A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life

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A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life

by Jon Katz (Goodreads Author)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 1,724 ratings · 233 reviews

“People who love dogs often talk about a ‘lifetime’ dog. I’d heard the phrase a dozen times before I came to recognize its significance. Lifetime dogs are dogs we love in especially powerful, sometimes inexplicable ways.”–Jon Katz

In this gripping and deeply touching book, bestselling author Jon Katz tells the story of his lifetime dog, Orson: a beautiful border collie–inte...more

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published November 28th 2006 by Villard

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Dec 21, 2007 Willa rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Absolutely noone!

**Spoiler Alert**

Look into the eyes of the dog in the picture on the cover of this book and you are looking into the eyes of a troubled dog whose adoptive owner (Orson was a rescued dog) gave up on him and was too lazy to do the things that would have truly helped Orson. This is a horrid, horrid book about a horrid, horrid man who prides himself on being an amazingly wonderful dog lover, but who in the end MURDERS his dog because he just can't be bothered to take the time to ensure the dog's saf...more **Spoiler Alert**

Look into the eyes of the dog in the picture on the cover of this book and you are looking into the eyes of a troubled dog whose adoptive owner (Orson was a rescued dog) gave up on him and was too lazy to do the things that would have truly helped Orson. This is a horrid, horrid book about a horrid, horrid man who prides himself on being an amazingly wonderful dog lover, but who in the end MURDERS his dog because he just can't be bothered to take the time to ensure the dog's safety at the same time as ensuring the safety of those people who might come in contact with him.

Yes, Mr. Katz spent many, many hours working at training with Orson, and yes, he bought a home in the country so that Orson would have land to roam and enjoy, but ultimately those things came across as selfish actions, not selfless as he would have his readers believe.

He took Orson to training as a sheep-herding dog and admits that his goal was for Orson to compete and earn a ribbon. He says he wanted Orson to have a sense of accomplishment instead of the failure he seemed to feel so often, and yes, I do think dogs can feel such a sense of accomplishment and that it is very important to them. However, just think of all the failure Orson had to experience before reaching that goal of a ribbon, which ultimately allowed the author to show off in front of others and praise himself.

Living in the country. Sorry, I just don't believe that was all about the dog either. The author is an author and he wanted a quiet, relaxing place to write. I don't blame him for that, who wouldn't? Just don't try to sell it to me as some purely selfless action designed to help your troubled dog!

Yes, Orson bit three people. Bit them pretty badly. Only one of the incidents would have worried me, and that was when Orson bit the woman who worked in Mr. Katz's garden. However, even she admits that her actions probably spooked Orson, a dog she knew to be easily spooked. It's happened to me with a former dog of my parents. Twice. Led to stitches and everything. And guess what? That dog was kept and was loved just as much as ever before. Safely and happily, too, because we took the time to learn how to make him a safe dog and to properly supervise situations which might frighten him into attacking someone.

The other two people Orson bit reached over the fence into his dog run while he was barking at them. Okay, yeah, a pretty stupid thing to do. Okay, yeah, I agree that it's still the owner's job to make sure that doesn't happen. So, why couldn't Mr. Katz just keep Orson inside unless he was outside with him to supervise his behavior and to keep people from doing stupid things that might endanger themselves. Mr. Katz had stated multiple times that Orson, unlike his other Border Collie Rose, was perfectly happy to hang out in the house b/c he just wanted to be with the owner he loved. Seems like a pretty simple solution to me.

And after he's committed the murder of Orson, he tells us that an animal shaman has contacted Orson, who tells her that he wanted to be 'set free' from the confusing, scary human world and she thinks Orson may have attacked those people as a way to give Mr. Katz an excuse to set him free and that he's now blissfully happy. It's bad enough that Mr. Katz did what he did, but to give us this reasoning to justify it is truly sickening.

Yes, I know this review is interminable, but I don't believe in attacking a book without providing my reasons for speaking so strongly against it. Also, just look at the number of people involved who asked for their names to be changed in the book. Understandably, they did not want to be associated with something this truly awful.

Mr. Katz, you should be truly and thoroughly ashamed of yourself and you should never be allowed to care for an animal again.(less)

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Sep 06, 2007 Bev Sykes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals

Katz has taken a lot of flak for his story of Orson, a trouble dog ultimately put to sleep for attacking three people, but I found this the story of a man fiercely devoted to trying to change the behavior of a "broken dog," to the point of buying a farm and spending hundreds of hours doing everything he could to discover how to fill the dog's life so that he would not feel the need to lash out unexpectedly. This is written with great love, and having been in the position of having to make that d...more

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Sep 16, 2007 Tony Lacey rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had trouble getting through this one, it started out fine but about half way through the book, I felt like I was digging through a six foot wall of snow with a tea spoon, slow, tedious and laborious. But, despite that, I plodded on and was pleased I did so, it reveals how strong the human/canine relationship can grow to be, it shows the trials, Joy, success, hardship and heartbreak that taking on dogs with unknown histories can lead to. and how heart wrenching the decision to let go can be.

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Mar 26, 2008 Sera rated it 1 of 5 stars

I read the book based on the fact that the book reviews dealt more with the morality of euthanizing dogs versus the merits of the storytelling.

I really enjoyed A Dog Year (by the same author) but did not enjoy this book. It wasn't because of the very sad and conflicting ending, it was because Jon Katz's storytelling was self consumed and overly self indulgent. This book was not about his dog it was about himself. I really enjoy his other books, but think he missed the mark here.

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May 21, 2008 Judith rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dogs, made-me-cry, haunting, memoir, w-t-h

Moral of the story--don't rescue a troubled dog if you can't do the work, don't take on more than you can handle, and don't quit on your dog like Katz did to Orson. Jerk.

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Apr 11, 2009 Smokinjbc rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksaboutsheepdogs

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was ready to hate this book- and in many ways I still do. Jon Katz is the anti-christ of border collie culture- at least for many of us working dog folks. His books read mainly as "what not to do" examples for border collie owners and his portrayals of the sheepdog world,brief in this book, show a deliberate ignorance and just a plain laziness when it comes to becoming knowledgeable about working border collies. I can forgive him some of that, as he admits himself that he has made many mistake...more I was ready to hate this book- and in many ways I still do. Jon Katz is the anti-christ of border collie culture- at least for many of us working dog folks. His books read mainly as "what not to do" examples for border collie owners and his portrayals of the sheepdog world,brief in this book, show a deliberate ignorance and just a plain laziness when it comes to becoming knowledgeable about working border collies. I can forgive him some of that, as he admits himself that he has made many mistakes. At the same time, the mind reels that he has published a book about "common-sense" dog training. Once a person sets themselves out as a dog expert, then my tolerance for making stupid choices that results in not just one, but three preventable dog bites and one dog's death becomes very short.

As an owner of six working border collies and one
"Orson" type dog that isn't a border collie- I realize that managing an aggressive, frantic dog is very difficult. I have no problem with making the choice to put down a dog that escalates in its' aggression. However, it seems to me that, at least according to the story, that Mr. Katz, aside from having people throw treats to his dog, did not control the situation but continued to allow the dog the "freedom" to become frantic and aggressive. Perhaps the dog would have felt a run was a prison- but it seems to me that Mr. Katz had plenty of one on one time with Orson that should have been enough to justify keeping the dog out of harm's way when there were visitors on the farm. I have working dogs, they are very active and driven dogs. They accept their crate/kennel time and often will open the doors themselves and seek a quiet place there. Even our very nervous, aggressive dog is calm in his crate. It seems that for all this "good dog" gave to the author, that an attempt to at least manage the situation should have been made before the second person was bitten.

I did give this two stars because it was better written than I expected and the author deserves some credit for honesty. There were some very touching moments with his dogs. I rolled my eyes a bit at his philosophical arguments for his decision but I do believe he loved the dog and the decision was difficult for him. On the surface, without the history, I would probably give any person a pass on euthanizing a dog that bit three people, epecially since the bites escalated. But with Orson's history, I wonder if bite two and three couldn't have been prevented.
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Feb 26, 2008 Kattie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one.

Recommended to Kattie by: it was a gift

Like other reviewers, I too had problems with this book. At times it drove me to frustration. There are some slow areas. I too had problems with the author's decision to put the dog down. He describes Orson as his version of a "heart dog" but doesn't really get to why. The dog drove him nuts and misbehaved but still loved his owner deeply. He owned much more affectionate labs (a breed he admits is his favorite,) but we never really get to the root of why Orson was so special, so needing to be "f...more

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Jan 05, 2008 Steffany Cartellone rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-top-10-or-20

After I finished this, I immediately called my friend Dori and told her to read this book. Sometimes I think my love of animals is strange and then I read a book like Katz's and realize I am not the only one. I cried so hard while reading this book and when my beloved kitty died in September, re-read the ending again and cried all over again. The tears were of pain but also a wonderful realization that something so small had touched your heart and life forever. I also read Dog Days: dispatches f...more

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Jan 15, 2009 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dogs, nonfiction, behavior-problems, euthanasia, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Orson has issues. Dog issues. And these are pretty much unfathomable to his owner, Jon Katz, who despite having plenty of his own issues, vows to do right by Orson. He uproots himself from his New Jersey home in order to move to a farm in upstate New York where he can raise sheep and donkeys and chickens and have plenty of space for his dogs to be. Before moving, Katz commits to months and months of training, working with Orson to make him more obedient and give him the work that every Border Co...more Orson has issues. Dog issues. And these are pretty much unfathomable to his owner, Jon Katz, who despite having plenty of his own issues, vows to do right by Orson. He uproots himself from his New Jersey home in order to move to a farm in upstate New York where he can raise sheep and donkeys and chickens and have plenty of space for his dogs to be. Before moving, Katz commits to months and months of training, working with Orson to make him more obedient and give him the work that every Border Collie needs. Orson, however, is a complete failure at the traditional Border Collie’s work – he can’t herd – the sheep just get him too excited. In fact, a lot of things get him overexcited and in this state, Orson doesn’t respond to commands, or even seem to know what he’s about (chasing and herding school buses, skateboarders, nipping and attacking FedEx drivers and other delivery persons and workers).

The move to the country seems to help. As do a number of other treatments that Katz tries – an ATV, Chinese herbs, a holistic vet who gives Orson chiropractic treatments and acupuncture, an animal shaman who collects the *lost* parts of Orson’s soul and communicates some of his needs back to Katz. Some of these things just sound hokey and weird, but each *treatment* helps Katz understand his dog better. Katz eventually realizes that he himself has become Orson’s *work.* They are inseparable buddies and the dog follows him, guards him, cares for him as best he can.

Unfortunately, Orson’s behavior becomes more and more erratic. He begins biting and attacking people unpredictably, and Katz can’t find a solution to the problem. He doesn’t want to imprison Orson, nor can he be with him every second of every day to keep him out of trouble. Eventually, he settles on euthanizing him – an agonizing decision. At the same time Katz is suffering from all sorts of physical ailments of his own. When Orson is put down, Katz nearly follows him.

I don’t think many people have to make this kind of decision. Most of the time, people choose to put their pets down for health or age related reasons, not because of aggression (although this is a common reason in animal shelters). I’m not sure that I agree with Katz’s decision, but I do sympathize with his pain. It’s difficult enough to lose a pet through natural causes, but having to euthanize an otherwise healthy animal because of irreconcilable behavior problems (especially when the animal would never harm *you*) has got to be awful. Katz felt that he had to make this choice because Orson had become dangerous to society at large, and he, Katz, was not capable of keeping Orson safe. It’s a heart-breaking moral dilemma.

Katz’s narrative jumps around a fair amount, and for awhile you’re left to wonder who this “Orson” is anyway, because when Katz first adopts Orson, he’s got a different name. There’s some repetition from chapter to chapter, and the book could have benefited from a more linear storyline. Still, it was a touching story of Katz’s determination and love for a wonderful, yet flawed dog.(less)

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Jan 04, 2009 Pris robichaud rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Broken Parts of Me, The Broken Parts of Orson, We Healed, 15 Nov 2006

"Two things fill the mind, with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heaven above me and the moral law with in me". Immanuel Kant

"Owning and loving a dog is a very individual experience. Orson's story was complex, his behavioral problems probably stemming from multiple sources.' Jonathan Katz is a writer and a writer of prose where Orson is concerned. Thi...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Dennise Sleeper rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a really interesting story about how far should one go to ensure they've done everything for their troubled dog. To the world who didn't know Orson, he was a bad dog with many problems and I'm sure if he was in the hands of a shelter or rescue group, would have not been adopted out but euthanized.

To the world that loved him. He could do no wrong. Or could he?

The story is about how Orson became Jon Katz's 'lifetime dog.' I don't know if I've had one, but I sure miss my past dogs. Orson c...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Amelie Park rated it 4 of 5 stars

-Contains spoilers-

First of all, what people have to understand is that this isn't just a 'story.' No, this is a rare bond between a dog and a human that only occurs to a person maybe once or twice in their life time. Katz has met a dog that had changed his life and most people are not fortunate enough to have that same experience.

If some people believe everything he did was just for himself and he uses Olson as a cover for his own selfish desires, please explain why he had more border collies,...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-books

I enjoy Jon Katz's books about his animals, particularly the way he expresses his deep love and respect for them, without anthropomorphizing them or forgetting that they are in fact different from us.

As you can probably guess if you have ever read a book about a dog, this one does not end happily and I spent the last 30 pages or so intermittently crying and hugging my own dog. He does get across how much he loved Orson and what a difficult decision he had to make.

That said, I did sometimes fee...more

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Oct 14, 2007 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dog

The author shows a love for his dog that only dog owners can understand. However, at times that seems a little over the top and he repeats the same ideas over and over again in different chapters. It gets a little too new-age, touched by an angel at the end for me but it is a nice idea...that are dogs can watch out for us.

The author has to make hard emotional choices and I liked that he made rational ones. This book is a "get the tissues" ready type of book so be prepared.

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Mar 06, 2012 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-on-tape

In another book, Jon Katz states right up front, "No dogs die in this book." So forewarned by the fact that no such disclaimer appeared in A Good Dog..., I opened the book with some trepidation. Yet, as soon as I began reading and until I turned the last page, I could hardly put it down. What makes this such a special book is not only its touching and sometimes hilarious descriptions of what it is like to live with a psychologically wounded, behaviorally impossible, and totally engaging dog - bu...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

I learned to expect that most books about dogs end badly and I am bound to cry my eyes out...
No, seriously, this book (and others by this amazing man) restores my faith in humanity because I realize that I am not the only one who is touched deeply by things I learn from the experiences I have with my companion animals as well as how they directly express love and pyschic, spritual wisdom through their sweet personalities.
Here is a sample,
"Lifetime dogs intersect with our lives with particular i...more

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Sep 09, 2009 Cjusti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: critters, audio

This is the second Jon Katz book I have read. I learned about border collies and Labs. Although Orson is his border collie, he also talks about his lab. I definitely relate to his experiences with his lab. I have a labradoodle (designer dog, very popular now). Thank god the poodle part of the dog tends to temper the lab part. She is 96 lbs of pure love and affection. However, she will give you up, the house and everything you own if you give her a treat. She will forever be your friend. So if yo...more

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Jul 31, 2009 Courtney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, autobiography-biography, inspirational

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In some ways, I don't agree with what Jon Katz did. They make medication for anxiety in dogs. I don't feel that he explored EVERY option; in a way, he took the easy way out. That being said, I can also see where he was coming from. Orson was becoming a biter, and an unpredictable one at that. It's a very scary situation when your dog bites someone. Even more so when it's someone your dog knows and has been around many times. What provokes a dog to bite? In the case of the woman working in Katz's...more

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Apr 08, 2009 Gemma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dogs, non-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When I read the reviews on Amazon, I was horrified. Could the author I'd come to appreciate as a source of insight into canine-human interaction, and a fellow dog lover, really have 'given up' on his beloved Orson? I immediately ordered the book from my local library, and read it within 48 hrs.

So, did Katz give up on Orson? Absolutely not.

A lot of people are claiming that he didn't do all that he could for Orson. I feel as if their emotions made them overlook key details from the book. To begin...more When I read the reviews on Amazon, I was horrified. Could the author I'd come to appreciate as a source of insight into canine-human interaction, and a fellow dog lover, really have 'given up' on his beloved Orson? I immediately ordered the book from my local library, and read it within 48 hrs.

So, did Katz give up on Orson? Absolutely not.

A lot of people are claiming that he didn't do all that he could for Orson. I feel as if their emotions made them overlook key details from the book. To begin with, Katz exhausted all standard vet options bar one, which was the option of taking Orson to a specialist for a brain scan that would look for tumours. This specialist would cost $6000 and would be the final of a long series of tests that had already been performed on the reactive Orson. Expense aside, let us ponder for a moment what would have happened if Katz had gone to this specialist and found a tumour lodged in his beloved dog's brain. That would have left two options: the tumour would be inoperable, or it could be removed and Orson would require brain surgery. I'm not even sure the latter is possible with dogs (due to the intricate musculature all around their skull) and, even if it were, at what cost? Not just financial, but for Orson. What pain would he suffer? What risks would he face? What would his quality of life be like?
I work in greyhound adoption and have seen a number of dogs suffer through major surgery (amputation), and it is never pretty. They live with a great deal of pain following the surgery, and even though they face it stoically, can you imagine what brain surgery would be like for an animal that cannot understand what is happening?

Aside from exhausting standard vet tests (barring this specialist), Katz also tried acupuncture and other holistic methods to no avail. It's important to note, also, that Orson went from being reactive and giving warning before a nip, to biting unannounced, even biting people he knew and liked. This is a serious concern. Maybe he really did have a brain tumour, considering his blood work came back clean. If that was the case, there was no choice here.

I feel as if a lot of readers are mad at Katz because they do not understand what was being asked of him, and of Orson. I love my dog so much, but I would never force him to have more and more painful, invasive tests to soothe my own ego, to deal with my own need for comfort. I would never put him through dangerous surgery if his quality of life wasn't going to be good. There are limits to what I will do for my dog because I love him too much to make him suffer on my account. I also feel that, because Katz spoke frankly about the financial side of his choice, people are judging him harshly. I am immersed in 'dog culture' due to my role in dog adoption and my love for these wonderful animals, and I often hear people claim they would live in a cardboard box before giving up their dogs. Fine, but does your dog want to live there with you? Is that fair? We treat the subject of money when it comes to our animals as something dirty, but we all have limits on what we can spend. Katz bought a farm for Orson, he took him to shamans, animal communicators, acupuncturists, holistic vets, standard vets; he trained him daily, loved him fiercely, and even then he couldn't discover what had made sweet Orson start to seriously bite people beneath the throat. He dared to speak about the financial cost as part of his decision, and now he's being lambasted for it. I know it's hard to talk about in a world where people claim they 'can't afford' to adopt, or 'can't afford' their dogs shots, food, standard medical needs and/or bills; choosing instead to abandon them, give them to a shelter, or even euthanise them. I have been at the front desk when people turned over their dogs to the shelter I used to volunteer for. I have heard every poor excuse in the book and, even still, I appreciate Katz' honesty on this issue.

I don't agree with all of Katz decisions. In his previous book, where he gives away Clem, I seriously questioned his decision to buy her in the first place. We certainly disagree on breeders and the buying of dogs, as well as a few of his opinions about us crazy dog folk. But I have to agree with his decision to let Orson go. I believe wholeheartedly that he did everything he could for that boy. I know from my volunteer experience that there are some dogs who move beyond our help, no matter how hard we fight. Letting them go is sometimes the kindest thing we can offer; our final act of love.

This book is moving, haunting, riveting. I cried through the final chapters and went to hug my dog. Please read it fully before judging Mr Katz. His love for his dogs shines through in his every word. This is not a man who gave up; this a man who knew when to stop fighting for the good of his beloved pet(less)

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Jan 11, 2008 Sherie Weber rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

As a person living with a true "animal" I thoroughly enjoyed all of the ups in this book - I even laughed out loud and woke my husband from a sound sleep - The downs brought tears to my eyes and it all evened out eventually - This is a story written from the author's heart and soul and any person who lives with pets will certainly be touched by this life story

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Apr 27, 2011 Joan Colby rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As usual Jon Katz managed to annoy the hell out of me so why do I persist in reading his dog stories? I guess I hope he’ll eventually have some insight on his relationships with canines, and occasionally he makes steps in this direction recognizing that the acquisition of border collies was a springboard to a change in life for a man bored with his suburban existence. Fair enough. Katz’ Labs weren’t providing that challenge so he obtained a known problem: Devon, on the recommendation of a sheeph...more As usual Jon Katz managed to annoy the hell out of me so why do I persist in reading his dog stories? I guess I hope he’ll eventually have some insight on his relationships with canines, and occasionally he makes steps in this direction recognizing that the acquisition of border collies was a springboard to a change in life for a man bored with his suburban existence. Fair enough. Katz’ Labs weren’t providing that challenge so he obtained a known problem: Devon, on the recommendation of a sheepherding trainer (what was she thinking…and cynically, despite Katz oblivious genuflections to all his mentors, I think the answer is money). Devon is of course a demon, a hyperactive mischief maker and Katz becomes the worst possible master constantly citing how Devon—renamed Orson on the advice of a mentor who says “Devon” has bad vibes for the dog from his previous life—dashes from his yard to “herd” school buses –and schoolchildren, challenges skateboarders, slips his leash, collar, whatever. Katz! Pay attention to the damn dog.
But Katz is always in a reverie, falling down due to his “bad leg” which becomes a “bad back”—that the 100 or so extra pounds he carries might have something to do with that never seems to occur to him. So Orson inspires Katz to purchase an upstate New York farm, a flock of sheep for Orson to terrorize and assorted other critters. Soon Katz acquires Rose, who proves to be an accomplished border collie, a worker not a pet and Orson is retired to the pet category which also is not a success. Katz spends a small fortune on vets, alternative vets, dog whisperers and shamans to no avail, but it all contributes to fodder for the book he’s writing. Orson’s behavior further deteriorates. Having bitten three people, now Katz determines Orson is “dangerous” and his moral duty, after considering the options of retraining—too much effort—more physical and mental testing—too expensive—confining Orson (Here Katz really irritates me as he posits that to pen Orson in an actual enclosure that he could not escape would be “like imprisonment”—do let’s poll human death row inhabitants on which alternative they would prefer). But Katz has made his moral decision. Death is the only solution he says as he babbles on about the wonderful support the vet (who actually sounds somewhat dubious) is providing. Then once Orson is safely dead he can become that “good dog” and Katz compounds this by having visions and spiritual visitations where Orson thanks him for bringing him peace. Katz concludes that Destiny brought him Orson to gift him with his new way of life. Katz is a master of self-regard and self-delusion while posing as genuinely self-critical. He rejects conventional training as “not right for rebellious spirits like him and Orson.”
Poor Orson whose fate illustrates the axiom “the only good dog is a dead dog.”
(less)

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Apr 25, 2010 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars

A very Jekyll and Hyde read. The beginning of the book paints a vivid picture of what makes border collies so unique. But when the author, with his dogs, moves "upstate", buys a dream farm, hires all the best contractors, trainers and helpers money can buy—all the while supported by a loving family in the NJ suburbs—it made this reader a little weary.

I guess I expect more dire circumstances in a memoir.

When the author buys an ATV to help him and his dog get around his farm I almost quit the bo...more

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Apr 23, 2008 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

While I didn't enjoy the writer's style, I related strongly to the story. I cried uncontrollably because it touched me on such a personal level. Anyone who has ever had a "once in a life-time dog" will understand what Jon Katz had to overcome when making such a difficult decision.

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Jan 26, 2008 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tough to finish. I really like this author and most of his other stuff but this was a struggle--I was blubbering like a baby by the end. Being the local "dog nut," I can empathize but I don't think I would have chosen the path the author did.

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Sep 12, 2007 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

See my review for A Dog Year or whatever the name of the other Katz book is. This one retells all the same stories anyhow, so why should it get its own review? Oh, and, HE KILLS THE DOG. JESUS CHRIST ALL MIGHTY HE KILLS THE DOG.

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Jun 14, 2012 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jon Katz, it seems, is a prolific author writing on little more than the daily events that happen to him and his dogs at his lovely farm in upstate New York. I found this book both entertaining and profound in parts. I felt a kinship to him when he described his pre-farm life in the Jersey suburbs and the lack of "fitting in." The idyllic descriptions of small town life made me heartsick to live somewhere . . . less. The second part of the book was particularly interesting as he delved into the...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Robin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: class-books

I felt like the author wrote this book and didn't know what he was trying to say. In one breath he'd talk about how much he loved Orson and in another he'd talk about how dogs aren't people and shouldn't be treated as such. Ignoring any spoilers I could mention and my personal opinion about what was right, I think there was a lot wrong with how the story was told. There was a lot of repetition, there was a lot of contradiction, there was a lot of self-justifying going on and all of it made the b...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm only saying i liked it because i thought the writer was, at times, funny. But it's basically a book about a completely clueless human being when it comes to dogs...who gives up on the dog and puts him down. So sad...and it made me really angry. I have a friend who works with herding dogs like this one and the ones she ends up with are the result of "city" people getting them because they're cute..but never doing anything to satisfy their herding instinct. So they get crazy and aggressive bec...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

As a dog lover, I wanted to like this book. I just couldn't connect with the author as a professed dog lover. I didn't feel any emotion from Katz, it was so disconnected it was like he was telling someone else's story.

However, I feel he DID do right by Orson, no matter what all the haters say. I mean, the guy bought a farm for the dog, lived apart from his wife for extended periods, saw every kind of trainer and holistic healer along with traditional ones, made extensive improvements to protect...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Steven rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: animal lovers

I did love this book, as will most animal lovers. The memoir is part non-fiction, part border collie and sheepdog history, often laugh-out-loud funny, and always tender in the way a man's love for his dog often is. Orson happens to be a troubled dog, and the skeptical author's expensive efforts to help range from traditional medicine to Chinese teas to acupuncture and shamanic healing. All of this is funny too, particularly because the author can't help but find it all sort of dubious and expens...more

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About Jon Katz

Jon Katz is an author, photographer, and children's book writer. He lives on Bedlam Farm with his wife, the artist Maria Wulf, his four dogs, Rose, Izzy, Lenore and Frieda, two donkeys, Lulu and Fanny, and two barn cats. His next book, "Rose In A Storm" will be published by Random House on October 5.
He is working on a collection of short stories and a book on animal grieving.

More about Jon Katz...

Books by Jon Katz

A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me

Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me

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“She lived upstairs in the farmhouse; guests and visitors occupied the B&B rooms downstairs. She kept crates tucked all over the house, in which herding dogs-border collies and shepherds-slept while waiting to work, exercise, or play.

These working dogs, I'd come to learn, led lives very different from my dogs'. Carolyn let them out several times a day to exercise and eliminate, but generally, they were out of crates only to train or herd sheep. While they were out, Carolyn tossed a cup of kibble into their crates for them to eat when they returned. I asked her once if she left the lights on for the dogs when she went out, and she looked at me curiously. "Why? They don't read...

Still, they were everywhere. If you bumped into a sofa it might growl or thump. Some of her crew were puppies; some were strange rescue dogs.” — 1 person liked it

“The true heart of Carolyn's farm was her kitchen, where sausages and pungent dog treats lay scattered over they counters, along with collars, magazines and books, trial application forums, checks from her students (Carolyn, not big on details, often left them lying around for months), leashes, and dog toys.

Pots of coffee were always brewing, and dog people could be found sitting around her big wooden table at all hours. Devon and I were always welcome there, and he grew to love going around the table from person to person, collecting pats and treats. Troubled dogs were familiar at the table, and appreciated. If we couldn't bring our dogs many places, we could always bring them here.” — 1 person liked it

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A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life

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