Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm

Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm

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3.83 of 5 stars 3.83  ·  rating details  ·  818 ratings  ·  138 reviews
In Dog Days, Jon Katz, the squire of Bedlam Farm, allows us to live our dreams of leaving the city for the country, and shares the unpredictable adventure of farm life. The border collies, the sheep, the chickens, the cat, the ram, and one surprisingly sociable steer named Elvis all contribute to the hum (and occasional roar) of Bedlam. On timeless summer days and in punis...more
Hardcover, 273 pages
Published June 26th 2007 by Villard
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Lynn
I began with 'A Dog Year' several years ago and it will always be on a short list of favorite books for me. 'Dog Days' is the continuing story of Jon Katz and his life on Bedlam Farm(with several other books in between). He continues to adjust to now a variety of animals, but with special emphasis on his dogs and their roles in his life and on the farm. He is very open about his struggles in life and how animals have played a strong role in life changes he has made. It in no way makes me have an...more
Julia
I read this because Jon Katz, who lives a few counties away, came to my public library (standing room only!) to talk about his writing, his newest novel Rose in a Storm, writing in general, living with dogs and other animals on a farm in Upstate New York.

I live in Upstate, some of my friends live on farms, but I do not. And I've never had a dog. I don't want to live on a farm, thank you! I'm more of a cat person. (Please don't hurt me, all you dog lovers!) I like a lot of what he had to say and...more
BarkLessWagMore
I enjoyed this book so very much and am going to search out his others. The author chronicles his life as a newish care-taker of various animals including dogs, donkeys, sheep and even two cows. His rural neighbors are friendly but I guess think he's a little odd what with his penchant for taking in useless animals such as donkeys but it seems he's winning at least a few of them over as one asks him to "buy" a cow that he just can't bring to slaughter. The book is filled with love and pain and l...more
Michelle
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Janell
I enjoyed getting lost in the loveable chaos of Bedlam Farm. There's so much going on around the place, it seems a new adventure is always right around the corner. Although the title is "Dog Days" and there is plenty of focus on the dogs in this story, the peripheral characters - donkeys, sheep, and a steer named Elvis - also provide plenty of entertainment.

As someone who is quick to anthropomorphize animals, I found it interesting that the author does not. Despite being surrounded by such inte...more
Gemma
Another wonderful installment of Katz's life on a small farm in West Hebron, NY.

I picked up my first Katz book entirely on a whim. I saw a border collie on the cover, scan read the blurb, and threw it onto a huge pile of library books I was collecting. Once I started reading, I was hooked, and I've been eagerly tracking down his books ever since.

In this installment, we're reminded of the animal cast at his farm, and introduced to new faces. Katz continues to write with an honesty and introspect...more
Cjusti
This book gives the individual who has an aspirations of becoming a farmer or wanting to have a ranch a hard reality check. Farmers and ranchers who raise animals as a means of making a living, have to make some very hard decisions and they make them matter-of-factly and swiftly. Jon like most city folks wants to treat every critter as if they were a pet. He comes to find out that it is one thing to go to great lengths to care for a dog, no matter the medical costs, but an entirely different sto...more
Lisa (windandthestars)
Dog Days is a book about Jon's life on Bedlam Farm, the farm he owned (until recently) outside of Saratoga Springs (which is north of Albany, which is north of New York City...). It's a quiet, unassuming, and green part of the state for any of you who may have driven through. It's the kind of place you would expect to find farms tucked into the hills, even if one of those farms has an overly affectionate cow, multiple overprotective donkeys, sheep, a rooster with a rather hysterical harem of hen...more
Melissa
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. The dogs were awesome, and the pictures were great, but this guy is no James Herriott. His writing was repetitive and just not all that interesting in a lot of places. I want to read about your kick-ass dogs, not the Grunt-and-Grumble-whatever.
Forrest
I enjoyed reading this book. This is the first Jon Katz book I have read. After reading this book, I will seek out books written by him. I picked out this book only as a lark, but happy I selected it. I agree with Katz philosophy about dogs - that they are animals, companions and soul-mates, but they are not human. Katz does a good job in communicating his love for his dogs, Rose, Izzy, Pearl and Clem. Each dog, two of them working dogs, have their own characteristics, personalities, and abiltie...more
Kelley
"currently reading" 02Aug2012 I really enjoyed reading "A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me" by this author, but was slightly put off (my own hang up)by "The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me" because I am rubbed the wrong way by "hobby agriculturalists". However, I forgot the book I was reading when I was on a trip, and I found a used copy of "Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm", and I do like his writing style and perspective, so...more
JennLynn
Pleasant autobiographical book about life on a small hobby farm in upstate New York. Although dogs are (obviously) the focus, there is a whole cast of supporting characters including Elvis the steer, Jesus the baby donkey, and a chorus of sheep. Stars of the book are a pair of border collies: Rose, a veteran sheep herder, and three year old Izzy, a recent rescue with incredible instincts but no formal training. We watch as Izzy's skills and relationship with Jon blossom with time and patience. I...more
Eva Leger
May 06, 2010 Eva Leger rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: open minded dog lovers/owners
Recommended to Eva by: Suzanna
I wasn't sure what I'd think of Dog Days because I'm kind of picky with the dog books I read. I ended up enjoying this and not picking up anythng else while I was reading this. If we had the option of half stars I'd give it a 3.5 for sure. And I'm definitely more eager to read more of his books, especially the two or three I already have stashed somewhere.
Katz isn't your average dog owner. This is the reason I recommend it to "open-minded" dog lovers and owners. I wasn't really what you'd call...more
Angela Gaskell
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Sfdreams
May 19, 2008 Sfdreams rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dog lovers, animal lovers, jon katz fans
Shelves: reviewed
I have been a fan of Jon Katz for many years. I REALLY enjoyed his suburban dectective series--I wish he still wrote mysteries. But his nonfiction dog books give me a glimpse into his life. And it almost makes me want to have my own small farm. (But I know I am too lazy to all the work it takes to keep a farm going, and would need lots of $$$ to hire others to do it for me!)

I read this book in two days, then gave it to my 85 year old father, who read it in about the same time frame.

This book in...more
Barbara
I listened to this on audio. This one was just okay for me. It's about life on the farm where dogs are herding sheep, donkeys grazing in the pasture and how the dogs know their jobs so well. I know there's a little more to it than that. The author seems to be a good writer and I will try a few more of his books and see how that goes. I love dogs, but this one was just a little bit boring.
Rebecca
An interesting autobiography of Katz who has left life in NJ to live on a farm in upstate New York. It was well written, but definitely had a bit too much of Katz’s whining about his health. The stories about the animals were good, but there were too many long winded rambles about his theories on owning dogs. Overall, a good read if you are willing to do a fair amount of skimming.
Sally
John Katz is a writer that lives on a small farm in Vermont; his wife lives in New York because of her job, along with their daughter. He presents interesting stories about his farm animals and how he acquired them, as well as the variety of people that help him at his small farm. Pleasant read, especially for anyone who likes animals--and particularly dogs. Nice writing style.
Teena in Toronto
What an excellent book! Amazon is right in saying that this is a must-read for all animal lovers!

Katz has a good heart with the animals but also with the people who work on the farm and in the community.

I'd definitely recommend this book. It's the first one I've read by Katz (who ironically writes dog books!) but it won't be my last.
Red
Jun 09, 2011 Red rated it 3 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: dog lovers, and country-living wannabes
I enjoyed hearing the stories of life on this hobby farm. But I'm not sure I like Mr. Katz' writing style enough to seek out any of his other books. The book it seems is a collection of individual, stand-alone essays, and as such, when read one after the other, they are very repetitive on some aspects. Even within an essay he tends to repeat himself a lot. I found that to be pretty tedious, and boring. Other then that one aspect, the content was very enjoyable.
Debra
Jon follows up the story of Orson wo we find out what happens afterwards. Four dogs (Rose, Izzy, Pearl and Clem), four donkeys, Mother the cat, two cows, a rooster named Winston, chickens and innumerable sheep make up the Bedlam Farm menangerie. Book ends on the one-year anniversary of Orson's death.
Helen
Feb 21, 2010 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Jon Katz fans, memoir
Jon Katz seems to have moved away from his original purpose of writing books about the challenges of raising dogs. Although there are some chapters in this book about his beloved dogs (Rose, Izzy, Pearl, Clementine), much of the book is about the trials and tribulations of becoming a farm owner. His menagerie grows to include several donkeys, a rooster, cows and of course, sheep. The book reads like a series of memoirs - with chapters focusing on one or more of the animals or people in his world...more
Stephanie A.
I'm addicted to the vision of rural living, but still do not agree with all his philosophies on animal care. Or his philosophies on commuter marriage. And it’s getting sad and uncomfortable to keep reading about his physical ailments. I'm about to jump ship on Katz books.
tana
I absolutely adored "A Dog Year" and had great expectations for this book. But I was floored when I found out that he had had Orson killed, and I could not read this book with an open mind. I lost respect for the man and can never read one of his books again.
Sacramento Public Library
These are mostly dog stories, but the book also comes with the bonus of equally lovable donkeys, sheep, and cows (as well as a newbie farmer who is still learning the ropes). A great audiobook to take with you on a long drive in the country.

-Tracey

LeeAnn *the crazy, hell on wheels crip*
i love this book! i am almost done with it, on chapter 17 [of 20]. i'm listening to the audiobook this time... if you love any animal created, especially dogs - read this or get the audio version. you'll laugh, cry, want to be in the story itself!
Cheryl
I ran across this book while looking at gardening books, and took it home because of the picture on the cover. I liked this book for a relaxing easy read - really just stories from the farm...about the animals and the neighbors and of course the dogs.
Sue
Naturally, people refer me to pet books all the time, but this one came highly recommended because of the way it was written, as well as the content. I am SO glad I picked it up (and couldn't put it down.) Now I must read all the other 16 in the series!
Carolyn
Enjoyed this one by Katz but not as much as "A Good Dog". His readers must be so hungry for his work that all he needs to do is pump out journal-esque books like this. It was enjoyable and I'll likely read more by Katz in the future . . .
Evelyn
Jul 07, 2011 Evelyn added it
In my opion this book was really good because of the fact that it gave a story about a man and his farm with four dogs, sheep cattle, a cow and donkeys. Three of his dogs are sheep dogs and one is a yellow lab.
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Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm (Paperback)
Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm (Audio CD)
Dog Days (Hardcover)
Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm (ebook)
Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm (MP3 Book)

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...
A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life 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 Rose in a Storm

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