET THIS BOOK AND READ IT! If you love your dog you will love this book. You will better understand your dog and your relationship with him/her. But more than that, this book is also about relationships, not only with your pet and best friend, but also with your human companions. "At a certain point you need to acknowledge that your partner knows more about what makes him/her happy than you do. Stepping back, you let that partner be." This applies to dogs and human pa...more
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Anne
Anne rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/08/08

bookshelves: non-fiction
Read in March, 2008
recommended to Anne by: Learned about it from a Goodreads review
recommends it for: The serious dog/animal lover
Interesting book about the life of a very intelligent dog named Merle. You may like this if you liked "Marley and Me". Although Merle is just as lovable as Marley, he leads a much more autonomous life without getting into all of the trouble that Marley got into. This biography differs from Marley's in that the author adds quite a bit of insight into Merle's behavior through research and psychological studies of animal behavior... interesting, but not always realistic advice to follo...more
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Kathleen
Okay, I was suckered in by the cute dog picture on the cover. But I found myself really caring about the players in this extraordinary human-dog relationship. Granted, Merle had such a great life and so much freedom because he lived in a dog-friendly town on the edge of Grand Tetons NP. And he got to do great dog stuff like hunt elk and ski snow-covered slopes. Most dogs don't have those opportunities.

The book dragged when author Kerasote waxed on about scientific research into why dogs act...more
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Rachelle
Rachelle rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/22/08

Read in March, 2008
This book was fantastic. I really enjoyed Ted Kerasote's writing style. He writes from the standpoint of a laid-back observer rather than that of a omniscient narrator. He conveys his thoughts in both an academic and personal way, which makes it enjoyable to read.

I appreciate his respect towards dogs and his approach to living with Merle, rather than owning him. The outdoor-lifestyle that the two of them lead adds a lot to the story. I think that people who enjoy dogs will enjoy the book...more
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Jason
Jason rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
01/03/08

Read in December, 2007
Found it in the bookstore, and it looked like an interesting book about dogs. It's mainly all about one dog-human relationship so far, but a couple interesting points have been brought up...

Finished the book in a heap of tears...it seems when we anthropomorphize our dogs, it makes it that much harder when they die (both in literature and in life). While Kerasote seems to have entire conversations with his dog, he recognizes his limited view and experience without claiming to be any kind of e...more
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Donna
Donna rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/06/08

Read in October, 2007
recommended to Donna by: Reggie
recommends it for: dog lovers, and people sho enjoy the outdoors
This is a humurous, heartfelt book about a wonderful dog named Merle. Although there were sections which became too technical regarding the evolution of the dog, it is easy to scan over those pages and get back to the beautifully written story. If you love dogs, you need to read this book. It covers Merle's entire life with Ted, and yes, it includes his last day. Get the tissues out! If you don't cry, you were absent the day they passed out hearts. If you don't have a dog, you will want to go ge...more
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Az
Az rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/24/08

bookshelves: animals
Read in July, 2008
Very enjoyable book. A bit long-winded near the end, but by the time you get there, it's completely understandable.
This was exactly my brand of escapism--I'm in the densely packed northeast, the book is mainly held in wide-open Wyoming. Kerasote makes very clean transitions between the incredibly detailed and the vastly generalized. He truly makes it all work.
An engaging postive read, a nice mix of scientific research and accute observations with a completely tolerable amount of feeling. ...more
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Mary
Mary rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/12/08

Read in July, 2008
My dad told me about this book, and he was right that it's pretty damn good. Kerasote has a larger argument to make about how dogs and humans can best live together, and how dogs can live happier, healthier, more peaceful lives if they are given the opportunity to make their own decisions. But, beyond his scientific and behavioral research, I was most affected by the story of his 13-year relationship with his AWESOME dog, Merle. Kerasote is SO successful at creating Merle as a real character - y...more
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Michelle
Michelle rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/15/08

Read in May, 2008
recommends it for: Dogs, People, Dog People
This book makes you (1) want to move to Wyoming and live on a ranch and (2) wonder if your dog stuck on the couch could make it even one day wandering in the wilderness.

The book suggests that dogs are the happiest when they are roaming the world with you at your side--that's probably true--homeless people's dogs always seem happy. Anyway, I suppose if everyone were lucky enough to live off the land in Wyoming, then we wouldn't need leashes for our dogs either.

Merle was an amazing sou...more
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Diane
Diane rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/20/08

Read in June, 2008
recommends it for: dog lovers, especially those who share their lives with a golden retreaver
This is definitely a dog lover's book! The writer treats his golden retriever more the way I am inclinded to treat my own. Not by being the dominant member of the pack, but as an equal. However, Merl was a very intelligent special type of dog and the author's life-style was a perfect match for the two. I also enjoyed it because the author lived in a small community right next to Jackson Hole. I was familiar with many of the places he describes in the book. The book is hillarious as the aut...more
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Claire
Claire rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/18/07

bookshelves: currently-reading
I'm not quite halfway through this book, but it is positively gripping and right up my alley. Its outdoor setting is reminiscent of good Jim Kjelgaard novels (Big Red, Haunt Fox, etc.) and, on top of that, this author has done his research. Throughout the novel, Kerasote has cited scientific and archaeological research on dog origins and psychology. Having done my honors thesis on this topic, I can vouch that his citations are both accurate and fascinating.

Of course, it might be the kind of...more
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Susan
Susan rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/09/08

Read in January, 2008
I felt like I shouldn't have wasted my time on this book. It is the antithesis of "Marley and Me", the story of a much loved but terrible dog. This dog is too good to be true. The narrator/owner supplies the dog's side of the conversation (something I do all the time) but without any sense of irony. He believes it's true!

It takes a lot for me to think a story about a wonderful dog is over the top. This one is. That doesn't mean I wouldn't love to have a dog like Merle. Might...more
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.18 (369 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.18 (316 ratings)
number of reviews: 169






other editions

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog (Audio CD)
Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog (Paperback)
Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog