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271st out of 580 books
—
341 voters
Bad Dog: A Love Story
by
Martin Kihn
(A true story.)
Meet Hola. She’s a nightmare, but it’s not her fault if she tackles strangers and chews on furniture, or if she runs after buses and fried chicken containers and drug dealers. No one ever told her not to. Worse yet, she scares her family. Hola may be the most beautiful Bernese mountain dog in the world, but she’s never been trained. At least not by anyone wh...more
Meet Hola. She’s a nightmare, but it’s not her fault if she tackles strangers and chews on furniture, or if she runs after buses and fried chicken containers and drug dealers. No one ever told her not to. Worse yet, she scares her family. Hola may be the most beautiful Bernese mountain dog in the world, but she’s never been trained. At least not by anyone wh...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
April 5th 2011
by Pantheon
(first published March 29th 2011)
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Have you seen the TV shows about how training dogs helps prisoners gain a sense of self-worth, responsibility and joy? This book, Bad Dog by Martin Kihn shows how developing a routine of training and unconditional love
have helped him pull away from the abyss of alcoholism.
It is not so much a story about Hola, a Bernese Mountain dog as a man’s struggle with alcoholism,the destruction of a marriage and the difficult road back.
Dog training can become an obsession, in this case, a good obsession....more
have helped him pull away from the abyss of alcoholism.
It is not so much a story about Hola, a Bernese Mountain dog as a man’s struggle with alcoholism,the destruction of a marriage and the difficult road back.
Dog training can become an obsession, in this case, a good obsession....more
Marty, a so called "High functioning alcoholic" (no such animal), and his dog Hola have problems. Marty's wife, after being attacked by Hola, leaves him. After this, Marty gets the idea that if Hola can pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) then his wife will come back to him. The book rambles, a lot, and reminds me of my Grandfather when he was drunk. I don't understand it, because Marty was suppose to have not been drinking at this time. This is why I just could not enjoy it. I also have a proble...more
Rather than a true animal tale, this book is more a story of Martin Kihn's battle with alcoholism, his life falling apart, then the process of putting it back together. In the midst of this, he and his wife buy Hola, a Bernese mountain dog. Kihn's inexperience as a dog owner, combined with the terminal state of his marriage, is a recipe for disaster for both Hola and Kiln.
While the focus leans more toward a personal memoir, Hola plays a large role in Kiln's recovery. The writing is humorous and...more
While the focus leans more toward a personal memoir, Hola plays a large role in Kiln's recovery. The writing is humorous and...more
Martin is a man ruled by his obsessions. He’s obsessed with work. When he’s not working, he’s obsessed with drinking. Consequently, his wife, Gloria, is lonely. She thinks she will be less lonely if they get a dog. They get a purebred Burnese Mountain puppy, a breed which is the largest in the world. They live in an apartment in New York City. Neither one has ever had a dog before. Anybody see the train wreck coming?
Hola is a beautiful, loving dog, but instead of bonding with Gloria, she makes M...more
Hola is a beautiful, loving dog, but instead of bonding with Gloria, she makes M...more
I am sucker for dog books of just about any kind - in fact, last week I read a book dedicated to a dog, and I think I liked it all the more just for that dedication! And I did enjoy this memoir about one man's relationship with his Bernese Mountain Dog. I must say, that I was surprised at how dark it was. A large section of the book dealt with the author's alcoholism and his estrangement from his wife. Sadly, there were not a lot of "bad dog" antics to balance out these darker moments (but there...more
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This book is in chronological order and is superficially about getting and training a dog. At first, the author is bringing out the story of his alcoholism, marriage troubles, and the bad behaviors of his dog. I laughed at the idea at his conclusion that the breeder thought he was a sucker and stuck him with a dog with a bad temperament -- it seems so many New Yorkers live in fear of being taken in by someone. While it's clear that the author was completely unaware of his own emotions at that ti...more
Those of you who know me probably know that I am the proud mother of a 70 pound Bernese Mountain Dog puppy named Nora. When Bad Dog (A Love Story) by Martin Kihn was handed to me by a coworker, I immediately thought I would be reading a delightful “tail” of feel-good fluffiness and Bernese bonding. I couldn’t wait to get my paws on this this book. Now, I have to admit that I haven’t read Marley and Me, nor have I read Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. In fact, I do not nor...more
The author has courage in revealing much about his fight with alcoholism. But a wonderful dog comes into his life in the guise of a Bernese Mountain dog. Thus the story begins.
Dogs decided to throw in their lot with us humans over 500,000 years ago. This is a deep connection. Dogs love us and we love them. Martin, as are all alcoholics, is depressed. Nothing is going right in his life. Except Hola.
He and his wife try to train her in the basics of living with people. This is a half-hearted attemp...more
Dogs decided to throw in their lot with us humans over 500,000 years ago. This is a deep connection. Dogs love us and we love them. Martin, as are all alcoholics, is depressed. Nothing is going right in his life. Except Hola.
He and his wife try to train her in the basics of living with people. This is a half-hearted attemp...more
Those of you who know me probably know that I am the proud mother of a 70 pound Bernese Mountain Dog puppy named Nora. When Bad Dog (A Love Story) by Martin Kihn was handed to me by a coworker, I immediately thought I would be reading a delightful “tail” of feel-good fluffiness and Bernese bonding. I couldn’t wait to get my paws on this this book. Now, I have to admit that I haven’t read Marley and Me, nor have I read Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. In fact, I do not nor...more
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely... partially because I was a psych major in college and partially because I love dogs and have seen my share of behavior problems (some fairly severe) from my volunteering at the shelter.
The first quarter of the book is background upon the author, his alcoholism, and the events leading up to his wife leaving him and the totally untrained, un-socialized Bernese Mountain Dog, Lola. The author tries to be honest and amusing, and sometime his attempts at clever...more
The first quarter of the book is background upon the author, his alcoholism, and the events leading up to his wife leaving him and the totally untrained, un-socialized Bernese Mountain Dog, Lola. The author tries to be honest and amusing, and sometime his attempts at clever...more
I loved this tale of a man struggling with his alcohol addiction, ruined marriage, and ill-behaved dog.
His writing contains dark humor, and I was laughing constantly at his metaphors. And although sections DO seem disjointed, I thought it gave me a better insight into the world as seen through bleary drunk eyes (I still vaguely remember that!) rather than a sign that the author was still drinking when he wrote them.
No, this isn't JUST a dog tale, and that's really what I loved about it. It isn'...more
His writing contains dark humor, and I was laughing constantly at his metaphors. And although sections DO seem disjointed, I thought it gave me a better insight into the world as seen through bleary drunk eyes (I still vaguely remember that!) rather than a sign that the author was still drinking when he wrote them.
No, this isn't JUST a dog tale, and that's really what I loved about it. It isn'...more
There is something compelling about the human/dog relationship story and to Kihn's credit, unlike other notable writers (Grogan's Marley & Me & Katz's "Good Dog") at least he works on training the dog and working with her responsibly. He does this while tackling his own behavior problem (alcoholism) and the story is a cursory tale of these two narratives. I really disliked the voice he gave to Hola (referring to him as "Daddy" and his wife as "Mommy-- particularly when the thoughts could...more
AA and AKC
I liked this book enough to finish it, although I ordinarily avoid books about alcohol abuse and badly behaved dogs. (Sorry Marley, bad dogs usually just make their owners look stupid.)
Kihn managed to add enough information about his and Hola’s path towards a Canine Good Citizen certificate and his own path to sobriety to keep me hoping the pair got there.
I loved that Kihn talked about books. Training books, behavior books, and best of all Susan Conant’s dog training mysteries.
The bi...more
I liked this book enough to finish it, although I ordinarily avoid books about alcohol abuse and badly behaved dogs. (Sorry Marley, bad dogs usually just make their owners look stupid.)
Kihn managed to add enough information about his and Hola’s path towards a Canine Good Citizen certificate and his own path to sobriety to keep me hoping the pair got there.
I loved that Kihn talked about books. Training books, behavior books, and best of all Susan Conant’s dog training mysteries.
The bi...more
Martin Kihn is a cat person -- and an alcoholic. When his wife, Gloria, convinces him to get a dog, they bring home Hola -- a Bernese mountain dog.
Hola runs amok for a great deal of the book ... which seems to match up with Kihn's life. As he enters recovery, and Gloria leaves him, Kihn decides it's time to work on Hola's training. His goal? To pass the Canine Good Citizen test.
The challenges of recovery mirror his experiences in the dog training world; both require self-mastery. Kihn obviously...more
Hola runs amok for a great deal of the book ... which seems to match up with Kihn's life. As he enters recovery, and Gloria leaves him, Kihn decides it's time to work on Hola's training. His goal? To pass the Canine Good Citizen test.
The challenges of recovery mirror his experiences in the dog training world; both require self-mastery. Kihn obviously...more
This is another I just happened to see at the library while waiting to check out. The title caught my eye of course. When I first started reading I wasn't sure I liked Kihn's writing but it grew on me as I kept going. He actually has a strange but likable sense of humor.
I don't know much about dog competitions, it's not something that's ever interested me, so I did learn a good amount while reading. As interesting as it is I couldn't ever see myself doing it and I don't think I'd like my dog to...more
I don't know much about dog competitions, it's not something that's ever interested me, so I did learn a good amount while reading. As interesting as it is I couldn't ever see myself doing it and I don't think I'd like my dog to...more
If you can get past the first few confusing pages and accept the fact that, in spite of the title, much of the first half of the book is not really about a bad dog but rather about a bad alcoholic, you will continue to the end. Two captivating threads, somewhat interwoven, make this book very compelling. You will want to find out what happens to the author (who eventually earns your empathy), and to his dog (who eventually earns your respect) -- as well as to his marriage that is affected by the...more
There is no such thing as a Bad Dog, or is there? Maybe it's just a not so smart human helping a dog be bad. Marty and Hola have big problems until Gloria (Marty's wife) leaves them and Marty decides to join AA and take Hola to dog training school. It is a slow process but things do get better for everyone. Anyone who is thinking about getting a dog or who already is owned by an unruly dog needs to read this book before they give up. There is always hope. Wish I'd read it years ago. This is a st...more
This book was a surprisingly good read. Picked it up on a curb from a box of used books and finished it in a couple of days. I work with dogs, so I can be super critical when authors depict dog behavior. But the author, who I understand is also a journalist, is incredibly eloquent in telling the touching story of his recovery from alcoholism and sudden passion for dog training.
Since it's a relatively short book, I definitely recommend this to dog lovers and those going through some tough times...more
Since it's a relatively short book, I definitely recommend this to dog lovers and those going through some tough times...more
Luin tämän siis Suomeksi (nimi oli käännetty kammottavasti "Kurittomiksi kavereiksi") ja pidin kovasti. Vahva arjentuntu oli alusta saakka läsnä, koiran ja omistajan suhde oli kaunis (vaikka aluksi sen lisäksi kauhea) ja kehittyi vielä kauniimmin (tai kauniimmaksi). Tarina oli rankka, eikä elämä millään tavalla varmasti ollut helppoa - ja silti asenne pysyi läpi kirjan niin positiivisena, että se hymyilyttää jälkikäteenkin. Hola oli hieno koira koko ajan. Lopulta Hola sai mahdollisuuden myös näy...more
It appears that some folks who read this book take exception to the format or the combining personal life challenges with the story of a dog. But, many pet owners consider their pets to be part of the family and treat them as such, including their part in overcoming personal challenges. That's what this book is about. It is a touching, humorous, and dramatic glimpse of a life gone bad and the obstacles to setting it right. The light tone of the book tempers some of the dark parts, but you still...more
I loved this book because it's about redemption, humility and getting a handle on one's place in the world. The framework of all this is the training of a lovable, possibly untrainable Bernese Mountain dog named Hola. Hola's training is the road back to life for her alcoholic, wife-separated owner, who, along the way, learns just as much about himself as he does about his dog as they make their way--and not always without missteps--toward triumph. A poignant, heartfelt memoir that offers as many...more
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...more
Lorena leaves me with a handout titled "The Rules of Passive Dominance," which begins: "Ignoring attention-seeking behaviors is the highest form of dominance."
The highest form?
Attention seeking: Grabbing shoes and making you chase her. Soft sweet cries and I say, "What's wrong, Hola, you hungry doll?" Poke and pet, roll over and rub reflexively, even yelling "Drop!" when she's got our neighbor's kid's sandal in her mouth, shaking it like a squirrel that's dead enough already.
Negative or positive
I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book as it was not what I expected. Instead of a love story, the author tells the story of his recovery from alcoholism and the rebuilding of his marriage through training and bonding with his dog. It brought back a lot of memories of my first time trying to train my first dogs. I had forgotten how difficult the leaning process is in he beginning and how much the dogs inadvertently suffer from our good intentions. A meaningful story entertainingly...more
I like reading about dogs, and this is a nice, quick, enjoyable read. In this story, the author, Martin Kihn, writes about struggling to train his Bernese Mountain Dog, Hola, so that she can pass her Canine Good Citizenship Test. Kihn also writes about his struggles with alcholism and how training Hola becomes part of his recovery process. I enjoyed the insights into the world of dogs and dog training, and I enjoyed reading about this particular breed which I wasn't very familiar with.
I don't think this book should be advertised as a dog story. That's marginal at best. This book is about a man who's a lousy husband and a lousy dog owner, but a very good alcoholic. The first third of the book talks about his shortcomings and details his alcoholism. Who cares? I picked up the book because I wanted to read a dog story, not about an alcoholic that thinks he can get his wife back if only he can train his neglected dog. Poor dog, poor excuse for a book.
What a waste of time.
What a waste of time.
Oh Hola!!! My basenji didn't seem quite SO ill behaved after reading this. Mr. Kihn's book made me fall in love with both Hola & himself! I admire his dedication to improving Hola's & ultimately his own life through the trials of the dog training world. The dog is a saint... & Martin is to be admired for his many personal successes throughout their journey. Inspiring, funny & touching, a breezy read with a heart that pulsed throughout the narrative.
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I really liked this story about Martin Kihn's journey through finding himself by helping his dog Hola become a Canine Good Citizen. Everyone can get something from this book; there are great insights in to the alcoholic's mind as well as an amazing behind-the-scenes look at the joys and pain of properly training an older dog. A good read.
This wasn't really a story about a dog. Of course the dog was a part of it, but it was really the story of an alcoholic who is coming to terms with newly becoming sober, and he leans on his dog and their new training regimen to bring some structure into his life. Though somewhat predictable, I liked the story and it was an easy read.
This is a charming book about addiction and dog training and the parallels, which, before I read this I had never thought about. The author went to my high school and I was lucky to have met him through my brother. It's an ode to dog lovers with some laugh-out-loud moments and I will be giving it as gifts to all my dog owner friends and relatives.
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“Every year thousands of dogs are abandoned to shelters because of behavior problems. And these are things that can be corrected with just basic training. Dogs are being killed because of lack of training, and that's what the Canine Good Citizen program is all about. (Mary Burch, AKC)”
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